The big digital brother you carry in your pocket
Ah, smartphones, those wonderful devices that make our lives easier while collecting our data as if they were candy on Halloween. Messages, calls, virtual assistants… what convenience! That is, until you realize that your conversation about buying alpaca socks turns into an avalanche of advertising just as you open Instagram. Coincidence, right? (Spoiler: it is not).
Google Assistant: your nosy butler
The Google Assistant, that faithful digital servant that since 2016 has helped us find traffic, set alarms or play music… while recording your voice as if it were a private detective. “It’s to improve your experience,” they say. Yes, of course, and Orwell’s Big Brother only wanted to make video calls. If you’re uncomfortable with your phone playing spy, here’s how to put an end to this unauthorized reality show:
- Open settings and look for the Google section (yes, that giant that knows more about you than your therapist).
- Select “All Services” (because who needs recommendations from an algorithm?).
- Go to “Search, Assistant and Voice” (the trio of privacy killers).
- Turn off “Hey Google” and breathe a sigh of relief… until you discover the next invasive feature.
Why should you care? (Besides the obvious)
According to ESET, cybercriminals have stolen enough passwords this year to give every person on Earth two and a half. With this data, they not only sell your information on the dark web, but they can imitate your voice for scams, impersonate or even empty your cryptocurrency account. Do you still think we are exaggerating? Ask that friend who received a voicemail from “yours” asking for money…
But don’t worry, all is not lost. Kaspersky recommends measures such as multi-factor authentication (because a password is no longer enough), checking suspicious links (yes, that “Win a free iPhone” is a trap) and using antivirus. Oh, and complex passwords: if you use “123456”, you deserve what you get.
Ready to take control? Share this article with that friend who still believes that their cell phone “does nothing strange.” And if you want more tips to survive in the digital age, explore our other articles. (No, we are not recording this… or are we).
