{"id":656,"date":"2025-01-15T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-15T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/optimrepair.net\/?p=656"},"modified":"2025-07-02T17:55:29","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T16:55:29","slug":"our-devices-are-listening-to-us-can-we-protect-ourselves-from-them-myth-or-reality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/optimrepair.net\/en\/our-devices-are-listening-to-us-can-we-protect-ourselves-from-them-myth-or-reality\/","title":{"rendered":"Are our devices listening to us? Can we protect ourselves? Myth or reality"},"content":{"rendered":"
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We're not paranoid\u2026 or are we?<\/strong>
We've all experienced it: we talk about a product with someone and, suddenly, adverts for that product flood our social media feeds. It's hard not to wonder, \u201cIs my phone listening to me?\u201d But is it really possible that our devices are constantly spying on us, or is there a simpler, less alarming explanation?<\/p>\n

What does technology say?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

To begin with, there is no solid evidence to suggest that our devices are constantly listening to us. Doing so would be technically unfeasible and inefficient. If they were actually recording conversations around the clock, it would consume an enormous amount of resources.<\/p>\n

The technical reasons:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    Impact on the battery:<\/strong>\u00a0Constant recording would drain the mobile phone's battery much more quickly.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    Device performance:<\/strong>\u00a0Processing conversations in real time would slow the system down and make the user experience noticeably worse.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    Memory space:<\/strong>\u00a0Where would so much information be stored? The device's memory would collapse, and that would be very easy for any user to detect.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    Mobile data usage:<\/strong>\u00a0If recordings were sent over the internet, it would consume a large amount of data from our tariff. Users would notice it quickly.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  5. \n

    Dubious efficacy:<\/strong>\u00a0Analysing hours and hours of conversations to identify a few keywords would be absurd. Companies already have access to this data through other, easier and more direct sources: emails, internet searches, likes, the time you spend looking at a photo, the content you share or even the time you hover your cursor over a link.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    How can they be so right without listening to us?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    What really happens is that data algorithms are extremely powerful. Every digital action we take generates a data trail that allows companies to build a highly detailed profile of us. Artificial intelligence tools analyse this trail and predict with astonishing accuracy what we might need or want.<\/p>\n

    For example, a search for \u201cchildren's bicycles\u201d can trigger a chain of recommendations: children's helmets, training games or liability insurance. If you then talk to someone about the topic, the coincidence is purely accidental.<\/p>\n

    The reality: data is the business<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Although the devices may not be listening to us, that doesn't mean we aren't exposed. The data we share, whether voluntarily or without realising it, is extremely valuable to companies. They use it to personalise adverts, improve their services or, in some cases, sell it to third parties.<\/p>\n

    Historical evolution: from voice assistants to today's intelligent systems<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    The first voice assistants, such as Siri or Google Assistant, used basic commands to carry out simple actions. Today, virtual assistants and chatbots with machine learning capabilities can analyse complex behavioural patterns. This amplifies both the potential and the risks of data collection.<\/p>\n

    Geolocation and constant tracking<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Modern devices track our movements through geolocation, even when we're not using specific apps. This tracking creates detailed profiles of our mobility and habits. For example, they can predict our daily routines, such as our workplace or visits to certain establishments.<\/p>\n

    Access to sensitive data<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Virtual assistants not only process voice commands but can also access information stored on our devices, such as messages, contacts and calendar events. This interconnection raises questions about how this data is protected and whether it could be vulnerable to external attacks.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/p>\n

    Algorithmic biases<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Artificial intelligence algorithms can perpetuate existing biases, such as gender stereotypes or racial discrimination, if they are based on historically biased data. This can have significant implications for how we perceive the digital world.<\/p>\n

    Privacy in childhood<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Children, often exposed to online content, are a particularly vulnerable group when it comes to data collection. Companies use strategies designed to capture their attention and gather information about their interests. Both children and parents need to be educated to protect their privacy.<\/p>\n

    Biometrics and the associated challenges<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Biometric identification (fingerprints, facial recognition) makes it easier to access our devices, but it also poses new challenges. What happens when this information falls into the wrong hands? The risk of identity theft is much greater when it involves physical attributes that cannot be changed.<\/p>\n

    Measures and tools to protect privacy<\/strong><\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. \n

      Set your privacy preferences:<\/strong>\u00a0Review the options on your devices to limit access to geolocation, microphone and camera.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    2. \n

      Use ad-blocking tools:<\/strong>\u00a0Browse the internet more safely by avoiding the impact of algorithms.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    3. \n

      Check the apps you've downloaded:<\/strong>\u00a0Don't forget to check which permissions are requested and whether they are really necessary for their function.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    4. \n

      Avoid public Wi-Fi:<\/strong>\u00a0If you have to use it, use a VPN to secure your connection.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    5. \n

      Educate on privacy:<\/strong>\u00a0If you have children around you, teach them about the risks and benefits of the digital world.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Our devices don't listen to us constantly, but that doesn't mean we aren't exposed. The algorithms and the data we generate have enormous power, and it is our responsibility to learn how to protect our privacy in an increasingly intrusive digital environment. Awareness and education are the best weapons to keep us safe.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      No som paranoics\u2026 o s\u00ed?Tots ho hem experimentat: parlem d\u2019un producte amb alg\u00fa i, de sobte, anuncis d\u2019aquest producte inunden les nostres xarxes socials. \u00c9s dif\u00edcil no preguntar-se: \u201cM\u2019escolta el m\u00f2bil?\u201d. Per\u00f2, \u00e9s realment possible que els nostres dispositius ens estiguin espiant constantment, o hi ha una explicaci\u00f3 m\u00e9s senzilla i menys alarmant? Qu\u00e8 en […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":657,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sin-categoria"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/optimrepair.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/optimrepair.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/optimrepair.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/optimrepair.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/optimrepair.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=656"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/optimrepair.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/656\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/optimrepair.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/optimrepair.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/optimrepair.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/optimrepair.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}