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Great points. While I don't consider myself that privacy-minded, I have been trying to be more conscious of it lately. I suppose I trust my phone more for two r

Great points. While I don't consider myself that privacy-minded, I have been trying to be more conscious of it lately. I suppose I trust my phone more for two reasons: 1. The public battle between the FBI and Apple gives me some confidence that my phone isn't bugged. 2. Even if it is bugged, my phone spends most of its time in my pocket or in a corner of my bedroom charging. Its microphones aren't good enough to pick up any real conversation in either situation. The Echo is unique in that it is specifically designed to hear all conversation in a room and placed in a central location at all times. Having said that, I agree that the Echo will not make or break the NSA. It is, however, one more potential security hole I am willingly bringing into my life. I will have to weigh the benefits to that risk. Just like I continue to use my smartphone, Gmail, Facebook, etc because the benefits have outweighed the risk, I am coming around to the benefit side of Echo's equation.

ajford 11y ago
If the NSA had any reason to listen in on your conversations, nothing will stop them. It's just as easy to point a laser microphone at any window in your home, or simply planting a bug in your home.
- mikeash 11y ago
  Easier yet, just remotely activate the microphone on one of your smartphones or other devices. Most people have already accepted internet connected listening devices into their homes.
fpgaminer 11y ago
The radio modems on pretty much all phones* have complete control over the phone, and they can be controlled by state-level actors. So, I hate to say it, but your phone can be bugged at any time. Very similar to the Management Engine on all modern Intel chips. * There are a rare few phones where the modem is connected by USB, which could (in theory) prevent the modem from taking control over the phone. I don't recall if the modem still has direct access to the mic though, in those cases.
visarga 11y ago
> The public battle between the FBI and Apple gives me some confidence that my phone isn't bugged. What if that is exactly what FBI and Apple want you to believe? If you think Apple is fighting for your privacy rights, then you don't switch to an alternative encryption method or start developing a solution to this problem. I think both Apple and FBI need to play this public circus to fool people into a sense of security. That would make many activists sit on their hands, waiting for Apple to do their work.

ajford 11y ago

If the NSA had any reason to listen in on your conversations, nothing will stop them. It's just as easy to point a laser microphone at any window in your home, or simply planting a bug in your home.

mikeash 11y ago
Easier yet, just remotely activate the microphone on one of your smartphones or other devices. Most people have already accepted internet connected listening devices into their homes.

fpgaminer 11y ago

The radio modems on pretty much all phones* have complete control over the phone, and they can be controlled by state-level actors. So, I hate to say it, but your phone can be bugged at any time. Very similar to the Management Engine on all modern Intel chips. * There are a rare few phones where the modem is connected by USB, which could (in theory) prevent the modem from taking control over the phone. I don't recall if the modem still has direct access to the mic though, in those cases.

visarga 11y ago

> The public battle between the FBI and Apple gives me some confidence that my phone isn't bugged. What if that is exactly what FBI and Apple want you to believe? If you think Apple is fighting for your privacy rights, then you don't switch to an alternative encryption method or start developing a solution to this problem. I think both Apple and FBI need to play this public circus to fool people into a sense of security. That would make many activists sit on their hands, waiting for Apple to do their work.