When Your Tech Gadgets Go Rogue
- The Editors at Very Cool Facts
- Oct 2
- 2 min read
Your Gadgets Are Talking (Sometimes Behind Your Back)
Think your smart TV just streams Netflix? It might also be sending out ultrasonic tones your phone can pick up, quietly linking what you watch with what you shop for. Smart speakers have been fooled by hidden commands carried on laser beams. Some of the most ordinary devices, like baby monitors, have even been hijacked by hackers who turned them into two-way radios.
Smart... and Mischievous
Security researchers once uncovered a casino hack that slipped in through an internet-connected fish tank thermometer. Smart fridges, thermostats, and even light bulbs have been recruited into large cyberattacks.
The Secret Life of Wake Words
At the center of it all is something called the wake word. This is the magic phrase that gets your gadget’s attention: “Hey Siri,” “Alexa,” or “Hey Google.” Until it hears that cue, your device is supposed to stay in idle mode, listening but not reacting.
Smart, But Not a Great Listener
Call out “Sarah” on a TV show and Siri may perk up like you just invited her into the conversation. Yell “Alex” across the room and Alexa might jump in, uninvited. These assistants are known to butt into chats, offer random commentary, and in some cases even save snippets of conversation you never meant to share.
Teach Your Tech Some Manners
The good news: you can hush them. Disable “viewing data” on your TV, check which apps have microphone access, and cover cameras when you’re not using them.
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