Smart speakers can eavesdrop on Amazon & Google owners - 9to5Mac

We’ve known since the spring of last year that Amazon Alexa and Google Home smart speakers can eavesdrop on owners, and even phish them via voice. However, new research shows that new malicious apps with these capabilities continue to be approved by both companies. The two vulnerabilities, demonstrated in videos below, occur because both companies make their speakers smarter by allowing third-party developers to create apps or “skills” for them. Apple’s HomePod is safe because the company doesn’t allow this type of third-party access… https://9to5mac.com/2019/10/21/smart-speakers-can-eavesdrop/

Amazon Confirms It Keeps Alexa Transcripts You Can't Delete - Gizmodo

Next time you use Amazon Alexa to message a friend or order a pizza, know that the recording could be stored indefinitely, even if you ask to delete it.
https://gizmodo.com/amazon-confirms-it-keeps-alexa-transcripts-you-cant-del-1836083633

If You Care About Privacy, Throw Your Amazon Alexa Devices Into the Sea - Gizmodo

Remember a couple of weeks ago when we learned that humans were monitoring Amazon Alexa commands, essentially spying on users in the name of product improvement? Well, we've got some more bad news about the always-on microphone that we've all invited into our homes. Employees at Amazon can "easily" discover any user's home address.....
https://gizmodo.com/if-you-care-about-privacy-throw-your-amazon-alexa-devi-1834277824

User data request gone bad: Amazon sent 1,700 Alexa voice recordings to the wrong person - 9to5Mac

After the EU's GDPR passed earlier this year, tech companies have been required to let users request all the data kept on file. Now, we're hearing about an unfortunate case where Amazon sent 1,700 Alexa voice recordings to the wrong user in Germany. ....
https://9to5mac.com/2018/12/20/alexa-user-request-gone-bad/

Alexa for Evangelicals!

Mrs. Betty Bowers, America's Best Christian, introduces an Echo for evangelicals. Hark! The days of digital tattletales telling your children inconvenient "facts" are over! Glory!...
https://youtu.be/fE5MXwqvY_4

Coming this fall: Amazon will be listening and watching us more than ever - USA TODAY

From the living room to the den, kitchen and even the car, Amazon's Echo speakers are listening to us every time we use the "Alexa" wake word. ....
https://www.usatoday.com/story/nletter/2018/09/21/amazon-listening-and-watching-more-than-ever/1373788002/

Your Worst Alexa Nightmares Are Coming True - Gizmodo

What's the most terrifying thing you can imagine an Amazon Echo doing? Think realistically. Would it be something simple but sinister, like artificially intelligent speaker recording a conversation between you and a loved one and then sending that recording to an acquaintance? That seems pretty bad to me. And guess what: it's happening. ....
https://gizmodo.com/your-worst-alexa-nightmares-are-coming-true-1826327301