Amazon US customers have one week to opt out of mass wireless sharing

daveman

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Amazon US customers have one week to opt out of mass wireless sharing


Amazon customers have one week to opt out of a plan that would turn every Echo speaker and Ring security camera in the US into a shared wireless network, as part of the company’s plan to fix connection problems for its smart home devices.

The proposal, called Amazon Sidewalk, involves the company’s devices being used as a springboard to build city-wide “mesh networks” that help simplify the process of setting up new devices, keep them online even if they’re out of range of home wifi, and extend the range of tracking devices such as those made by Tile.

But Sidewalk has come under fire for the apparent lack of transparency with which Amazon has rolled out the feature, as well as the limited time available for users to complete the tricky process required to opt out. Other critics have expressed concerns that failing to turn the setting off could leave customers in breach of their internet service provider’s terms and conditions.

...

Users can disable Sidewalk in the settings section of the Alexa or Ring apps, but have until 8 June to do so. After that, if they have taken no action, the network will be turned on and their devices will become “Sidewalk Bridges”.

_________________________

Comment: It's an easy fix to turn off.

1. Open the Alexa app
2. Open More and select Settings
3. Select Account Settings
4. Select Amazon Sidewalk
5. Turn Amazon Sidewalk off
 
Amazon customers have one week to opt out of a plan that would turn every Echo speaker and Ring security camera in the US into a shared wireless network, as part of the company’s plan to fix connection problems for its smart home devices.
What makes you think all Amazon customers own these devices?
 

Amazon US customers have one week to opt out of mass wireless sharing


Amazon customers have one week to opt out of a plan that would turn every Echo speaker and Ring security camera in the US into a shared wireless network, as part of the company’s plan to fix connection problems for its smart home devices.

The proposal, called Amazon Sidewalk, involves the company’s devices being used as a springboard to build city-wide “mesh networks” that help simplify the process of setting up new devices, keep them online even if they’re out of range of home wifi, and extend the range of tracking devices such as those made by Tile.

But Sidewalk has come under fire for the apparent lack of transparency with which Amazon has rolled out the feature, as well as the limited time available for users to complete the tricky process required to opt out. Other critics have expressed concerns that failing to turn the setting off could leave customers in breach of their internet service provider’s terms and conditions.

...

Users can disable Sidewalk in the settings section of the Alexa or Ring apps, but have until 8 June to do so. After that, if they have taken no action, the network will be turned on and their devices will become “Sidewalk Bridges”.

_________________________

Comment: It's an easy fix to turn off.

1. Open the Alexa app
2. Open More and select Settings
3. Select Account Settings
4. Select Amazon Sidewalk
5. Turn Amazon Sidewalk off
Had Kindle Fire Tablets for years the ones we have now do have Alexa. I do not want my Kindle or my wife's Kindle to be part of any shared wireless network. I went to settings, opened Alexa, went to settings and account settings. There was no mention of Sidewalk. I found nothing to turn off. Only way Alex is activated on our devices is if we hold down the button at bottom of screen. They are not set to the mode of monitoring for words when not in use, as I never want to purchase a personal spy to monitor me.
Does thin mean I am clear from being part of this national shared network thing?
 
Amazon customers have one week to opt out of a plan that would turn every Echo speaker and Ring security camera in the US into a shared wireless network, as part of the company’s plan to fix connection problems for its smart home devices.
What makes you think all Amazon customers own these devices?
Never said they did. However, those Amazon customers who do own these devices have until the 8th to opt out of the sharing.
 

Amazon US customers have one week to opt out of mass wireless sharing


Amazon customers have one week to opt out of a plan that would turn every Echo speaker and Ring security camera in the US into a shared wireless network, as part of the company’s plan to fix connection problems for its smart home devices.

The proposal, called Amazon Sidewalk, involves the company’s devices being used as a springboard to build city-wide “mesh networks” that help simplify the process of setting up new devices, keep them online even if they’re out of range of home wifi, and extend the range of tracking devices such as those made by Tile.

