From voice recordings to automatic purchases, there a plenty of ways your Echo can leave you exposed.
To block all incoming voice calls.
kick off the Alexa app, go to controls, and switch on Do Not Disturb mode.
If you want to switch off the Drop In feature, Amazon offers a few different options.
First, open tweaks in the Alexa app, select your unit, and scroll down to Drop In.
Alternatively, you might block specific callers using the Alexa app.
Just pop pop the Conversations tab, select Contacts, and then tap on Block Contacts.
From there, you could block anyone you want from dropping in on your Echo.
Otherwise, anyone could walk into your house and order a bunch of stuff on Amazon from your account.
Thankfully, switching off this feature is pretty easy.
Just launch the Alexa app, select parameters, then Voice Purchasing, and then toggle it off.
Turn Off the Microphone and Camera
Amazon makes it pretty easy to switch off the Echos camera.
Heres a quick guide for any privacy-obsessed Google Home owners.
Block Incoming Calls
The Google Homes phone call capabilities are a lot less robust than Amazons.
So if youre worried about privacy just dont activate that feature.
If you already connected your number to your Google Home,switching it offisnt too hard.
Just bring up the Google Home app while youre connected to the Wi-Fi.
Then hit the devices icon in the top right corner and select your Home speaker.
Finally, select Unlink to delete the connection.
As for video calls, Google doesnt make any Home speakers with a built-in cameraat least not yet.
So theres nothing to worry about at the moment.
Just like Amazon, Google records all the voice commands you use.
So if youre worried about privacy, just leave it off.
In most cases, its hidden in the back of the gear.
So you may have to do a little searching to find it the first time.
Apple HomePod
For the privacy-concerned consumer, the HomePod is probably your best bet.
Apples made a name for itself byprotecting customer data, and this smart speaker is no exception.
The only way to make or take calls with the HomePod is through your smartphone.
So theres nothing to worry about here.
Moving on…
Apple goes to extra lengths to secure the recordings of your voice commands.
According toWired, all you have to do is switch off Ask Siri and Dictation on your iOS unit.
First, pop crack open the options app, select Siri and switch off Ask Siri.
Next, go back to parameters, then General, then Keyboard, and toggle off Dictation.
That should stop your HomePod from recording your commands moving forward.
As far as I can tell, you cant actually make any purchases through your HomePod.
Again, nothing to worry about.
Disable Personal Requests
Finally, heres one privacy concern thats HomePod-specific.
To kill the feature, head into HomePod prefs on your iPhone and switch off Personal Requests.
Or just skip that part of the setup process in the first place.
