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I have almost completely switched from google to duckduckgo due to all the recent news about the company. I wonder how many others have been turned off by some of the headlines?
Mine somehow got disconnected from the internet. It keeps telling me it's no longer connect....gee too bad.
Do a test, say something like "I want to buy ____." "I heard this place ____ was really good." "Can you look up some places to eat." to yourself or someone else.
Then open your browser a day later and you may start seeing pop-up ads that coincides with the conversation that Google recorded. That's how analytics work.
Open your browser, or even turn on your tv and start seeing ads for these places & things. It's creepy.
Do people have these things so that they are "cool", "hip" or "with the times" or do they actually find them useful? I find them to be a nuisance and an invasion of privacy. I know a bunch of people who got tired of "Alexa" after the novelty of their silly toy faded off.
The more of these things you allow into your home the less privacy you have. Anytime you put something on your wifi you creating an entry point for eaves droppers like google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple along with hackers getting access to your network.
Ive tried something similar with Google searches, and it seems like Google has the ability to read my mind, (before I start typing).
I realize some people will say they learn from a persons past searches and internet history, but that was not the case in the times I tried it, I searched for something totally different, and STILL, the pop up search selections, the question I was going type, was first.
That's Google's "special sauce" but it's nothing more than just very predatory data gathering and analytics.
Just do a Google map search and it already guesses where you may be heading based on past history of your GPS location and searches.
Past weekend, I was searching for places to eat and it already assumed that I heading to a diner and popped up various locations that I used to frequent.
The way to stop that is stop using Google searches or use different accounts.
I don't have Alexa and I also have the microphone in my computer (and the camera) turned off. BUT even so, I'm pretty sure that there are other ways to monitor what I'm talking about, where I'm driving, etc.
All I can say is that if "they" are monitoring me, someone sure is bored out there.
"Where did she go today?" "Oh, to the grocery store and then the post office."
"What did she google today?" "Scottish health care plans. Michael Jackson. Average size of a garage."
Do people have these things so that they are "cool", "hip" or "with the times" or do they actually find them useful? I find them to be a nuisance and an invasion of privacy. I know a bunch of people who got tired of "Alexa" after the novelty of their silly toy faded off.
The more of these things you allow into your home the less privacy you have. Anytime you put something on your wifi you creating an entry point for eaves droppers like google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple along with hackers getting access to your network.
Mine was given to me as a gift so it didn't cost me a dime. It was fun for a while asking it simple things for information, hearing the news and weather and asking it to play music. It was basically a toy before I found out if was listening to me.
That said, I live alone. It's not hearing very much, LOL.
Google nor Amazon are recording you without your consent.
Google nor Amazon nor Facebook are eavesdropping on your conversations and sending you ads. I have tested this so much it's not even funny. Like analytic thorough testing.
In the article, any one actually read it?
Google and Amazon employees can listen to audio that you VOLUNTARILY SEND TO THE SERVICES. When you say "Alexa" or "OK Google"... this is the audio they have access to.
This should surprise no one.
Google gives you free storage space for the same reason Apple does: because they know you will run out and then they will sell you more. Period. Plain old trying to make money.
It's pretty brilliant actually. Apple gives you 5GB. Everyone runs out of that. Then they offer you like 20 or 50 for only 99 cents a month. Actually not a bad deal. The last estimate I saw was 11,000,000 people pay that 99 cents. A month. Apple is making $11 MILLION dollars a month on that alone.
I'm not saying these companies are all safe and secure and on your side. But the level of spying some of you think is going on: isn't.
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