Upcoming Amazon Security Issue

[CKN]

You are stretching this. Your neighbors aren't talking to your WiFi network directly, i.e. if you check your router's list of connected devices, it will only be your own. This is presuming your router has security set up, of course, so your WiFi network is just as secure and locked down as it was with or without Amazon devices.

Yes, your neighbor's Amazon device might be able to talk to your Amazon device and technically their data can traverse your network (and vis-versa). This also depends on if the devices are close enough for this to work anyway.

Yea-a bunch of excitement about nothing. And the data limit they can even use is like 500MB.

It's also important to understand that other people's Sidewalk devices won't actually be able to access, join or even see your home's Wi-Fi network, and you won't have any access to information about those devices or their users, either. Outside devices like those will connect anonymously with your Echo or Ring device over Bluetooth LE or LoRa, and your Echo or Ring device will pass their signal on to the cloud using a very tiny amount of your home network's bandwidth.

Specifically, those transmissions are capped at 80Kbps each, with a maximum data usage of 500MB each month. That might sound like a lot, but according to Statista, internet usage spiked to a peak of about 400GB per month in 2020. That's 400,000MB. 500MB is about 0.125% of that figure.

https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-hom...out-sharing-home-bandwidth-community-finding/

 

[OVERKILL]

Agree . The Fios tech came today to install/replace my optical terminal network OTN and I asked him how many residential fios customers use an entire household vpn connection for personal use. He said very few.

I then explained my network pfsense/openvpn (udp client) + vpn provider. Near free!

So you are concerned about Verizon snooping on your browsing but not your VPN provider? That's the reason @alarmguy runs a VPN (doesn't trust his ISP) but it's surprising how many people think changing the egress point of their traffic makes them totally anonymous and untrackable.

 

[alarmguy]

So you are concerned about Verizon snooping on your browsing but not your VPN provider? That's the reason @alarmguy runs a VPN (doesn't trust his ISP) but it's surprising how many people think changing the egress point of their traffic makes them totally anonymous and untrackable.

I never said I don’t trust my ISP. It’s just a matter if I choose to deny them what I’m shopping for.
On the rare occasions that I do use VPN I don’t bombarded with ads of what I was shopping for or other insignificant stuff.
End to end encryption, hiding my IP address does deny them.

It also denies retail sites of where I am. Meaning location. It’s just a fun thing, denying them information, not a paranoid thing.

With your knowledge it might be more helpful posting what a VPN can do and what it can't do.

 

[OVERKILL]

I never said I don’t trust my ISP. It’s just a matter if I choose to deny them what I’m shopping for.
On the rare occasions that I do use VPN I don’t bombarded with ads of what I was shopping for or other insignificant stuff.
End to end encryption, hiding my IP address does deny them.

It also denies retail sites of where I am. Meaning location. It’s just a fun thing, denying them information, not a paranoid thing.

With your knowledge it might be more helpful posting what a VPN can do and what it can't do.

I did, remember, I made a whole thread on it some time back

 

[alarmguy]

I did, remember, I made a whole thread on it some time back

Ah yes, I see, May 2020.
You do know you won’t find a post where I said I don’t trust my ISP.

 

[OVERKILL]

Ah yes, I see, May 2020.
You do know you won’t find a post where I said I don’t trust my ISP.

What I inferred from your statements was that you don't trust your ISP not to monetize your browsing habits.

 

[PandaBear]

I don't mind turning it off, but giving them bandwidth I pay for? That's theft.

Depends on how they word it. Say if you use their bandwidth for X and then they use your bandwidth for X within the same month, it is not really theft.

 

[PandaBear]

So you are concerned about Verizon snooping on your browsing but not your VPN provider? That's the reason @alarmguy runs a VPN (doesn't trust his ISP) but it's surprising how many people think changing the egress point of their traffic makes them totally anonymous and untrackable.

I only need Hollywood to pick an easier target to sue instead of me. I don't really care if The Man wants to snoop on me.

 

[Saabist]

I simply refuse to have any product in the house whose name or description includes the word "smart". Problem solved.

 

[CKN]

I simply refuse to have any product in the house whose name or description includes the word "smart". Problem solved.

?Use any streaming services? Have a cellphone? Plenty of "spying" on you if you can answer yes to any of those questions.

 

[alarmguy]

?Use any streaming services? Have a cellphone? Plenty of "spying" on you if you can answer yes to any of those questions.

Maybe but you do not have to be just give up and spread your ____ either. You can fight back, fighting back against so called "trust worthy" corporations is a joke in this country, as long as you give the rats something for free, they wont complain.
You can limit it and fight. Used to be US, now its Europe that fights back and we get a small benefit from it.
American can shut down google or Amazon any day of the week, oh... but all that "free" stuff.

