My Home Devices are listening!

The fact that Netflix, Prime, or other streaming apps gather data to analyze your viewing habits and leverage built-in microphones and cameras to facilitate that process, is not new.  A close friend of mine recently reminded folks in a LinkedIn post that smart devices continue to evolve…along with new security concerns. What was an ah-ha moment was how difficult, if not impossible, it is to stop it from happening.

 For example, as of March 28, 2025, Amazons’ virtual voice assistant, Alexa will no longer let you opt out of sending these voice recordings to the cloud. Alexa is great for listening to music, providing weather reports, or updating you on the latest news, etc.  Have you had the experience of being in a conversation when suddenly Alexa turns on and we wonder what was heard.  Sometimes we laugh and write this off as the cost of great technology advances that make our lives easier. 

Smart, microphone enabled devices -like smart speakers, phones, or TVs—pose serious cybersecurity and privacy risks. These devices can unintentionally record private conversations, store or transmit sensitive data to third parties. If hacked, they can become surveillance tools, exposing personal or corporate information that, when combined with the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence really amplifies the potential vulnerabilities.

The always-on nature of these home devices creates continuous vulnerability by expanding the attack surface for cybercriminals. As smart technology grows, it is important to have secure home networks, strong passwords and be aware of your surroundings.

Working at home is still a norm for many individuals. The potential for sensitive information to be exposed and leveraged is a real concern. Cyber Knowledge Partners will help you incorporate these vulnerabilities into your cyber resilience plan.

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