Amazon's new security service for Alexa devices raises privacy and security concerns.
Amazon Echo shared private audio from Oregon family, Amazon confirms (CNET News)
The Alexa Guard Plus subscription service recently went live in the US for $5 per month or $49 per year. Guard’s basic functionality can turn Echo smart speakers and displays into home security devices, while the premium version also gives users hands-free access to emergency services and Alexa’s ability to deter intruders from breaking in.
"An Echo with Guard Plus enabled will be listening for more than just the trigger word," Paul Bischoff, a privacy advocate at security comparison site Comparitech, said in an email interview. "That may turn off some privacy-conscious users who worry that their private conversations are being inadvertently uploaded to the cloud. If you forget to turn it off when you get home, it can activate Guard Plus and issue alerts. That way, Amazon knows for sure when you're home and when you're not."
Guard Plus subscribers can ask Alexa to call a helpline to request emergency medical, fire, or police assistance. Alexa can also listen for sounds of activity in the home when residents are away, and can sound a siren from Echo devices or play the sounds of dogs barking when security cameras detect motion.
