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AIBU?

To not be paranoid about Alexa?

106 replies

PoxAlert · 28/10/2018 21:53

My husband seems way OTT worried that an Amazon echo is going to listen in to our life.

I'm of the opinion that.

1 - surely it won't/can't/isn't allowed.

2 - we're fucking boring anyway. Not like I read our our credit card numbers etc.

And if I do just go ahead and buy myself one (mainly for Spotify) will I regret getting an echo dot over a standard echo. Is the music quality bad?

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HunkyDory69 · 28/10/2018 22:00

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TheMobileSiteMadeMeSignup · 28/10/2018 22:02

Of course it listens. It's a device that listens constantly for keywords and you asking it to do things. My in-laws have one. There is no way we are getting one, I'm vaguely OK with OK, Google on my phone when the aux cable is plugged into it in the car so I can change track on Spotify while driving.

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Iwannasnack · 28/10/2018 22:04

I really fancy an echo dot in the kitchen to listen to music, podcasts, ask it random questions and add to my shopping list. DH has absolutely forbidden it though. The more I look into it the more I think he’s right annoyingly...

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notsurewhatshappening · 28/10/2018 22:04

The whole idea scares the crap out if me and I'll never allow one into my house. Over reaction maybe but I'm phobic of robots and it's just too terrifying.

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notsurewhatshappening · 28/10/2018 22:06

My friend has Alexa and mainly uses her to shout abuse at after a bad day at work. Alexa then says 'thank you for your feedback, your views are important to ne' or some other rubbish which enrages her further!

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cheesymashandbeans · 28/10/2018 22:10

Of course they're always listening, they have to to be able to be ready to hear your commands. I'd be more surprised if it wasn't listening for stuff other than commands. It such a massive marketing opportunity, can anyone with one say if they feel they've had more targeted advertising since having one for instance? I've not got one. I've even turned off Siri on my phone. I know for a fact that phones record a few seconds before and after a given command. (Work in industry)

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WhyAmISoCold · 28/10/2018 22:11

My GPs have the Google Home and it definitely listens all the time, when you aren't even talking to it it pipes up.

I checked my Goole account as the speaker is on on my phone, there are recordings of my general conversations. I didn't say OK Google at all and it is just in the background so I'm not a fan either. Which is a shame as I love the idea.

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TheMobileSiteMadeMeSignup · 28/10/2018 22:12

It's only officially reporting back when you speak directly to it but given how little people seem to understand basic Internet security ie AIBU to give the nice man down the street who just moved in my WiFi password, it wouldn't surprise me if they are being hacked up and down the country.

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thecatsthecats · 28/10/2018 22:14

If I get targeted advertising, I haven't noticed it. And if I do? Well good luck to them,cause I never buy anything off an advert online.

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RocketPockets · 28/10/2018 22:16

We have an Echo and a dot and I can't say that I've noticed any 'targeted' marketing. We've had it for a couple of years now I think although I'm not 100% sure when we got it! I go onto and order a lot from amazon and use amazon video as well. Occasionally I think I've heard Alexa activate and I'll turn to look and she isn't lit up but that's the only thing that happens and I think that's my hearing as opposed to Alexa

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WisestIsShe · 28/10/2018 22:21

You do know your phone is already listening to you?

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SachaStark · 28/10/2018 22:23

I think it will be fascinating to see how we use this developing technology in the near future, though, no, I wouldn't have one in my home.

Wasn't there a murder case recently where the tracker and heart rate monitor in the killer's FitBit were used as evidence? And I believe my husband read out something to me about Alexa recording possible sounds from the murder scene or something

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youngestisapsycho · 28/10/2018 22:24

Yes, phone listens too. I couldn’t care less if my Alexa is listening to me... it would all be pretty boring! I keep the mic on it switched off when not using it... but as I said, doesn’t bother me.

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FoxInABox · 28/10/2018 22:25

I would go for the standard echo over the dot- we have two of each, the standard echo sound quality is so much better than the dot. We love ours.

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LotsToThinkOf · 28/10/2018 22:27

We've had an Alexa for a year, I haven't noticed any more targeted adverts that we were already getting through google, our banks and credit cards have never been hacked and absolutely nothing has happened with regards to Alexa. At all.

What's the problem with it? What are the dangers? I feel massively ignorant reading threads like this because I'm usually responsible and I have no idea what the dangers are. We just thought it was a novel little gadget, which so far it has been.

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Weedsnseeds1 · 29/10/2018 11:17

I'm pretty certain my phone listens to me. I watched MKR South Africa the other night and received advertising for fruit juice ..... in Afrikaans!

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Alexaaaa · 29/10/2018 12:23

I love my echos and my Alexa enabled smart home...lights, heating, entertainment etc.

My plug on the kettle uses the location on my phone to know when I'm near home and boils the kettle ready for me amongst other things.
So I'm definitely not paranoid.

I've got an echo downstairs and a dot upstairs. The dot needs a bluetooth speaker if you want to have loud music but it's great for the radio or an alarm or playing sleep sounds at bedtime.

I don't get targeted advertising because I've turned off microphone access for facebook...that's the bugger thats always listening.

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ohamIreally · 30/10/2018 06:59

I won't have her in the house.

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Oysterbabe · 30/10/2018 07:02

Of course she listens. I don't care though 🤷‍♀️

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mintyfresh00 · 30/10/2018 07:04

The only thing I don't like my alexa is that she's ruined my favourite girls name

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Raven88 · 30/10/2018 07:22

If you have a computer/phone supposedly the NSA watch you through the webcam and your phone is listening to you. Not sure how much I believe of that but I'm not that interesting.

Why would they bother to listen to normal people?

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chillpizza · 30/10/2018 07:31

Everything is listening. Phones/Alexa/Xbox/PlayStation anything that can be voice controlled is always listening. If someone wants to hear me telling my children a million times it’s bedtime or to get dressed or moan about the mess in the kitchen after cooking they can knock themselves out. My lights etc are all smart lights and I have cctv my home is constantly being monitored basically.

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Nenic · 30/10/2018 07:32

Couldn’t care less if it’s listening. I love my echo show.

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Cantchooseaname · 30/10/2018 07:36

As I’m not a murderer, you can use my Fitbit data to track my fascinating daily supermarket/ dog walk/ putting bins out.
I love Alexa.
Particularly the shopping list function- when cooking and have full/ dirty hands but use something up- Alexa add flour to my shopping list. Get to shop- it’s on my list on phone. No need to wander round going...I’m sure there was something I ran out of...
Also, if she’s listening to my daily life, I hope she’s as amused by the daily antics of my toddler as I am.

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NotACleverName · 30/10/2018 07:36

Goodness, my Alexa is probably sick of listening to me talk to my cat by now.

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