As the number of connected devices has grown, so have the number of privacy concerns around them. It's natural to be skeptical about how AI-powered devices use your data.

With more people working remotely than ever, it's concerning to think that Alexa is secretly listening in and storing your conversations. Here, we'll provide a list of tips for taking back some of your privacy while still making the most of your Alexa devices.

1. Use Alexa's Built-In Privacy Features

Amazon knows that users have concerns about their privacy, so it has included some handy features, like disabling the microphone and camera. Making use of these helps minimize the risk of bad actors observing your daily activities when you're not using Alexa.

  1. Press the microphone off button located on the top of your Alexa. It's characterized by a circle or microphone with a line through it. To reactivate the mic, press the button again.
  2. If you have a camera-enabled device, like an Echo Show, go to Settings > Device Options and turn off Enable camera. Alternatively, say, "Alexa, turn off the camera".
  3. If you have an Echo Show 5 or later, a physical camera shutter is located on the top, to the right. This shutter acts as a physical barrier between you and the camera. Slide it across until you see orange on the slider.

2. Unplug or Move Your Alexa

If you fear that the built-in features could be overwritten, then an effective solution could be to simply unplug your Alexa device or move it to another room. For example, suppose you're discussing confidential company secrets or client account information. In that case, it might be best just to disconnect your device.

Don't worry; when you unplug Alexa, nothing will be reset or deleted. However, it may take 30 seconds to a minute to switch back on completely.

3. Delete Your Voice Recordings

Thankfully, Amazon gives you complete control over your voice recordings, offering three voice commands that instantly delete your voice recordings. Your Alexa begins recording as soon as you say the wake word, then Amazon stores these recordings and transcripts on its servers.

You can say, "Alexa delete what I just said", or "Alexa, delete everything I said today". If you'd like to delete all of your previous recordings, just say, "Alexa, delete everything I've ever said".

Alternatively, you can review and delete your transcripts in the Alexa app. To delete your history:

  1. Navigate to Settings > Alexa Privacy > Review Voice History, then tap the dropdown arrow on the "Displaying" section.
  2. Tap Filter by date.
  3. Select the period you want to delete.
  4. Tap Delete all recordings, then finally press Delete.

4. Disable Future Voice Recordings

To keep you from manually deleting voice recordings daily, you can disable Alexa's ability to save future voice recordings. Amazon warns that this may degrade your experience, but it's a worthy trade-off if privacy is your primary concern.

To turn off future voice recordings, navigate to Settings > Alexa Privacy > Manage Your Alexa Data. Once there, tap Choose how long to save recordings. There, you'll be able to select if you'd like to only save voice recordings from the last 18 months, 3 months, or not at all. Finally, press Confirm to save your changes.

5. Opt-Out of Quality Monitoring

Amazon listens to a small amount of the voice recordings mentioned. It might be necessary for Amazon to improve its overall customer experience; still, some may find it intrusive to have a random employee listening to your private interactions with Alexa.

Luckily, Amazon now lets you opt out of quality monitoring. To opt out, navigate to Settings > Alexa Privacy > Manage Your Alexa Data. Scroll to the bottom of the page until you find the "Help improve Alexa" section. Then, tap the slider. A popup will then appear to confirm you want to proceed. Tap Turn Off.

6. Delete Unused Skills

Like all smart home devices, there is a minuscule risk of malicious actors hacking your Alexa device. According to a post from Malwarebytes, research in 2018 indicated that some skills could be manipulated to keep listening, even after termination. They can be programmed to self-terminate, indicated by a voice response such as "Goodbye!", then continue to run and listen in the background.

While Amazon has since taken significant steps to prevent malicious skills from being available to consumers, there's still a risk. So, it's a good idea to run through your list of Alexa skills and delete any you aren't going to use. After that, read the reviews of the ones you want to keep. If you see something you don't like, delete it and look for an alternative.

7. Edit Skill Permissions

Your skill permissions determine what personal information is shared with 3rd-party skills. It's wise to go through them occasionally to ensure you're comfortable with the information being shared, especially if you have family members who install skills without you knowing.

These permissions cover everything from your address and full name to your to-do lists and Amazon Pay. You can select each skill individually to see what skills are using your data. For example, you're probably comfortable sharing your phone number with the Find My Phone skill; maybe not so much if a White Noise skill has permission to access your full name and location.

To edit your skill permissions, navigate to Settings > Alexa Privacy > Manage Skill Permissions. You'll see a list of each permission, such as your location or first name. Tap each section to see which skills are using your information. If you'd like to disable permission for a specific skill, tap the slider and press Confirm on the popup.

8. Bolster Your Amazon Account's Security

Suppose someone has access to your Amazon account. They would have access to your Alexa recordings, routines, smart home devices such as security systems, and more. It's a scary thought knowing that so much relies on your account security.

However, it's easy to maintain the best account security practices.

I. Password Security

Start by creating a strong password that you don't use anywhere else, ideally, more than 10 characters long and made up of a mixture of letters, numbers, and symbols. Then, test your password's strength using a strength checker.

II. Add Two-Factor Authentication

To add an extra layer of security to your account, think about adding 2FA. This will ask anyone with your password to verify that they have access to a device you own, a much more challenging feat than guessing a password. See Amazon's guide on how to activate 2FA on your Amazon account.

Protecting Your Privacy With Alexa Around

By taking action and following these steps, you can put yourself and your family on the right path to preserving your privacy.

Take the time to address your family's concerns about Alexa and any bad experiences they've had. Using these tips, you should be able to provide some peace of mind to any privacy-focused individual.