To what extent have you trusted your privacy in favor of the convenience offered by services such as applications, tools or virtual assistants? In a time when, if you stop to think, everything is quite similar, at least in depth, to George Orwell’s dystopian novel, 1984, we often forget our privacy, enthralled by how comfortable and easy they make our lives. virtual assistants. But is there any kind of danger in it? Can something be done to avoid it? If these questions seem interesting to you, keep reading to learn about all the risks that intelligent assistants can pose, and how to act against them.
More and more homes have smart assistants like Alexa or Google Home. They make your life easier, but they also open the door to privacy and security risks that you don’t always have in mind, and that’s normal. In this article you will see what dangers these devices can bring and how to protect yourself from them in a simple way. Simply put, a smart assistant is a device that responds to voice commands to do various tasks, such as playing music, controlling appliances, or searching for something on the Internet, and telling you about it.
Security and privacy risks
In reality, they are the height of convenience, as they can manage many aspects of our daily lives. But behind this convenience there are a series of risks that are worth knowing:
- Constant Listening: These assistants are designed to be attentive to your commands at all times, meaning they are always “listening.” Although manufacturers claim that they only record when the keyword is activated, there have already been cases where conversations have been stored and sent without permission. These types of incidents can compromise your privacy, as sensitive information could end up in the wrong hands.
- Hacking: Like any Internet-connected device, smart assistants are susceptible to hacks. Cybercriminals can access them and, in the worst case, take control of other connected devices, such as cameras or security systems. Imagine that an intruder can deactivate your alarm or turn on the lights without you realizing it, that could happen if your smart assistant is compromised.
- Use of personal information: To function properly, assistants require access to personal accounts, which involves sharing private information such as your email, contacts, and calendar. If a hacker accesses your device, all that information can be used against you, from making unauthorized purchases to extortion or identity theft.
How to protect yourself?
If, despite these risks, you decide to continue using a smart assistant, it is important that you take certain measures to protect yourself:
- Get privacy settings right: From your device settings, you can limit what information you share and how data is stored. Turn off your microphone when you’re not using it and check which conversations are being saved to the cloud.
- Update regularly: Manufacturers often release security updates. Keeping your smart assistant up to date reduces the risk of someone exploiting vulnerabilities to access it.
- Use strong passwords: and don’t leave the settings at default. Change passwords and use two-factor authentication when possible. This will make it difficult for unauthorized access to your device.
Smart assistants are very useful tools, but it is important to be aware of the risks they entail. With a few simple precautions, you can enjoy its benefits without compromising your privacy or the security of your home.
