GoKawiilWith surveillance cameras in our streets and data-collecting TVs in our homes, privacy is always on my mind these days. If you feel the same way, I’ve got a few changes you should make.
In my years of smart home testing, I’ve narrowed down the most impactful privacy changes, and how they make my home feel much safer and more comfortable. If you’re looking for a major privacy boost, here are the steps you take.
Read more: The Top Home Security Myths You Need to Stop Believing
1. Keep the shutters on your security cams and smart displays closed
New smart devices have physical shutters and buttons to confirm privacy. Amazon
When smart displays first started appearing, they came with cameras to enable video chats and similar features. When those cameras started making people nervous, makers began putting physical shutters and off buttons on their smart devices so people could quickly shut them down and confirm the cameras couldn’t be used remotely.
In my experience, these cams rarely get much use and are best left turned off permanently until you’re ready to make a video call to a family member. The same is true of the mics in some smart speakers, which you can shut off when not in use if you’re worried about the speaker listening in. For the record, while you can find a lot of internet rumors about eavesdropping speakers, today’s models require the wake word to start listening in, and accidents are typically confined to picking up similar-sounding words in conversations, music or TVs.
The same is true of security cameras. Look for cams that have shutters or “off” positions (like facing down) if you’re concerned about privacy.
2. Switch off opt-in and data-sharing features
You can disable most Ring AI features in one swoop. Ring/CNET
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