I've had my suspicions for a while that my mobile phone could actually 'listen' to me. Yep, I know that's weird, but today I read an article that's made me realise I am not alone in thinking this 😲.
For ages I've been aware that the adverts that pop up next to my Facebook, or Google, or certain apps on my mobile phone, are related to what I have searched for or bought on line. Everyone knows this. You buy a pair of shoes on line, and all of a sudden adverts appear that are all about that style of shoe or the company you bought them from. But a little while ago I read some comments from people who suggested your mobile phone could 'listen' to your words. Well I poo hoo'd this. That's the stuff of science fiction. Come off it....a mobile phone that listens to you? Maybe the iPhone does but my little old android (well quite up to date android actually!)? No way. It must be that you've clicked on something on line, without even registering you have done it, and that's why the adverts are appearing?
I totally believed this was a coincidence until two weeks ago when something rather strange happened. A work colleague noticed I was wearing compression gloves and knew I suffered from the rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. As she walked past she said 'you should try Turmeric' for that. I said I sprinkled Turmeric on my food regularly, but she said I should try the 'proper stuff'. That was it. The sum of our conversation about Turmeric. Later that day, when I went home and scrolled through my phone, a couple of adverts appeared...…...all about Turmeric capsules. I had definitely not looked up anything about this spice. I hadn't had time as I had been at work all day. It freaked me out a bit, but I thought no more about it until today, because the Mail on Sunday has a huge article written by a reporter who has investigated whether our mobile phones could possibly be eavesdropping on our conversations.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6765113/Is-proof-smart-phone-eavesdropping-single-word-say.html
It makes for very interesting reading, and as a result I turned off the microphone on every single app on my mobile phone. Over the next few days I will monitor the ads that appear and see if it makes any difference. It's also made me think about my PC and some of the other technology around my house, and work. I shall definitely be investigating this more deeply.
We live in a world of 'smart' technology, and could it really be possible that this very technology is spying on us? Apparently it is incredibly easy for a hacker to access and take over your webcam. Now this scares me more than the fact that my device may be listening to me! The solution to prevent this is easy. Cover your webcam when you are not using it, most especially the ones that are integrated with your PC. I've stuck a piece of paper over my camera as I write this......just in case! If you think I am mad then I've also read that Mark Zuckerberg and Edward Snowdon both cover their webcams when not in use! There are seemingly some telling ways to see of your webcam has been compromised, for instance the LED light next to it is flashing or on when you are not using it yourself. Hackers are clever and can disable the light though, so this isn't a failsafe way of knowing. The best way of protecting yourself is setting up good security measures like a firewall, or spam and phishing detectors. My sons will be nodding as I write this, and most likely saying "I told you so, mum".
Forget about drones, keep an eye on your webcam. So now I've scared myself silly thinking about the possibility that 'Terminator' is real or 'the robots are taking over the world', I will try not to Google 'is technology spying on me' anymore or I could end up with nightmares!! It may take a while to fall asleep tonight...……..
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