But Sidewalk has come under fire for the apparent lack of transparency with which Amazon has rolled out the feature, as well as the limited time available for users to complete the tricky process required to opt out. Other critics have expressed concerns that failing to turn the setting off could leave customers in breach of their internet service provider’s terms and conditions.

...

Users can disable Sidewalk in the settings section of the Alexa or Ring apps, but have until 8 June to do so. After that, if they have taken no action, the network will be turned on and their devices will become “Sidewalk Bridges”.

_________________________

Comment: It's an easy fix to turn off.

1. Open the Alexa app
2. Open More and select Settings
3. Select Account Settings
4. Select Amazon Sidewalk
5. Turn Amazon Sidewalk off
Had Kindle Fire Tablets for years the ones we have now do have Alexa. I do not want my Kindle or my wife's Kindle to be part of any shared wireless network. I went to settings, opened Alexa, went to settings and account settings. There was no mention of Sidewalk. I found nothing to turn off. Only way Alex is activated on our devices is if we hold down the button at bottom of screen. They are not set to the mode of monitoring for words when not in use, as I never want to purchase a personal spy to monitor me.
Does thin mean I am clear from being part of this national shared network thing?
Dunno, sorry. Never used a Kindle. We have an Alexa Echo and used the Android app to set it up originally. Here's a screenshot of the Sidewalk screen from my phone:

Screenshot_20210601-190436_Amazon Alexa.jpg
 

Amazon US customers have one week to opt out of mass wireless sharing


Amazon customers have one week to opt out of a plan that would turn every Echo speaker and Ring security camera in the US into a shared wireless network, as part of the company’s plan to fix connection problems for its smart home devices.

The proposal, called Amazon Sidewalk, involves the company’s devices being used as a springboard to build city-wide “mesh networks” that help simplify the process of setting up new devices, keep them online even if they’re out of range of home wifi, and extend the range of tracking devices such as those made by Tile.

But Sidewalk has come under fire for the apparent lack of transparency with which Amazon has rolled out the feature, as well as the limited time available for users to complete the tricky process required to opt out. Other critics have expressed concerns that failing to turn the setting off could leave customers in breach of their internet service provider’s terms and conditions.

...

Users can disable Sidewalk in the settings section of the Alexa or Ring apps, but have until 8 June to do so. After that, if they have taken no action, the network will be turned on and their devices will become “Sidewalk Bridges”.

_________________________

Comment: It's an easy fix to turn off.

1. Open the Alexa app
2. Open More and select Settings
3. Select Account Settings
4. Select Amazon Sidewalk
5. Turn Amazon Sidewalk off
Had Kindle Fire Tablets for years the ones we have now do have Alexa. I do not want my Kindle or my wife's Kindle to be part of any shared wireless network. I went to settings, opened Alexa, went to settings and account settings. There was no mention of Sidewalk. I found nothing to turn off. Only way Alex is activated on our devices is if we hold down the button at bottom of screen. They are not set to the mode of monitoring for words when not in use, as I never want to purchase a personal spy to monitor me.
Does thin mean I am clear from being part of this national shared network thing?
Dunno, sorry. Never used a Kindle. We have an Alexa Echo and used the Android app to set it up originally. Here's a screenshot of the Sidewalk screen from my phone:

View attachment 496306
Cool. Maybe it is not on all devices that use Alexa. Next time one of our devices updates, I will check to make sure it still isn't. Those updates usually piss me off anyway, but at least I know to look out for it. Thanks.
 

Amazon US customers have one week to opt out of mass wireless sharing


Amazon customers have one week to opt out of a plan that would turn every Echo speaker and Ring security camera in the US into a shared wireless network, as part of the company’s plan to fix connection problems for its smart home devices.

The proposal, called Amazon Sidewalk, involves the company’s devices being used as a springboard to build city-wide “mesh networks” that help simplify the process of setting up new devices, keep them online even if they’re out of range of home wifi, and extend the range of tracking devices such as those made by Tile.

