3 ms·

These speech recognition tools need to have some sort of authentication: - How about having a secret "wake word" instead of "Alexa" or "Hey Siri"? - Only treat

by gourou 9y ago

These speech recognition tools need to have some sort of authentication: - How about having a secret "wake word" instead of "Alexa" or "Hey Siri"? - Only treating signals using human voice range - Voice identification If this isn't patched soon (excluding ultrasounds), it could mean that these tools are already using inaudible signals for other purposes. For example, commercials could add ultrasounds to know who's watching them.

wiredfool 9y ago
You know, I'm ok with a physical button press as the authentication method.
- fredley 9y ago
  Preferably some kind of hardware on-off switch for the physical microphone.
  - isostatic 9y ago
    And camera
- minikites 9y ago
  Most of the point of "Hey Siri" and similar features is for when your hands are occupied, soiled, or otherwise unavailable.
shakna 9y ago
> Only treating signals using human voice range Inter-modulation will let you create something hardware can't tell isn't. Two inaudible sounds, both getting received end up looking like an audible one to the hardware. The harmonic effect described in the article is similar, and damn hard to filter against physically. > For example, commercials could add ultrasounds to know who's watching them Yep, and we're already there. [0] [0] https://www.blackhat.com/eu-16/briefings.html#talking-behind-your-back-attacks-and-countermeasures-of-ultrasonic-cross-device-tracking https://www.blackhat.com/eu-16/briefings.html#talking-behind...
- dingo_bat 9y ago
  But if mics can pick it up, human ears will also be able to hear it.
  - shakna 9y ago
    Why? Most microphones have a greater range than your ears do. Here's a StackOverflow thread [0], exploring what sounds a smartphone can hear, that a human can't. So, going with interleaving two sounds to make something the mike thinks is audible, when it isn't: Sound A is at 13khz, Sound B is at 12khz. Human ear can't receive either, so is unlikely to notice it at all. But most smartphones can actually pick up those signals, and together, get a signal at probably < 18khz, which is in the audible range. --- (Disclaimer: I'd have to investigate further to give a precise, or meaningfully correct answer, but the above outlines the theory). [0] https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/59157/over-what-frequency-range-can-the-microphone-of-smartphone-receive-the-sound https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/59157/over-w...

by gourou 9y ago

wiredfool 9y ago

You know, I'm ok with a physical button press as the authentication method.

fredley 9y ago
Preferably some kind of hardware on-off switch for the physical microphone.
- isostatic 9y ago
  And camera
minikites 9y ago
Most of the point of "Hey Siri" and similar features is for when your hands are occupied, soiled, or otherwise unavailable.

shakna 9y ago

> Only treating signals using human voice range Inter-modulation will let you create something hardware can't tell isn't. Two inaudible sounds, both getting received end up looking like an audible one to the hardware. The harmonic effect described in the article is similar, and damn hard to filter against physically. > For example, commercials could add ultrasounds to know who's watching them Yep, and we're already there. [0] [0] https://www.blackhat.com/eu-16/briefings.html#talking-behind-your-back-attacks-and-countermeasures-of-ultrasonic-cross-device-tracking https://www.blackhat.com/eu-16/briefings.html#talking-behind...

dingo_bat 9y ago
But if mics can pick it up, human ears will also be able to hear it.
- shakna 9y ago
  Why? Most microphones have a greater range than your ears do. Here's a StackOverflow thread [0], exploring what sounds a smartphone can hear, that a human can't. So, going with interleaving two sounds to make something the mike thinks is audible, when it isn't: Sound A is at 13khz, Sound B is at 12khz. Human ear can't receive either, so is unlikely to notice it at all. But most smartphones can actually pick up those signals, and together, get a signal at probably < 18khz, which is in the audible range. --- (Disclaimer: I'd have to investigate further to give a precise, or meaningfully correct answer, but the above outlines the theory). [0] https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/59157/over-what-frequency-range-can-the-microphone-of-smartphone-receive-the-sound https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/59157/over-w...