Smart home technology is quickly exploding into our homes, and for some becoming an everyday feature. For the right price you can completely automate your home. It could be as simple as having live camera systems for security, or just a smart vacuum, but the main tech that ties all the smart home devices together is the smart assistant. With a simple voice command, you can quickly turn off lights, activate your smart vacuum and more!

However, these smart assistants, although popular, have been put on hold by some suspicious consumers because of the myths and conspiracies that surround them. So let’s debunk some common smart home myths and set minds at ease.

Are the smart assistants always listening?

In essence, yes, they are always listening, but only for their wake word. So, depending on which assistant you have, this word could be "Alexa", "Siri" or "Hey Google" or similar.

On top if this, each of the smart assistant providers have noted the concerns around this and have provided advice pages on the topic. See the below links to view more information on what your assistant provider has to say:

Amazon Alexa
Google Assistant
Apple HomePod
  

Can I see what my assistant has listened to?

Yes, for Alexa and Google devices you're able to see exactly what it's listened to. See below for steps on how to do this for each assistant.

Alexa
1. Open the Alexa app
2. Choose More
3. Choose Settings
4. Choose Alexa Privacy
5. Choose Review voice history
 
Google
1. Open the Google Home app
2. Choose your profile icon in the top right-hand corner
3. Choose Data and personalisation
4. Choose Manage activity
 
Siri
Not available within Siri
 

Can I get it to stop listening?

Yes, all smart assistants come with a button, or voice feature that allows you to pause or mute the microphone from listening.

For the smaller Amazon and Google assistants, the mute button may be found in the below positions:

For larger Amazon and Google assistants here's where you might find your mute button:

For the Apple HomePod, the device does not feature a mute button. To stop the microphone from listening, you'll need to ask the HomePod to do so by using the command "Hey Siri, stop listening" then agree by saying "yes" when you're asked to confirm. To enable the microphone again, long press on the top of the HomePod and then once the top of the HomePod is lit up, just say "Start listening".

Is my voice data being sold?

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Apple, Google and Amazon have all firmly stated that they do not sell any of the data collected through their smart assistant devices. However, it's worth noting that Amazon and Google will use your voice data to serve you targeted advertising on their other linked platforms, should you use them. However in contrast, Apple has vowed to not do this.

To add to this, all three manufacturers review samples of user voice data in attempt to improve future responses from the smart assistants. The employees that review the data are under strict confidentiality obligations, but you can opt out of this service if you would like.

Apple
 1. Open the Apple Home app
2. Navigate to Settings
3. Tap Privacy & Security
4. Tap Analytics & Improvements and tap to disable it
                
Amazon
1. Open the Amazon Alexa app
2. Navigate to menu, or More
3. Tap Settings
4. Tap Alexa Privacy
 5. Tap Manage your Alexa Data
6. Navigate to Help improve Alexa
7. Tap the switch to turn it off

Google
1. Open the Google Home app
2. Navigate to the menu made up of three horizontal lines
3. Tap Activity Controls
4. Tap Voice & Audio activity and tap the switch to disable it

Can people spy on me through my smart home camera?

Smart home cameras, or any web based cameras do run the risk of being remotely hacked, however there's many precautions you can take to avoid this:

Smart assistants

• Passwords: always change your Wi-Fi routers default password, or any default passwords associated with your device. Norton run a free service for secure password creation if you need a little help. See here.
• Turn it off: use the camera off switch if there's one available.
• Suspicious links: be vigilant of any strange links you receive on connected devices. These may come in the form of text messages, emails or adverts on web pages. Only ever access links that you know come from a legitimate source.
• Some assistants come with a switch to cover the camera lens

In-home cameras

• Passwords: always change your Wi-Fi routers default password, or any default passwords associated with your device. Norton run a free service for secure password creation if you need a little help. See here.
• Suspicious links: be vigilant of any strange links you receive on connected devices. These may come in the form of text messages, emails or adverts on web pages. Only ever access links that you know come from a legitimate source.

Doorbells

• Passwords: always change your Wi-Fi routers default password, or any default passwords associated with your device. Norton run a free service for secure password creation if you need a little help. See here.
• Suspicious links: be vigilant of any strange links you receive on connected devices. These may come in the form of text messages, emails or adverts on web pages. Only ever access links that you know come from a legitimate source.

Baby monitors

• Passwords: always change your Wi-Fi routers default password, or any default passwords associated with your device. Norton run a free service for secure password creation if you need a little help. See here.
• Suspicious links: be vigilant of any strange links you receive on connected devices. These may come in the form of text messages, emails or adverts on web pages. Only ever access links that you know come from a legitimate source.

Can people hack my smart assistant and listen to me?

Whilst logically possible, it's not something that can easily be done remotely. As a result it's highly unlikely that your smart home assistant could be hacked.

In the past there have been cases of people downloading fake Alexa Skills which have allowed people to be hacked as a result, but like anything you're downloading, whether on a smart assistant or generally on the internet, always be sure it appears to be a legitimate source.

To build on this for peace of mind, all smart assistant manufacturers have privacy infringement rights active on all third party skills or similar that can be enabled on their devices. Meaning even if a fraudulent one was successfully created, it's likely that it would not make it past the manufacturer reviews before it arrives in the public section of the related app.