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Imagine you’re having a simple conversation with a friend or family member. Your child wants a specific toy for the holidays, you’re thinking about trying a different hair product, you need a new pair of sunglasses.
Naturally, the first place you might search for these products are sites like Google or Amazon.
But before you can even get to the search bar, ads are popping up on your phone screen for the exact products you were just speaking about moments before. It could be a coincidence, but it’s important to know for sure that nothing suspicious is going on. Are our smartphones always listening to us? The answer really is yes and no.
But before you can even get to the search bar, ads are popping up on your phone screen for the exact products you were just speaking about moments before. It could be a coincidence, but it’s important to know for sure that nothing suspicious is going on. Are our smartphones always listening to us? The answer really is yes and no.
What are voice-recognition assistants and should you be concerned?
Smartphones often have built-in voice-recognition assistants that can help us find answers to questions, such as the Apple iPhone feature known as Siri. But these assistants are designed to listen to us only when commanded to (i.e. "Hey Siri, what song is currently playing?).
Smartphones often have built-in voice-recognition assistants that can help us find answers to questions, such as the Apple iPhone feature known as Siri. But these assistants are designed to listen to us only when commanded to (i.e. "Hey Siri, what song is currently playing?).
How can you tell if your device is listening to you?
There are built-in microphones in every smartphone as well, and your device should warn you when its microphone is being used to record you. When your microphone is being used, an orange dot should appear in the top right-hand corner of your screen, just above your Wi-Fi and battery icons. You can also swipe down from the top of your screen to see which apps on your phone are using the microphone.
There are built-in microphones in every smartphone as well, and your device should warn you when its microphone is being used to record you. When your microphone is being used, an orange dot should appear in the top right-hand corner of your screen, just above your Wi-Fi and battery icons. You can also swipe down from the top of your screen to see which apps on your phone are using the microphone.
Your smartphone is also designed to track your data and search histories. This allows companies to send you personalized advertisements based on items you’ve clicked on or researched previously, baiting you to consume more of their products. It’s more of a tool they use to get you to reach into your wallet than to obtain your personal information.
How can you limit your phone from listening to you?
Just because our smartphones can listen to us, doesn’t mean we have to let them. These are a few easy steps you can take to limit your phone’s listening access:
Just because our smartphones can listen to us, doesn’t mean we have to let them. These are a few easy steps you can take to limit your phone’s listening access:
1) Turn off your voice-recognition assistant
How to turn off Siri
Go to Settings
Click "Siri & Search"
Turn off the following options: Listen for "Hey Siri," Press Side Button for Siri, and Allow Siri When Locked
A pop-up window will ask if you want to turn off Siri: Click "Turn off Siri"
How to turn off Google Assistant
Go to Settings
Select Google
Click Account Services
Click Search, Assistant & Voice Select Voice
Select Voice Match
Turn off "Hey Google"
2) Turn off the microphone on all your applications
How to stop your iOS device from listening to you
Click Settings
Scroll down to any application (Facebook, Snapchat, etc.)
Turn off Microphone option
How to turn off Siri
Go to Settings
Click "Siri & Search"
Turn off the following options: Listen for "Hey Siri," Press Side Button for Siri, and Allow Siri When Locked
A pop-up window will ask if you want to turn off Siri: Click "Turn off Siri"
How to turn off Google Assistant
Go to Settings
Select Google
Click Account Services
Click Search, Assistant & Voice Select Voice
Select Voice Match
Turn off "Hey Google"
2) Turn off the microphone on all your applications
How to stop your iOS device from listening to you
Click Settings
Scroll down to any application (Facebook, Snapchat, etc.)
Turn off Microphone option
Credit: foxnews.com
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