Amazon is automatically opting everyone's devices into their Sidewalk program

[Khamon]

Amazon devices will soon automatically share your Internet with neighbors | Ars Technica

I do honestly do not know what to say. Jarod once suggested that I program my trees with repeaters that would allow me to arbitrarily address vast portions of The Grid All Hail The Central Grid one random day. We laughed and laughed but never actually considered it because.

If this were on TV I would be screaming OPT OUT NOW1

 

[Beebo Brink]

WTF!!! Thank you so much, Khamon. I followed the instructions for immediately shutting that down.

 

[Clara D.]

Internet Of Things is how Skynet starts.

Plus, another reason to not get one of those "always watching and listening" electronic boxes.

 

[Free]

I'm pretty sure this is how The Terminator begins.

 

[Archer]

Mine was already disabled. I'm thinking I'll have to keep rechecking periodically to make sure the don't turn it on remotely.

 

[Imnotgoing Sideways]

How does this not violate most ISP's terms of use? ()

 

[Romana]

I wonder where that leaves people who haven't bought devices yet? Or not plugged them in for a while, like me, lol. I had unplugged my temperamental Firestick in favor of a Roku streaming stick, but was thinking of hooking it back up because I can't install my firewall app on the Roku (or the TV it's plugged into). Should I plug the infernal machine back in and let it update so I can disable the setting (and then unplug it unless I need it)?
And what about new customers? Do they get the option too? Are they told?
Definitely not going to buy one for a present til I know.

 

[Noodles]

I wonder where that leaves people who haven't bought devices yet? Or not plugged them in for a while, like me, lol. I had unplugged my temperamental Firestick in favor of a Roku streaming stick, but was thinking of hooking it back up because I can't install my firewall app on the Roku (or the TV it's plugged into). Should I plug the infernal machine back in and let it update so I can disable the setting (and then unplug it unless I need it)?
And what about new customers? Do they get the option too? Are they told?
Definitely not going to buy one for a present til I know.

As far as I can tell it's an all or nothing setting.

I honestly didn't realize the Alexa even has wifi built in.

 

[Free]

I honestly didn't realize the Alexa even has wifi built in.

What else is there to do but surf the web when she's not talking to you.

 

[Noodles]

What else is there to do but surf the web when she's not talking to you.

Looking up more dirt.

Also, I should clarify, the ability to be a Wifi access point/repeater.

 

[Romana]

Welp, I plugged in my Firestick, did all the updates, and looked through all the settings ; nothing about Sidewalk. No Alexa installed, actually. I finally found a list of which devices have it.

What are Sidewalk Bridges, and which devices are able to become Sidewalk Bridges?
Sidewalk Bridges are devices that provide connections to Amazon Sidewalk. Today, Sidewalk Bridges include many Echo devices and select Ring Floodlight and Spotlight Cams. A comprehensive list of Sidewalk devices includes: Ring Floodlight Cam (2019), Ring Spotlight Cam Wired (2019), Ring Spotlight Cam Mount (2019), Echo (3rd Gen), Echo (4th Gen), Echo Dot (3rd Gen), Echo Dot (4th Gen), Echo Dot (3rd Gen) for Kids, Echo Dot (4th Gen) for Kids, Echo Dot with Clock (3rd Gen), Echo Dot with Clock (4th Gen), Echo Plus (1st Gen), Echo Plus (2nd Gen), Echo Show (1st Gen), Echo Show (2nd Gen), Echo Show 5, Echo Show 8, Echo Show 10, Echo Spot, Echo Studio, Echo Input, Echo Flex.

If you have one of these devices, you turn Sidewalk off in the Alexa app settings.
I even installed Alexa to check if I could just preemptively disable it for any device in my account,but I guess it doesn't even appear unless you have a device that has Sidewalk.
I did find something called "guest connect", which I didn't like the sound of, so I turned that off for my account.
I think the way that works (AFAICT) is that if you want to use the Alexa app outside your home or can connect to other people's to get local info. Yeah, nope on that.

 

[Govi]

Does this mean the Kindle App, too? If so, there goes my stealth-by-obscurity plan of utilizing a Windows 10 Phone (Nokia Lumia) for all smartphone purposes to confuddle the sophisticates (Amazon, et al.) who hack into our private devices to use for their own nefarious purposes.

 

[Romana]

Does this mean the Kindle App, too? If so, there goes my stealth-by-obscurity plan of utilizing a Windows 10 Phone (Nokia Lumia) for all smartphone purposes to confuddle the sophisticates (Amazon, et al.) who hack into our private devices to use for their own nefarious purposes.

No, it definitely doesn't. As per the list I quoted, it applies to Echos and "smart home" devices.

 

[Dakota Tebaldi]

Echo Dot (3rd Gen) for Kids, Echo Dot (4th Gen) for Kids

Anybody who buys one of these iStalkers for their freaking kid's room needs some time in front of the Smacking Machine.

 

[Caete]

I'm pretty sure this is how The Terminator begins.

 

[Argent Stonecutter]

It's just upgrading from the old easily compromised baby monitor you used to have in there.

 

[Essence Lumin]

Our Alexa was mainly used as a kitchen timer. She became unreliable with a cracked speaker voice. She is dead now, sitting there unplugged.

 

[Argent Stonecutter]

My spy device of choice was a Google Home Mini but I had to give it away because it kept stealing requests from my phone and then saying it couldn't do whatever because it didn't have a screen.

 

[Beebo Brink]

I use Alexa for soothing ocean sounds to lull me to sleep and as an easily configured alarm clock. The Echo Dot is isolated in a bedroom, so I don't worry too much about the recording of our (mostly incredibly boring) conversations. If Amazon wants to hear us chat about "All the cats are in and both dogs have peed. Can I brush my teeth first?" then be my guest.

 

[Eunoli]

Just to make it easier for people:

Enable or Disable Amazon Sidewalk for Your Account
To enable or disable Amazon Sidewalk, use the Alexa app.

1. Open the Alexa app .
2. Open More and select Settings.
3. Select Account Settings.
4. Select Amazon Sidewalk.
5. Turn Amazon Sidewalk On or Off for your account.