Still Paranoid

[Hymie]

Are our smartphones listening to us?

I know we've had this discussion a few times before, but here's the thing.

The wife & I were yesterday discussing binning our current TV, a Cello as it is pants for viewing angle and brightness but we haven't looked online for one or clicked on any adverts, only talked about it.

While checking out Fun & doing some travel research this morning I have had 8 separate ads for 22/24inch TV's, the exact size we were discussing.

I read a short clip recently debunking the idea that our phones are listening to us but this is not the first time we've been targeted by ads about something we have only discussed.

Your thoughts on the matter please.

Hymie.

 

[Figaro]

Are you sure one of you hasn't done a Google search for a TV ?
Sounds unlikely that phones are listening to your conversations, but these days who knows ???
I believe these Alexa things listen in but I haven't got one and don't plan to get one.

 

[Odd-no-more]

I have an Alexa and I hope she is listening because Mrs. Ex never listens to me at all

 

[chaser]

A while ago someone came to our house and asked where my grandson kept his collection of old motorbikes and I said he was looking for a shed to keep them in.
The very next time I opened fun there was an advert of a shed complete with motorbike in it.
Never looked for one or anything, but Alexa must have heard.
They have to be listening else how do they hear when you say Alexa.
V

 

[peterc10]

I used to be paranoid, but not anymore. Now I know the b*****ds are out to get me.

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[JJ]

Whilst I suspect that clever folk, probably wearing their baseball caps the wrong way around, can easily hack my phone and listen to (and watch) what is happening in my world, I am equally certain none of them would want to...

...and if they did, they would not discover anything of the slightest interest to them.

(and, I am very, very keen on getting a shed.)

JJ

 

[SpeedyDux]

This week I got ads on my phone for temporary van insurance (eh?) and motorhome hire (I).

It definitely listens to conversations. It just isn't clever enough yet to hit the right target with the ads. It is a thicko android not an iPhone so that's probably why ...

 

[Lenny HB]

The wife & I were yesterday discussing binning our current TV, a Cello as it is pants for viewing angle and brightness

Sounds like you have the standard Cello and not the Traveller version which is very good.

 

[Lenny HB]

Whilst I suspect that clever folk, probably wearing their baseball caps the wrong way around, can easily hack my phone and listen to (and watch) what is happening in my world, I am equally certain none of them would want to...

...and if they did, they would not discover anything of the slightest interest to them.

(and, I am very, very keen on getting a shed.)

JJ

They might discover where you keep your stash of FB pies.

 

[JJ]

They might discover where you keep your stash of FB pies.

It is not a secret...

JJ

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[Lenny HB]

It is not a secret...

View attachment 329647


JJ

Thats too much at this time in the morning, nearly brought my breakfast up. ?

 

[appydaze]

hmm FB pies.....Is that legal JJ ? or is it Brexit proof......

 

[steve 6644]

I would encourage everyone to spend a few moments every day to google complete nonsense at random just to bugger up any algorithms and make the whole process useless.

 

[Just smiffy]

Whilst I suspect that clever folk, probably wearing their baseball caps the wrong way around, can easily hack my phone and listen to (and watch) what is happening in my world, I am equally certain none of them would want to...

...and if they did, they would not discover anything of the slightest interest to them.

(and, I am very, very keen on getting a shed.)

JJ

Let’s face it JJ most of the stuff on this forum is irrelevant, but 15,000 people a week are looking at it....

?

 

[tonyidle]

Are our smartphones listening to us?

I know we've had this discussion a few times before, but here's the thing.

The wife & I were yesterday discussing binning our current TV, a Cello as it is pants for viewing angle and brightness but we haven't looked online for one or clicked on any adverts, only talked about it.

While checking out Fun & doing some travel research this morning I have had 8 separate ads for 22/24inch TV's, the exact size we were discussing.

I read a short clip recently debunking the idea that our phones are listening to us but this is not the first time we've been targeted by ads about something we have only discussed.

Your thoughts on the matter please.

Hymie.

On Aug 25 you mentioned it on here: that'd do it .

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[Minxy]

They might discover where you keep your stash of FB pies.

... so they can avoid them?

 

[Grianan]

Yes, I have had a similar thing happen

 

[138go]

We sat in a pub and talked about the way they had put LED lights in the old spirit bottles and how nice they looked. Next day SWMBO had ads from Amazon popping up with the lights in a bottle advert.

 

[Clickem]

There is an Alexa App that you can download from the App store and run on Android. I read somewhere that the Huawei’s Mate 9 phone was the first Android phone to ship with Alexa App already installed - so you never know who's listening

 

[GPW]

They all listen to improve the speech recognition, phones can always be switched to aeroplane mode (saves battery too) but the others (Alexa etc).... ...well you did invite (and pay for) the internet into your house with an active microphone!

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[Gromett]

.and if they did, they would not discover anything of the slightest interest to them

Just because what they hear is of no value to you, what makes you believe it is of no value to them... Information is useful to help target adverts. a successful advert makes them money and encourages further such adverts. Any products mentioned, services discussed etc all tell the advertiser what you are thinking or talking about.

 

[JJ]

what makes you believe it is of no value to them... Information is useful to help target adverts.

Oh dear...

Adverts have no influence over me... therefore they get nothing of interest from me!


JJ

 

[Two on Tour]

...and if they did, they would not discover anything of the slightest interest to them.

You say that, but for God's sake make sure you are nowhere where near your phone when you talk about your olives being ripe and ready to pick.

 

[Apache]

At breakfast this morning we were talking about composite front doors, no devices were used. A bit later I was looking at Facebook and hey presto , swamped with ads for composite doors !

 

[Minxy]

We know our phones don't listen to us as we haven't been bombarded with stuff we've discussed (thank goodness as I'm not sure if I want to see adverts for pink nickers ... )






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... sorry to disappoint but it was to do with some white ones getting accidentally 'dyed 'pink in the washer!

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[mitzimad]

I've just put cemtex and detonators on the shopping list let's see what happens

 

[Louis]

Telling Alexa all day that I want to be a millionaire ?

 

[Gromett]

Adverts have no influence over me

? ? ? ?

 

[Podney]

I’m going to tell Alexa that I want a 35 year old blonde with plump bosoms,a tidy backside and a healthy appetite......I’ll let you know what she comes up with.

 

[MattR]

I've had discussions with people and then noticed a greater frequency of adverts for items being discussed. I am planning to have a conversation with people about a proposed holiday to Estonia or Norway soon ..... I wonder how long it will take for the ads to appear.

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