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How to check if your devices are listening to your conversations
- Researchers at NordVPN have devised a test to check if devices eavesdrop on conversations to send targeted ads.
- Smartphones listen to what you’re saying via built-in microphones, which is always on so virtual assistants can hear voice commands.
- One member of NordVPN research team investigated whether speaking about countries – selected at random – would increase ads for tour businesses and other hospitality companies in that country.
- The legality of listening practice hinges on the user consent. Any app spying without consent is illegal.
- Consumers can test phones by discussing a unique topic near their device and observing if related ads appear in the following days or weeks.
- The test has four-step unique topic selection, discussion, maintaining normal phone usage and observing and analyzing.
- Users should audit app permissions, manage voice assistant data, use a robust VPN, and utilise built-in security.
- NordVPN suggests users limit app permissions on their devices, including microphone and location access.
- Regularly audit social media settings, and be mindful of the information shared online. Even innocuous details can be used for targeted advertising or more nefarious purposes.
- Users can encrypt their online communications and sensitive data by using a VPN service, like NordVPN, when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks to prevent eavesdropping.
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