- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Disable Sidewalk Today
Posted on 6/8/21 at 10:31 am to JawjaTigah
Posted on 6/8/21 at 10:31 am to JawjaTigah
quote:
Amazon’s latest faux improvement to its Alexa devices is called Sidewalk. Anybody who has an Alexa device is automatically enrolled. It shares your bandwidth with “neighbors” and some think also opens the door for unscrupulous hackers and data miners to peer more deeply into your personal information than ever.
It is being launched today. If you don’t want to participate, you must go into your Alexa app and disable it. Otherwise, you are an even more open book. Up to you. If you don’t do Alexa or Echo, just ignore this thread and move on.
I was talking to my telcom buddy this past weekend. He worked for Cox BR for 6 years(high $ networking shite, not installing cable.
). He told me Cox does this already to everyone using those router/modem combos. They set aside bandwidth for this exact same thing.
That said, Cox is an ISP. I have Eatel and wouldn't really care if they did the same thing b/c I pay them for my internets.
But the likes of Roku, Amazon, Apple TV, etc have no business slicing up our bandwidth for their pet projects unless we WANT to participate.
TLDR It's not the security/privacy risk people think it is. But it's still frickin shady to do by default/withouth express permission.
This post was edited on 6/8/21 at 10:33 am
2
Posted on 6/8/21 at 10:40 am to JawjaTigah
quote:
more>>settings>>accountsettings>>amazonsidewalk>>disable button
Thank you. Worked like a charm.
That said - if someone IS spying on me/my family = I feel terrible for them. It's bad enough that I have to listen to this crap. But, I guess it's cool for someone getting paid to listen to it.
Posted on 6/8/21 at 10:42 am to mikelbr
quote:
He told me Cox does this already to everyone using those router/modem combos.
Which is why you never use them as anything but a modem.
Posted on 6/8/21 at 10:49 am to JawjaTigah
Thanks ... my husband has it linked to his phone so I'll have him check BUT our daughter has an Alexa .. she needs to see about this!
Posted on 6/8/21 at 10:53 am to JawjaTigah
How about just stop using Amazon services?
It's really not hard.
frick Amazon.
Bezos and pals hate you.
Stop giving them business.
It's really not hard.
frick Amazon.
Bezos and pals hate you.
Stop giving them business.
Posted on 6/8/21 at 10:54 am to JawjaTigah
Remember who is really at fault, politicians. In Europe the laws are written that you need to "opt in" for a service where ours make you "opt out". You have to fix the rules to really address the issue.
Posted on 6/8/21 at 10:56 am to Tortious
quote:If you have the Alexa app, Sidewalk is there. Doesnt matter which generation. Go thru the steps I laid out again. But maybe update your Alexa app if it needs that first.
Don't have on my Alexa App. Wonder if it needs to be newer generation devices as my Alexa is a couple of years old.
This post was edited on 6/8/21 at 11:02 am
Posted on 6/8/21 at 11:10 am to JawjaTigah
Who in their right mind actively uses assis- oh wait, all of us with cell phones.
frick.
frick.
Posted on 6/8/21 at 11:11 am to Centinel
quote:
Centinel
Don't you find it funny that almost everyone in IT just flat out refuses to use any home automation equipment outright lmao.
Posted on 6/8/21 at 11:19 am to crewdepoo
quote:
Only an idiot would have one of those listening to them non stop
There’s nothing interesting to hear in my house, so it doesn’t bother me personally.
This post was edited on 6/8/21 at 11:21 am
Posted on 6/8/21 at 11:22 am to crewdepoo
quote:
you can limit access to an extent on phones. The least listening devices, the better. These smart speakers are only useful is you have them listening constantly. Phones you “can turn that off” and still be useful.
That might help, but you are still walking around with a microphone in your pocket.
Posted on 6/8/21 at 11:22 am to A Smoke Break
quote:
Don't you find it funny that almost everyone in IT just flat out refuses to use any home automation equipment outright lmao.
I have an Echo. I also was active duty military with a TS/SCI. The US government (and China) know everything there is to know about me, so not really worried.
I prefer the convenience of not having to get out of bed to turn off the lights when my wife falls asleep reading.
Posted on 6/8/21 at 11:36 am to JawjaTigah
Here's a good article from SANS about Sidewalk. Turns out most of the hype is just that...hype. This article goes in to detail about what messaging protocols it uses, what access it has, etc.
SANS Internet Storm Center article
SANS Internet Storm Center article
Posted on 6/8/21 at 12:13 pm to Kcrad
quote:that is suppose to be turned off when phones sleeping. Amazon is always on
but you are still walking around with a microphone in your pocket.
Posted on 6/8/21 at 12:48 pm to Roll Tide Ravens
quote:sorry about your boring life
There’s nothing interesting to hear in my house, so it doesn’t bother me personally.
Posted on 6/8/21 at 1:11 pm to Klark Kent
Showed up in mine just now. Turned that shite off with the quickness.
Posted on 6/8/21 at 5:10 pm to crewdepoo
quote:
sorry about your boring life
It’s not boring, there just isn’t much said that Amazon or the government will find very interesting.
Posted on 6/8/21 at 5:12 pm to JawjaTigah
Why do you want to keep young future entrepreneurs from fulfilling their potential using your bandwidth?
Posted on 6/8/21 at 7:31 pm to mikelbr
quote:
He told me Cox does this already to everyone using those router/modem combos. They set aside bandwidth for this exact same thing.
That said, Cox is an ISP. I have Eatel and wouldn't really care if they did the same thing b/c I pay them for my internets.
I think the big difference here is that Eatel doesn't require a modem, whereas Cox does, so I would think Eatel would be less likely to do this?
Posted on 6/8/21 at 7:34 pm to JawjaTigah
quote:
If you have the Alexa app, Sidewalk is there. Doesnt matter which generation. Go thru the steps I laid out again. But maybe update your Alexa app if it needs that first.
Its not for me and I have updated app. Thread on tech board is suggesting Ring or Alexa devices must be 2019 or more recent. Don't know
Page 2 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News