But Sidewalk has come under fire for the apparent lack of transparency with which Amazon has rolled out the feature, as well as the limited time available for users to complete the tricky process required to opt out. Other critics have expressed concerns that failing to turn the setting off could leave customers in breach of their internet service provider’s terms and conditions.

...

Users can disable Sidewalk in the settings section of the Alexa or Ring apps, but have until 8 June to do so. After that, if they have taken no action, the network will be turned on and their devices will become “Sidewalk Bridges”.

_________________________

Comment: It's an easy fix to turn off.

1. Open the Alexa app
2. Open More and select Settings
3. Select Account Settings
4. Select Amazon Sidewalk
5. Turn Amazon Sidewalk off
Had Kindle Fire Tablets for years the ones we have now do have Alexa. I do not want my Kindle or my wife's Kindle to be part of any shared wireless network. I went to settings, opened Alexa, went to settings and account settings. There was no mention of Sidewalk. I found nothing to turn off. Only way Alex is activated on our devices is if we hold down the button at bottom of screen. They are not set to the mode of monitoring for words when not in use, as I never want to purchase a personal spy to monitor me.
Does thin mean I am clear from being part of this national shared network thing?
Dunno, sorry. Never used a Kindle. We have an Alexa Echo and used the Android app to set it up originally. Here's a screenshot of the Sidewalk screen from my phone:

View attachment 496306
Cool. Maybe it is not on all devices that use Alexa. Next time one of our devices updates, I will check to make sure it still isn't. Those updates usually piss me off anyway, but at least I know to look out for it. Thanks.
No problem. Per Amazon's Sidewalk FAQ, Kindles aren't connected.
 
Amazon's purportedly solving a "problem" -- low-bandwidth-using devices losing connection -- that's had a solution for years: Wifi boosters. I got one a couple of months ago because my phone would lose wifi and switch to 4G when I was in the bedroom, about the furthest point from our router. The booster gives me full signal now, and it's a secure connection.
 

Amazon US customers have one week to opt out of mass wireless sharing


Amazon customers have one week to opt out of a plan that would turn every Echo speaker and Ring security camera in the US into a shared wireless network, as part of the company’s plan to fix connection problems for its smart home devices.

The proposal, called Amazon Sidewalk, involves the company’s devices being used as a springboard to build city-wide “mesh networks” that help simplify the process of setting up new devices, keep them online even if they’re out of range of home wifi, and extend the range of tracking devices such as those made by Tile.

But Sidewalk has come under fire for the apparent lack of transparency with which Amazon has rolled out the feature, as well as the limited time available for users to complete the tricky process required to opt out. Other critics have expressed concerns that failing to turn the setting off could leave customers in breach of their internet service provider’s terms and conditions.

...

Users can disable Sidewalk in the settings section of the Alexa or Ring apps, but have until 8 June to do so. After that, if they have taken no action, the network will be turned on and their devices will become “Sidewalk Bridges”.

_________________________

Comment: It's an easy fix to turn off.

1. Open the Alexa app
2. Open More and select Settings
3. Select Account Settings
4. Select Amazon Sidewalk
5. Turn Amazon Sidewalk off
Had Kindle Fire Tablets for years the ones we have now do have Alexa. I do not want my Kindle or my wife's Kindle to be part of any shared wireless network. I went to settings, opened Alexa, went to settings and account settings. There was no mention of Sidewalk. I found nothing to turn off. Only way Alex is activated on our devices is if we hold down the button at bottom of screen. They are not set to the mode of monitoring for words when not in use, as I never want to purchase a personal spy to monitor me.
Does thin mean I am clear from being part of this national shared network thing?
Dunno, sorry. Never used a Kindle. We have an Alexa Echo and used the Android app to set it up originally. Here's a screenshot of the Sidewalk screen from my phone:

View attachment 496306
Cool. Maybe it is not on all devices that use Alexa. Next time one of our devices updates, I will check to make sure it still isn't. Those updates usually piss me off anyway, but at least I know to look out for it. Thanks.
No problem. Per Amazon's Sidewalk FAQ, Kindles aren't connected.
Excellent. Alexa has modes that allow it to listen even when not in use for key words or say "Alexa". I do not even allow it to do that. It also has a "Protect mode" we do not allow on either device.
 
