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Project Alias Hacks Amazon Echo and Google Home To Protect Your Privacy (fastcompany.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the safety-first dept.

fahrbot-bot writes: The gadget, called Alias, is an always-listening speaker, designed to fit on top of an Amazon Echo or Google Home, where it looks like a mass of melted candle wax. It's composed of a 3D-printed top layer, a mic array, a Raspberry Pi, and two speakers. It only connects to the internet during the initial setup process. Alias stays "off the grid" while you're using it, preventing your conversations from leaving the device. When the Alias hears its own (customizable) wake word, it'll stop broadcasting white noise and wake up Alexa or Google Assistant so you can use them as normal.

6 of 62 comments (clear)

  1. I only see one problem by Opportunist · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Anyone valuing his privacy enough to use such a device probably already would not allow an eavesdropping device to exist in his living room. So who exactly is the target audience?

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    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    1. Re:I only see one problem by lazarus · · Score: 3, Informative

      Doesn't have to be a "conspiracy". How do you KNOW the mute button works or what it does?

      Because it is a hardware switch which cuts off electricity to the microphone. This has been explored by many many tear-downs. Search for yourself.

      So unless someone has sneaked into your house/office and swapped it for some elaborate bypass it is not going to hear anything when it is activated.

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      I am not interested in articles about life extension advancements.
    2. Re:I only see one problem by ichimunki · · Score: 3, Insightful

      How would I know if the "Do Not Disturb" button worked? Wireshark. Even if the device listens but doesn't respond, what matters is whether it phones home-- and that can be monitored. It should not be connecting to the network until after it recognizes the wake word... now I suppose it could record and then wait for the wake word to transmit... but if I'm that paranoid, why wouldn't I just install a bunch of smart sockets to turn the power to my devices off when I want true privacy? Or why would I get devices like these in the first place?

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      I do not have a signature
  2. Simpler, cheaper solution by Tyger-ZA · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Unplug your spy devices, permanently

  3. Wrong material by ArhcAngel · · Score: 3, Funny

    Shouldn't it be made out of tinfoil?

    --
    "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
  4. Snips by GodWasAnAlien · · Score: 3, Informative

    Instead, why not give/throw/sell the alexa/google device away,
    and just put Snips on a Raspberry pi?