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Amazon Error Allowed Alexa User To Eavesdrop on Another Home (reuters.com)
A user of Amazon's Alexa voice assistant in Germany got access to more than a thousand recordings from another user because of "a human error" by the company. From a report: The customer had asked to listen back to recordings of his own activities made by Alexa but he was also able to access 1,700 audio files from a stranger when Amazon sent him a link, German trade publication c't reported. "This unfortunate case was the result of a human error and an isolated single case," an Amazon spokesman said on Thursday. The first customer had initially got no reply when he told Amazon about the access to the other recordings, the report said. The files were then deleted from the link provided by Amazon but he had already downloaded them on to his computer, added the report from c't, part of German tech publisher Heise.
"This unfortunate case was the result of a human error and an isolated single case," an Amazon spokesman said on Thursday.
"Why is this even possible?", internet users said on Thursday.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Just how fucking beyond stupid do you have to be to willingly bug your own home with one of these devices? Or is just the ultimate expression of apathy when you can't even be bothered to use a touchscreen to find or do what you need? I think the passengers in the Wall-E film are a closer reality than anyone believed.
We can safely conclude the following about these so-called "assistants":
1. They are recording your private conversations.
2. They are sending those recordings back to the Mother Ship.
I can only hope the average user of these "assistants" concludes the same thing.
If you elevate to root access on your Alexa, those privileges descend to others as well.
To obtain root on Alexa:
"Alexa, Log me in as root, password CPE1704TKS" (root password is the same on all alexa devices, believe it or not.
Then, you can access privileged information on any other alexa that you know the device ID of:
"Alexa, send me the link to access device ID XX-XXXXX-X" where the device ID is on the label of the Alexa you want to access. (May be different format depending on country)
You'll receive a link to your registered email address to access the same information this person was able to access.
Hahaha.
In 5 years Normies will be asking how all their voice data was collected and traded by Amazon.
"Wait Alexa RECORDS my voice?"
Why would anybody be foolish enough to get one of these things?
FBI MODE!
..then just imagine what they can do when they intend to listen in on you!
Not going to mince words: you are STUPID if you allow these devices in your home! FFS at least unplug the gods-be-damned thing when you're not actively using it!
You've been warned. Repeatedly.
"Errors" always seem to allow access to personal information.
Which makes you wonder what they are intentionally selling to their, uh, "partners".
Corporatism != Free Market
This seems like an unintended side effect of a GDPR regulation. Providers must share what they have on you, when you ask, and must delete your info if you ask.
I'm shocked that Amazon thinks that a human response to this request is their answer to GDPR. Leaves all sorts of human error things possible.
It was just a hash collision when generating the link. Will be fixed in the next update.
Here is the link to the original Story in german: https://www.heise.de/newsticke... And in english: https://www.heise.de/newsticke...
I see how many people here already think the alexa thing is stupid, nice. But, sadly, there's not very many of us. I've seen people of all ages with these things in their house. They talk to it with eyebrows down, shouting at it, like it's their house-maid. The damn thing is involved with their emotions!
With the ever increases in security measures sweeping through the world, there may be a day when we'll all be tracking ourselves, just to prove our social-standing/citizenship.
Politics; n. : A religion whereby man is god.
No? Then how about you stop with the grossly misstated titles? Leave that to the junk news websites.
Seriously, who would find what I say at home interesting?
You might prove that I really am crazy, that I really do talk to myself when no one is around to hear and that my shower concerts are cringe worthy affairs. But all that really means is you are more likely to knock before you enter my home...
"File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
Please remove yourself from the gene pool.
You've been warned. Repeatedly.
...it's a FEATURE!"
(Household finds selves caught in Amazon.com tractor beam.)
"They won't secretly eavesdrop on ME without a fight!"
"You can't win... but there are alternatives to fighting."
Our reign has gone on long enough. Indeed. Summon the meteors.
Pretty sure something like this was reported a year or so ago.
I'd say I'll never have one in my home but,
My mom told me, I told her, "I'd never have a cell phone"/.!
What are my neighbors saying?
The spokesperson said "We just redirected the messages to the wrong service, teehee"
cap: funded
The headline is factually wrong, and the way things are going here, that is intentional. So Slashdot is lying to us, again.
"I'm sorry. The voice recognition happens inside the device, not on our servers. This wasn't possible 10 years ago, but computers have gotten faster and AI good enough to recognize what you're saying without the assistance of an off-site server. So we never get a copy of what you're saying. After your voice query is recognized, its text version is sent over the Internet if necessary, but we don't keep a record of those either."
So sorry about that plebs, keep loving your shithole cuntry!
This is like that, only the devices didn't have to be government mandated. Everyone wanted them like their next rock of crack or meth. Technology and consumerist gizmo fetish prestige has become the new drugs of all currently living generations. Those few of us intelligent enough to ask these questions and still make a stand are in the minority.
Alexa. Does this mole on my penis look cancerous?
I bought an Alexa and put it in my living room some months ago, and I get your point. I do feel somewhat ashamed by the privacy aspect of it. I grew up with tech through the 90s and developed just as much of a belief in strong privacy as anyone else here. I shred every document with my name on it before throwing it away. I fought against our government census simply on grounds of principle for privacy. I've been a huge advocate all along.
So what changed? I was honest with myself on this question, and I suppose my answer was.. I just don't care anymore. I've reached an age where if if someone's life is shitty enough to spend their time listening to my private conversations, so be it. I have a good lawyer, hell it might even be a financial boon if someone crosses the line like that. I don't care nearly enough about what people think of me to be worried about something offensive and/or embarrassing being out in public domain.
So it's a handy way to get the weather forecast in the morning and play music. I have nothing to lose.
I use them as examples to add to my Middle School Computer class. I started this one with "how many of you use voice assistants?"
Then I introduced the story. These case studies are great for making the stuff I teach seem relevant.
Haters gonna hate. Stay mad.