Last edited:

Amazon US customers have one week to opt out of mass wireless sharing


Amazon customers have one week to opt out of a plan that would turn every Echo speaker and Ring security camera in the US into a shared wireless network, as part of the company’s plan to fix connection problems for its smart home devices.

The proposal, called Amazon Sidewalk, involves the company’s devices being used as a springboard to build city-wide “mesh networks” that help simplify the process of setting up new devices, keep them online even if they’re out of range of home wifi, and extend the range of tracking devices such as those made by Tile.

But Sidewalk has come under fire for the apparent lack of transparency with which Amazon has rolled out the feature, as well as the limited time available for users to complete the tricky process required to opt out. Other critics have expressed concerns that failing to turn the setting off could leave customers in breach of their internet service provider’s terms and conditions.

...

Users can disable Sidewalk in the settings section of the Alexa or Ring apps, but have until 8 June to do so. After that, if they have taken no action, the network will be turned on and their devices will become “Sidewalk Bridges”.

_________________________

Comment: It's an easy fix to turn off.

1. Open the Alexa app
2. Open More and select Settings
3. Select Account Settings
4. Select Amazon Sidewalk
5. Turn Amazon Sidewalk off
Had Kindle Fire Tablets for years the ones we have now do have Alexa. I do not want my Kindle or my wife's Kindle to be part of any shared wireless network. I went to settings, opened Alexa, went to settings and account settings. There was no mention of Sidewalk. I found nothing to turn off. Only way Alex is activated on our devices is if we hold down the button at bottom of screen. They are not set to the mode of monitoring for words when not in use, as I never want to purchase a personal spy to monitor me.
Does thin mean I am clear from being part of this national shared network thing?
Dunno, sorry. Never used a Kindle. We have an Alexa Echo and used the Android app to set it up originally. Here's a screenshot of the Sidewalk screen from my phone:

View attachment 496306
Cool. Maybe it is not on all devices that use Alexa. Next time one of our devices updates, I will check to make sure it still isn't. Those updates usually piss me off anyway, but at least I know to look out for it. Thanks.
No problem. Per Amazon's Sidewalk FAQ, Kindles aren't connected.
Excellent. Alexa has modes that allow it to listen even when not in use for key words or say "Alexa". I do not even allow it to do that. I also has a "Protect mode" we do not allow on either device.
:2up:
 