 

[CKN]

Maybe but you do not have to be just give up and spread your ____ either. You can fight back, fighting back against so called "trust worthy" corporations is a joke in this country, as long as you give the rats something for free, they wont complain.
You can limit it and fight. Used to be US, now its Europe that fights back and we get a small benefit from it.
American can shut down google or Amazon any day of the week, oh... but all that "free" stuff.

We disagree. You can't really fight back. The only way to "fight back" would be to completely "disconnect yourself", pay cash for your purchases, don't use any "shoppers cards", don't register your vehicles with the states, Of course this would preclude financing real property, etc.

In this day and age -it's impossible. With all due respect-you privacy advocates should find a cause where you can really make a difference.

I'm aware of what Europe does-the issue here is your data is already out there.

 

[alarmguy]

We disagree. You can't really fight back. The only way to "fight back" would be to completely "disconnect yourself", pay cash for your purchases, don't use any "shoppers cards", don't register your vehicles with the states, Of course this would preclude financing real property, etc.

In this day and age -it's impossible. With all due respect-you privacy advocates should find a cause where you can really make a difference.

I'm aware of what Europe does-the issue here is your data is already out there.

You’re correct we disagree

 

[Saabist]

?Use any streaming services? Have a cellphone? Plenty of "spying" on you if you can answer yes to any of those questions.

No streaming services, just an antenna on the roof. Simple flip phone that is turned off with battery removed unless in use which is not often. Also I pay cash whenever possible and do not use store "loyalty" cards. You can't stop all of it but you don't have to be broadcasting the details of your life 24/7 either.

 

[Dennywires]

If you pay taxes they got you figured out

 

[alarmguy]

If you pay taxes they got you figured out

I dont think you understand the scope of "they" but we live in a free country so you can let everyone in on your stuff or you can take some steps to deprive some companies. We all know in the animal kingdom the majority are followers and the corporations got them figured out and they follow like ducks in a pond figuring there is no other way. )
So we are all free to let google "mould their minds" after all its cheaper that way, right?

People actually believe because google says it doesnt scan gmail for advertising anymore that its private. Not, data from email is sold to 3rd parties. Just part of the high ethics people are ok with, as long as its free. Trust corporations, they have your interests first and foremost.

 

[CKN]

I dont think you understand the scope of "they" but we live in a free country so you can let everyone in on your stuff or you can take some steps to deprive some companies. We all know in the animal kingdom the majority are followers and the corporations got them figured out and they follow like ducks in a pond figuring there is no other way. )
So we are all free to let google "mould their minds" after all its cheaper that way, right?

People actually believe because google says it doesnt scan gmail for advertising anymore that its private. Not, data from email is sold to 3rd parties. Just part of the high ethics people are ok with, as long as its free. Trust corporations, they have your interests first and foremost.

What about Equifax? What about all the other credit reporting agencies? Unless you never buy a house, and never use credit cards they have plenty of data on you. You are beating a dead horse. I know the scope of "they"-that's why you can't prevent it.

 

[dishdude]

I know the scope of "they"-that's why you can't prevent it.

It really is a fool's errand. Take Alarmguy at his word, Google is evil and he found some super-secure email provider. Is he not going to send an email to anyone with a gmail address?

Wasn't someone funneling all their traffic through a free VPN? Can't remember who that is...great you hid it from your ISP and now who knows what company is filtering your traffic.

 

[alarmguy]

What about Equifax? What about all the other credit reporting agencies? Unless you never buy a house, and never use credit cards they have plenty of data on you. You are beating a dead horse. I know the scope of "they"-that's why you can't prevent it.

There are many things can be done and WE are beating a dead horse. We both stated our cases.
Trust me, I know, in a nation where only 10% of Americans make the tiny required keystrokes on their keyboards (Im sure you included*L*) and lock their credit report for FREE you have the majority of people behind you.

Then there is the 10% who wont become victims of fraudulent loans and all other types of things people can do by accessing your credit reports from Experian, Transunion and Equifax (never mind the smaller ones)

So live and let live, spew all the information you want out there, its ok, I dont care but I bet someone in this forum might start to think different.
Your wrong on quite a few things, including the reporting agencies which you can also opt of of prescreening and selling offers, maybe you gave up to soon to know what can be prevented.

Ive replied enough, just helping others get informed, again, in a nation that only 10% of the population locks their credit. Plus its free and simple
SO back to Amazon, this is why they will always be successful. The vast majority want free and lazy. I only say that because credit locks are free but not much fun and take a little effort )

 

[simple_gifts]

Is he not going to send an email to anyone with a gmail address?

His email provider, protonmail, when directed will send a web link to the destination email address and the email will be served off of the protonmail webservers over HTTPS;

It requires a passphrase to unlock the the page, and the sender is allowed to send a passphrase hint. So "yes" you can sent securely to gmail accounts and simply avoid having google store any aspect of the message, except the link, which requires a passphrase to open.

Preventing prying eyes from accessing personal data sometimes is seemless and sometimes requires a bit more effort.

The technologies are available to secure your privacy for many situations; one just needs to choose to use them