“If your IoT device secretly contained a microphone, which was previously undocumented, would you be happy when the device maker announced an over-the-air update that can enable the microphone for virtual assistant voice functionality?” Ms. Smith reports for CSO. “That’s what happened with the security alarm system Nest Secure.”
“I suppose it depends upon your outlook on if you are happy or creeped out that your security system secretly had an undocumented microphone capable of doing the listening all along,” Smith reports.
“Google didn’t really focus on the ‘surprise there was a microphone hidden in the Nest Guard brain of your Nest Secure’ angle, preferring a take on how Google Assistant and Nest Guard can help you out,” Smith reports. “The announcement concluded with: ‘We’ve built Nest Secure around you and the way you live, so you won’t be able to disarm the system using your voice. With the Google Assistant built in, your security system is now even more helpful.'”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Hopefully, at least one of those who chose a Google product for “home security” isn’t so debilitatingly stupid or morbidly naive as to not be able to manage to contact a lawyer to begin a very necessary class action lawsuit over Google’s “oversight” (pun intended).
Unfortunately, these poor saps chose to buy a Google product for “home security” in the first place, so all bets are off. They’re much more likely smiling over their drool cups about getting a “free” microphone from Google.
“Nest Secure.” What a joke.
If Google cannot track users, their business model is not viable. — MacDailyNews, February 14, 2019
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[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
“Nest Secure.” What a joke. -MDN
So much so, it’s almost as funny as Apple leasing their users to Google Search, as default, for $12B!!!
Does Apple provide a special unmarked Google search page? Your comment (and pitiful attempt at drawing an equivalence) is fatuous.
Let the class actions begin
Yes. It’s called any page you search from.
You have to know Google is running your search, by default, in the first place. Nowhere are you presented a choice for a search provider.
Then… where is your cut of the $12B?
I see you’re not familiar with Apple and its products, “applecynic”.
(On iOS devices, go to Settings: Safari: Search Engine”.)
Apple cynic is well know to be a trollish phule. He was the XeroBumski and Phaike-Shean before we had either of those two ass-klowns.
Just take his assery with a huge grain of salt.
Said the troll….
I had not need to change it, my mother in law IS clueless you presumptuous twit!
But to change it, you first need to know it’s happening. A much better option would be to offer an explicit choice and to not get paid to lease your base.
While still claiming to be somehow more concerned about heir virginity while sending them to brothel.
I still prefer a key. Much more secure with the right lock.
Thanks for your valuable insight, zeroloser.
Still waiting to hear about your own awesome business experience that allows you to make your numerous brilliant pronouncements on Apple and Tim Cook.
Because nothing says “secure” more than an open mike.
Well, if it has a speaker any audiophile will tell you that it could be used as a rudimentary microphone if you reverse the wires. I don’t think that would be too problematic doing via software these days. HW wise microphones and speakers are basically the same just with different added ‘extras’ to boost signals in one direction or the other.
You are not advocating what Nest is doing, are you?
Apparently Google claims “they forgot” to tell users about it.
If I were a Nest owner I don’t if I would prefer that to be true or not.
If true, its implies utter incompetence, “one hand doesn’t know what the other is doing”.
If its a lie, we all know what that implies, and its along the lines with how everyone already perceives them in the first place. Evil, corrupt etc. (insert applecynics Dr. Evil pic here)
Truly amazing that they would put a microphone in there and not tell anyone. A fifth grader would know not to do that.
No to ANY of these things. Is revealing your private conversations worth being able to voice control my thermostat?
I don’t really follow products such as these, but whenever Apple launches something, pretty well the very next day we see reports of what’s inside by people who take them apart and work out what everything is.
Does this only happen to Apple devices? How come nobody did a tear down on a Nest Secure device when it was launched and noticed that a microphone was in there?
Exactly! This is the kind of insight that flies right over the head off assy-types type apple cynic. It’s shameful that this site has to put up with such phules.
I’m in your head kid…