Alexa is listening: Make these important privacy tweaks on your Amazon Echo device now – Fox News

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Anytime you speak to Alexa, it records your voice and entire conversation. Amazon then stores those voice recordings forever, unless you opt to delete these in a more timely manner. 
If you already own an Amazon Alexa, you know how easy they make your day-to-day life. You can ask questions, avoid your phone altogether, or utilize the different skills you can set up and create new routines. 
How much information are you allowing Alexa and Amazon to collect from you? I’ve broken down the privacy settings you should adjust on your Alexa today to use it more safely.
Amazon Alexa device (CyberGuy.com)
Change your Amazon Alexa Privacy settings 
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How to turn off Amazon Sidewalk 
Most Alexa users don’t even know this feature comes automatically turned on. Amazon Sidewalk is a feature that Amazon offers at no extra change, and it is essentially a shared network between all Alexa users. From Amazon’s point-of-view, the enticing reason to keep it on is to allow your Alexa devices to reconnect more quickly if they lose connection. But Sidewalk also shares this network between neighbors. It’s an effort to create a stronger network, but you have no control over what’s shared. 
Here’s how to turn it off: 
Amazon Alexa settings for disabling Amazon Sidewalk. (CyberGuy.com)
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How to turn off Voice Purchasing on Alexa 
You can order items on Amazon with just your voice on Alexa. This can come in handy if you’re in the kitchen and want to order more dish soap, but you don’t want this feature to be abused by anyone. Be sure to adjust your Voice Purchasing settings. 
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How to turn off Alexa Voice Recordings 
Amazon Alexa voice purchasing settings. (CyberGuy.com)
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Tap that and a red light will appear on your device – this means Alexa will stop responding to commands. 
If you want to stop Amazon and Alexa from snooping on you completely, be sure to unplug any Alexa devices when not in use. Don’t forget – Alexa is always listening! 
The mute button on your Amazon Alexa speaker. (CyberGuy.com)
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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2023 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

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