Forum Discussion

nomad297's avatar
nomad297
Explorer
Jun 06, 2014

Your iPad is Listening to You

Look at your iPad and say "OK Google." See what happens.

If you have the Google app installed, Google will open with a semi-blank screen and a voice will ask you what you want to do. I think this is creepy.

The Google app has turned on your microphone so it can listen for the term you just spoke -- it is listening to/for you 100% of the time. I am sure this is a feature that is mentioned in their terms, but I didn't read it. I just noticed that my microphone was on and did some research to find out why.

You can turn this feature off by going into SETTINGS > PRIVACY > MICROPHONE. You will also find any other apps that you have given this same permission to here and turn them off.

Sorry if everybody besides me already knows about this.

Bruce
  • RFCN2's avatar
    RFCN2
    Explorer
    Jun 08, 2014
    Prudent efforts to keep what needs to be private, private is not a joke.
  • filthy_beast's avatar
    filthy_beast
    Explorer
    Jun 07, 2014
    My iPad has a setting to disable the microphone for individual apps. Privacy-Microphone. I wold also think that Google would not limit their gathering of information to Apple products.
  • nomad297's avatar
    nomad297
    Explorer
    Jun 06, 2014
    cKarlGo wrote:
    M GO BLUE wrote:
    Tin foil hats people...don't forget to wear them! :B


    Shiny side out!


    It makes no difference which side the shiny side is on. I saw that on Modern Marvels.

    Bruce
  • cKarlGo's avatar
    cKarlGo
    Explorer
    Jun 06, 2014
    M GO BLUE wrote:
    Tin foil hats people...don't forget to wear them! :B


    Shiny side out!
  • jorbill2or's avatar
    jorbill2or
    Explorer II
    Jun 06, 2014
    Besides it's not really listening it's comparing a wave pattern that stored in its memory against what you say .....okay Google now ......it responds. There's no comprehension of it's listening it doesn't know WHAT you're saying. It's like if you have a spam filter on your email.... all of your email is being "read "not by a person but by a computer that compares the words with stored words of spam.
  • Altern's avatar
    Altern
    Explorer
    Jun 06, 2014
    rockhillmanor wrote:

    Florida just installed a stop light feature that uses the blue tooths of all motorists cell phone users to regulate the timing of the traffic lights.
    Hold on there rocky hill. Whoa.. Bluetooth has an effective range of less than 30 feet so its not the cell phones they are targeting. Besides, bluetooth in cell phones can be turned on or off & many folks leave them off to help conserve battery life.
    Ain't technology wunnerful?... And we wee mortals that interpret it all.
  • strollin's avatar
    strollin
    Explorer
    Jun 06, 2014
    Instead of pointing fingers at Google, think about this - Why doesn't Apple ship the iPad with the microphone default set to Private?
  • strollin's avatar
    strollin
    Explorer
    Jun 06, 2014
    Instead of pointing fingers at Google, think about this - Why doesn't Apple ship the iPad with the microphone default set to Private?

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