Article

2023-06-14 Science & Technology

Amazon Echo via Alexa may not be your friend

[PJ] Brandon Jackson recently found himself in the midst of a problem. On May 25, he discovered that his smart home, which is tied to Amazon, was no longer doing that which he was paying for it to do. In a piece on Medium, Jackson noted that his primary way of interfacing with all of this wondrous technology is through Amazon Echo via Alexa. And lo and behold, suddenly nothing would respond to his requests or commands.

At first, Jackson thought he had possibly been hacked. But he goes to great lengths to keep his passwords secure. So with security issues off the table, what could it have been? The answer is stranger than you think. Or maybe it is part and parcel of 21st century America, and should serve as a lesson for those who are so enamored of having a "House of the Future."

On May 24, a package was delivered to Jackson’s home. His doorbell camera was programmed to say, "Excuse me, can I help you?" For one reason or another the driver who was walking away from the door and wearing headphones decided that the doorbell camera had somehow uttered a racial slur. The driver filed a complaint and...lights out, so to speak.

Posted by Besoeker 2023-06-14 01:36|| || Front Page|| [11126 views ] Top

#1 People willingly (and even pay for the "privlege") give their personal data away with the Internet, smart phone/apps, or just providing PII without questioning why an entity "demands" it.

But, be ready...more to follow.

Posted by DooDahMan 2023-06-14 08:02|| 2023-06-14 08:02|| Front Page Top

#2 Using your voice to turn on the lights does not make you Capt. Picard.

Posted by M. Murcek 2023-06-14 08:05|| 2023-06-14 08:05|| Front Page Top

#3 One of the key features of the IOT (internet of things) is to make sure that you keep giving them money. For whatever reason.

Posted by ed in texas 2023-06-14 09:42|| 2023-06-14 09:42|| Front Page Top

#4 I avoid any item that has an unnecessary "internet back end." Most such gear ends up orphaned when the web services behind it are shut down. Some of those items are mighty expensive bricks when the support dries up.

Posted by M. Murcek 2023-06-14 10:43|| 2023-06-14 10:43|| Front Page Top

#5 Won't have any of that shite. It's hard to buy an appliance that isn't connected these days.

Yuck

Posted by AlanC 2023-06-14 11:26|| 2023-06-14 11:26|| Front Page Top

#6 The mindset that gladly turned over one's life to (insert authority here). The lesson this idiot doesn't see is how he flushed his autonomy. ZFG.

Posted by Rex Mundi 2023-06-14 11:33|| 2023-06-14 11:33|| Front Page Top

#7 Anytime I am asked for my email address for no good reason, I use SuckIt@gofuckyourself.com

Posted by M. Murcek 2023-06-14 11:38|| 2023-06-14 11:38|| Front Page Top

16:48 Grom the Affective
16:46 Grom the Affective
16:46 Mullah Richard
16:05 swksvolFF
15:26 Procopius2k
15:23 NN2N1
14:59 Pancho Poodle8452
14:52 Rambler
14:51 Grom the Affective
14:41 Elmerert Hupens2660
14:31 Regular joe
14:28 trailing wife
14:25 magpie
14:18 Elmerert Hupens2660
14:14 Regular joe
14:10 Super Hose
14:08 Super Hose
14:08 Regular joe
14:02 Super Hose
14:01 trailing wife
14:01 trailing wife
13:58 trailing wife
13:56 Super Hose
13:54 trailing wife