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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (May 30, 2018)
May 30, 2018 The Skanner Page 9 News After Amazon Echo Misfire, Ways to Protect Your Own Privacy By Barbara Ortutay and Anick Jesdanun AP Technology Writers NEW YORK (AP) — Reve- lations that an Amazon Echo smart speaker inadvertently sent a family’s private con- versation to an acquaintance highlights some unexpected risks of new voice-enabled technologies. According to Amazon, the fault was an “unlikely” series of inadvertent vocal cues that triggered the speaker, caused it to begin recording and then led it to interpret subsequent conversation as a “send mes- sage” request. There’s no way to eliminate these sorts of privacy risks short of unplugging entirely. But you can minimize the odds of unpleasant privacy surpris- es with these tips: KILL THE MIC: Most smart speakers have a physical button to disable the microphone, so a private con- versation can’t be recorded to begin with. You can hit that when you’re having sensitive conversations. The button on the Echo will turn red; other devices have similar cues. It doesn’t make sense to keep the mic disabled throughout the day, though. If the Echo can’t hear you, it won’t be able to order you more toilet paper or play smooth jazz. LIMIT THE MIC Disabling the microphone isn’t practical on a smart- phone, but you can limit what apps have access to it. Go to the settings and turn off mic access to all but essential apps such as voice recorders or video conferencing. Netflix doesn’t really need voice access; you can simply type the name of the show you’re searching for. “ Facebook CEO Mark Zucker- berg famously puts a piece of tape over his laptop’s camera to pre- vent spying if anyone were to hack his device ABOUT THAT CAMERA: Facebook CEO Mark Zucker- berg famously puts a piece of tape over his laptop’s camera to prevent spying if anyone were to hack his device. Buy yourself a roll. Or use bandag- es. If you have a home-securi- ty camera that’s connected to the internet, turn the camera to the wall when you’re home. Just remember to turn it back before you leave, or you defeat the point of having a security camera. BLOCK THE SIGNALS For smartphones and other gadgets you carry with you, a “Faraday bag” that blocks elec- tromagnetic waves can help prevent unwanted spying. The good ones will block cellular and other signals, meaning privacy-compromising infor- mation such as your location won’t leak out either. Just re- member, your phone won’t get any calls while it’s in the bag — that’s the whole point. BE INFORMED Apple, Samsung and other tech companies have worked over the years to ensure that their products work “out of the box,” without users having to pore through lengthy manuals and operating instructions. The downside is that users are often unaware of all the things their gadgets can do, good or bad. Checking reputable on- line reviews, how-to guides and even instructional videos will help you get the most out of new technologies. They’ll also tell you about any known glitches and risks. Of course, the safest ap- proach is not to buy a new gad- get in the first place. That might not be practical for smart- phones these days, but do you really need a smart speaker or a television set that’s connect- ed to the internet? (As it turns out, it’s actually difficult to buy a TV without “smart” capabili- ties these days, but nothing says you have to connect it at home.) From toothbrushes to slow cookers to toys, if companies can dream it up, it’s out there. Companies often release smart gadgets without thinking through the risks and ensur- ing their security. This makes AP PHOTO/ELAINE THOMPSON, FILE Companies often release ‘smart’ devices without considering the risks In this Sept. 27, 2017, file photo, Amazon Echo Plus, center, and other Echo devices sit on display during an event announcing several new Amazon products by the company in Seattle. Amazon says an “unlikely” string of events prompted its Echo personal assistant device to record a Portland, Ore., family’s private conversation and then send the recording to an acquaintance in Seattle them easy targets for mali- cious hackers. This is especial- ly true with manufacturers that aren’t well known or that specialize in toys and other non-tech businesses. In the Time it Takes to Tweet, Roseanne Barr Loses Her Job NEW YORK (AP) — In the time it took to compose a 53-character tweet, Roseanne Barr went from a hero that ABC was banking upon to un- employed. The network canceled its hit reboot of “Roseanne” Tuesday after Barr’s racist tweet that referred to Valerie Jarrett, an adviser to former President Barack Obama, as a cross be- tween the Muslim Brother- hood and the “Planet of the Apes.” Her agent dropped her, and other services pulled “Roseanne” reruns. The swift developments rendered President Donald Trump at least temporarily mum. Trump, who reveled in the success of “Roseanne” after Barr’s character in the show came out as a supporter of his presidency, made no men- tion of the firing in a cam- paign-style rally in Tennes- see on Tuesday evening. “We have a lot bigger things going on in the country right now, certainly, that the pres- ident is spending his time on,” said White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. A career you can be proud of. Being a carpenter isn’t just a job. It’s a way of life. We’re devoted to strengthening the lives of our members with steady work, wealth and personal growth. 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