Is your smartphone eavesdropping? Privacy settings to assist

Does it bother you that your smartphone is eavesdropping to a lot of what you say?

WHY YOU SHOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT SMARTPHONE EAVESDROPPING

Well, it shouldn’t be too much of a concern, according to TCL, given that smart speakers, smartwatches, and other devices are mostly listening to your voice to help.

“On your Android smartphone, for example, you can use the ‘Hey Google’ prompt to open an app, make a phone call, or do a quick Internet search.”

TCL

Essentially, it’s just a convenient, hands-free way to ask your device to do something or to input information instead of typing it in.

SETTINGS TO OPTIMIZE TO DISABLE THE FUNCTION

If feeling uptight about this function? TCL takes a look at the privacy concerns around virtual assistants like Google Assistant as well as how you can control which personal information you share.

1.      Turn Google Assistant on or off

You can get hands-free help from Google Assistant on your phone or watch by saying “Hey Google”. You’ll find the relevant settings in the Google Assistant app. If Google Assistant is on, say “Hey Google, open Assistant settings”. Tap General under “All settings” and you can turn the Assistant off with a toggle.

2.      Find your Google voice recordings

Google provides a central portal where you can view your interactions with its services and see which data it is storing about you. Head for Google My Activity, where you can see data about your Google searches, apps you’ve opened on your Android phone, YouTube videos you’ve watched and more. You can see what data Google is keeping about your voice and audio activity and also change permissions if you want.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO CAREFULLY READ PERMISSION NOTIFICATIONS

3.      Change app permissions 

You can allow some apps to use various features on your phone, such as your camera or microphone. An app will send a notification to ask for permission to use features on your phone, which you can Allow or Deny. You can also change permissions for a single app or by permission type in your phone’s settings. You can check which apps have permission to view your microphone. Tap Privacy, then Permission manager, then the Microphone permission type.

Some apps—like WhatsApp—will require access to your mic to work properly. But if they don’t need it, you can revoke the permission. Some apps may still be listening to you even if you have disabled voice detection and microphone access. It’s always a good idea to read the privacy policy of any app you install and be aware of the data they collect.