An Alexa offshoot question

[AndyM]

I didn't want to hijack Skeets post on Alexa but it got me wondering. We know Alexa and it's clones are data gathering devices and as such I don't own one. But, I did buy a Sound Bar that has the capability for voice control - I have never connected it directly to the web - I use a roku to stream my subscription music service so the Roku IS connected.

My question to the techy sorts - we know these data scavengers are pretty innovative. I wonder if it's possible that the sound bar can piggy back on the roku connection to get it's fix. And no, I don't trust the tech crowd one bit.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Not very likely, most anything like that needs to be directly connected to the Internet and thus it's controlling server to work.

 

[AndyM]

Not very likely, most anything like that needs to be directly connected to the Internet and thus it's controlling server to work.

Well that's comforting. Thanks.

 

[jimh406]

The soundbar is probably either connected via HDMI, Optical Cable, or Bluetooth to the TV, and those don't support internet connections. At least, I don't know of any Rokus that connect directly to soundbars, but one might use Bluetooth. But, it wouldn't matter if it did.

The soundbar can't phone home without an internet connection, so unless you hooked up wifi or an ethernet cable, it's not going to make an internet connection. But, the soundbar isn't doing anything that the Roku isn't sending to it.

The Roku or the apps on it could be transferring information. I believe there is a Roku privacy setting that allows you to turn it off.

 

[Sidekick]

I think it depends on if the device is wired, Bluetooth, or wifi as stated above. Roku just sent me a new privacy policy that basically let's them collect anything they want when you agree to be able to use the device. Face it, a cellphone is definitely more invasive.

 

[Code]

Roku is horrible about data gathering and phoning home even with the privacy settings. Which aoundbar? I dont know of any that has local only voice control. Id be interested to look it up.

I started running my own vid and music servers at home cause of the data collection and i block almost all devices from talking to the outside world. I can turn on to update if needed.

btw walmart just bought visio for its datagathering and advertising ( makes way more than selling tvs)

 

[AndyM]

The soundbar is probably either connected via HDMI, Optical Cable, or Bluetooth to the TV, and those don't support internet connections. At least, I don't know of any Rokus that connect directly to soundbars, but one might use Bluetooth. But, it wouldn't matter if it did.

The soundbar can't phone home without an internet connection, so unless you hooked up wifi or an ethernet cable, it's not going to make an internet connection. But, the soundbar isn't doing anything that the Roku isn't sending to it.

The Roku or the apps on it could be transferring information. I believe there is a Roku privacy setting that allows you to turn it off.

As I am set up I actually use optical for the TV and HDMI connections for the Roku. The unit has bluetooth so I do sometimes stream from my PC using it - I have a little HDMI switcher that allows me to select the differing sources - Roku is one of them (bluetooth is direct). There is no wired or wireless internet connection to the soundbar directly , (which, if I hear you sounds, like a good thing).

 

[AndyM]

Roku is horrible about data gathering and phoning home even with the privacy settings. Which aoundbar? I dont know of any that has local only voice control. Id be interested to look it up.

I started running my own vid and music servers at home cause of the data collection and i block almost all devices from talking to the outside world. I can turn on to update if needed.

btw walmart just bought visio for its datagathering and advertising ( makes way more than selling tvs)

It's a Studio 3d Mini Sound Bar (Definitive IIRC) nice sound from a small unit. The data gathering thing is completely out of control and is going to get worse with AI and data centers. I know I should just learn to adapt - (but it's not my way).

 

[ctfjr]

You shouldn't have to 'learn to adapt' to them. With the help of my sons (ok, my sons did it) we set up a vpn (virtual private network) that limits all internet of the world (iot) devices to an internal network that has no internet connection.
When you have a Roku device, by definition it needs internet access. I don't have one but if I did I would create a new vpn (ok my sons would) that gave it access to the internet but nothing else would be on that network. It would limit the 'information' it could have access to to what we stream. Its easy to defeat a microphone if you are concerned about eavesdropping. . .

 

[AndyM]

You shouldn't have to 'learn to adapt' to them. With the help of my sons (ok, my sons did it) we set up a vpn (virtual private network) that limits all internet of the world (iot) devices to an internal network that has no internet connection.
When you have a Roku device, by definition it needs internet access. I don't have one but if I did I would create a new vpn (ok my sons would) that gave it access to the internet but nothing else would be on that network. It would limit the 'information' it could have access to to what we stream. Its easy to defeat a microphone if you are concerned about eavesdropping. . .

At one time Nord vpn could be set up for a specific router - I liked that set up but at some point it got too complicated for me to set up so I just use their vpn for dummies set up now - not sure how I would set up the Roku for for a vpn router now. Maybe I'll get smarter one day ( and given my age, maybe not).

I do use separate routers for things like running my NAS. I tried defeating the microphone on a tablet (pins, glue) it still seems to hear just fine - so they really don't make that easy (but if you know of a way...)

 

[AndyM]

I think it depends on if the device is wired, Bluetooth, or wifi as stated above. Roku just sent me a new privacy policy that basically let's them collect anything they want when you agree to be able to use the device. Face it, a cellphone is definitely more invasive.

I take some comfort in the fact that about the only thing Roku will learn about me is my taste in music as that is the only thing it's used for.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

When I got the latest Brother 4 in 1 'printer', it took my grand daughter less than 60 seconds to get her Iphone 14(?) to connect to the machine and print something. It actually has TWO 'wireless' paths as well as Ethernet and USB.
What's troubling to me is the newer cable modem requires smartphone + app to access it, unlike ALL the previous modems I've used for the past 4 decades.....
Also the TRACTIVE GPS collar for Cloudy 'magically' connected to the Interent as well as 'wifi'.
I don't mind 'tech' as long as I have the FINAL say in what connects to what.

 

[AndyM]

When I got the latest Brother 4 in 1 'printer', it took my grand daughter less than 60 seconds to get her Iphone 14(?) to connect to the machine and print something. It actually has TWO 'wireless' paths as well as Ethernet and USB.
What's troubling to me is the newer cable modem requires smartphone + app to access it, unlike ALL the previous modems I've used for the past 4 decades.....
Also the TRACTIVE GPS collar for Cloudy 'magically' connected to the Interent as well as 'wifi'.
I don't mind 'tech' as long as I have the FINAL say in what connects to what.

And those issues are at the very heart of what speak - I just bought a "new" router that does not have the cell phone / app requirement. When that becomes the norm my days on the web are over. (I have a cell phone that gets turned on when I want to make a call - then it's off.)

 

[DustyRusty]

According to the US Armed Forces, this company figured out a way to listen in through televisions. They used to be sold in the PX, but now they are banned from any US military base anywhere in the world. I believe that the product is prohibited for all service members. It was in the news two or three years ago.

Haier Group Corporation is a Chinese multinational home appliances and consumer electronics company headquartered in Qingdao, Shandong. Wikipedia

 

[mikester]

I didn't want to hijack Skeets post on Alexa but it got me wondering. We know Alexa and it's clones are data gathering devices and as such I don't own one. But, I did buy a Sound Bar that has the capability for voice control - I have never connected it directly to the web - I use a roku to stream my subscription music service so the Roku IS connected.

My question to the techy sorts - we know these data scavengers are pretty innovative. I wonder if it's possible that the sound bar can piggy back on the roku connection to get it's fix. And no, I don't trust the tech crowd one bit.

Bad news, the answer is essentially YES. Every time you add an always-on internet enabled device on your network you have opened a back door to your network and every device on it.

If you allow IPV6 on your network then any firewall you have becomes invisible because your IOT devices become open back doors and negate the lock on your front door.

Remember, the "S" in IOT stands for security.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

THE 'funny' one was the original FITbits ,had a world wide map of FITbits,so you could see others working out. Several showed in the 'middle of nowhere'... turned out to be a secret US base.....ooopsy !!!
And, between the original ROOMBA vacuums and NEST thermostats, anyone could get YOUR data and SEE that YOU were not home.Simple really... NEST turned down, roomba going here,there, everywhere.....

 

[AndyM]

Sounds like my paranoia is well placed - I have always had the sound bar on a remote power switch so it's on only when its being used but the old system of "dumb" speakers is getting more appealing all the time.

 

[skeets]

All I want to know ,are my tractors talking about me behind my back and will they work after an EMP

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Most if not all of on here are not that important or even that interesting for anyone to actually care who we are.
Yes there are all sorts of Information gathering going on, 99.999% of it has nothing to do with who you actually are.
Every company out there want your business and they are really happy to find out if their ADS are working to get your interest and if there web sites are generating traffic which in turn generates sales, which in turn generates the types of products that are being made and sold.

And yes your tractors are talking about you behind your back!

 

[mikester]

Most if not all of on here are not that important or even that interesting for anyone to actually care who we are.
Yes there are all sorts of Information gathering going on, 99.999% of it has nothing to do with who you actually are.
Every company out there want your business and they are really happy to find out if their ADS are working to get your interest and if there web sites are generating traffic which in turn generates sales, which in turn generates the types of products that are being made and sold.

And yes your tractors are talking about you behind your back!

Unfortunately your devices are getting pawned by botnets so scammers can post fake ads in user groups, send out spam/scam emails, run denial-of-service attacks, run VPN servers, run bitcoin scams, make man-in-the-middle attacks to scrape usernames and passwords for banking and financial data, etc, etc, etc.

Your email and your contact lists and porn surfing habits are only worth about $1.00. Facebook, Google and Amazon already have that market cornered. Controlling millions of pawned servers on your home and cellular networks is priceless!