If you use Alexa, Echo, or many other Amazon devices, you have only 10 days until you're opted in to an experiment that leaves your personal privacy and security hanging in the balance.
On June 8, the merchant, Web host, and entertainment behemoth will automatically enroll the devices in Amazon Sidewalk. The new wireless mesh service will share a small slice of your Internet bandwidth with neighboring Sidewalk-capable devices that don’t have connectivity. Sidewalk will also help your Amazon devices to a sliver of bandwidth from other Sidewalk users when you don’t have a connection.
By default, a variety of Amazon devices will enroll in the system come June 8. And since only a tiny fraction of people take the time to change default settings, that means millions of people will be co-opted into the program whether they know anything about it or not. The Amazon webpage linked above says Sidewalk "is currently only available in the US." The full list of devices that can act as Sidewalk bridges is Ring Floodlight Cam (2019), Ring Spotlight Cam Wired (2019), Ring Spotlight Cam Mount (2019), Echo (3rd gen and newer), Echo Dot (3rd gen and newer), Echo Dot for Kids (3rd gen and newer), Echo Dot with Clock (3rd gen and newer), Echo Plus (all generations), Echo Show (all models and generations), Echo Spot, Echo Studio, Echo Input, and Echo Flex.
The webpage also states:
What is Amazon Sidewalk?
Amazon Sidewalk is a shared network that helps devices work better. Operated by Amazon at no charge to customers, Sidewalk can help simplify new device setup, extend the low-bandwidth working range of devices to help find pets or valuables with Tile trackers, and help devices stay online even if they are outside the range of their home wifi. In the future, Sidewalk will support a range of experiences from using Sidewalk-enabled devices, such as smart security and lighting and diagnostics for appliances and tools.
How will Amazon Sidewalk impact my personal wireless bandwidth and data usage?
The maximum bandwidth of a Sidewalk Bridge to the Sidewalk server is 80Kbps, which is about 1/40th of the bandwidth used to stream a typical high definition video. Today, when you share your Bridge’s connection with Sidewalk, total monthly data used by Sidewalk, per account, is capped at 500MB, which is equivalent to streaming about 10 minutes of high definition video.
Why should I participate in Amazon Sidewalk?
Amazon Sidewalk helps your devices get connected and stay connected. For example, if your Echo device loses its wifi connection, Sidewalk can simplify reconnecting to your router. For select Ring devices, you can continue to receive motion alerts from your Ring Security Cams and customer support can still troubleshoot problems even if your devices lose their wifi connection. Sidewalk can also extend the working range for your Sidewalk-enabled devices, such as Ring smart lights, pet locators or smart locks, so they can stay connected and continue to work over longer distances. Amazon does not charge any fees to join Sidewalk.
Amazon has published a white paper detailing the technical underpinnings and service terms that it says will protect the privacy and security of this bold undertaking. To be fair, the paper is fairly comprehensive, and so far no one has pointed out specific flaws that undermine the encryption or other safeguards being put in place. But there are enough theoretical risks to give users pause.

FURTHER READING​

Vulnerabilities in billions of Wi-Fi devices let hackers bypass firewalls
Wireless technologies like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have a history of being insecure. Remember WEP, the encryption scheme that protected Wi-Fi traffic from being monitored by nearby parties? It was widely used for four years before researchers exposed flaws that made decrypting data relatively easy for attackers. WPA, the technology that replaced WEP, is much more robust, but it also has a checkered history.

FURTHER READING​

Decade-old Bluetooth flaw lets hackers steal data passing between devices
Bluetooth has had its share of similar vulnerabilitiesover the years, too, either in the Bluetooth standard or in the way it’s implemented in various products.
If industry-standard wireless technologies have such a poor track record, why are we to believe a proprietary wireless scheme will have one that’s any better?

The omnipotent juggernaut​

Next, consider the wealth of intimate details Amazon devices are privy to. They see who knocks on our doors, and in some homes they peer into our living rooms. They hear the conversations we’re having with friends and family. They control locks and other security systems in our home.
Extending the reach of all this encrypted data to the sidewalk and living rooms of neighbors requires a level of confidence that’s not warranted for a technology that has never seen widespread testing.
Last, let’s not forget who’s providing this new way for everyone to share and share alike. As independent privacy researcher Ashkan Soltani puts it: “In addition to capturing everyone’s shopping habits (from amazon.com) and their internet activity (as AWS is one of the most dominant web hosting services)... now they are also effectively becoming a global ISP with a flick of a switch, all without even having to lay a single foot of fiber.”
Amazon’s decision to make Sidewalk an opt-out service rather than an opt-in one is also telling. The company knows the only chance of the service gaining critical mass is to turn it on by default, so that’s what it’s doing. Fortunately, turning Sidewalk off is relatively painless. It involves:
  1. Opening the Alexa app
  2. Opening More and selecting Settings
  3. Selecting Account Settings
  4. Selecting Amazon Sidewalk
  5. Turning Amazon Sidewalk Off
No doubt, the benefits of Sidewalk for some people will outweigh the risks. But for the many, if not the vast majority of users, there’s little upside and plenty of downside. Amazon representatives didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Post updated to remove tile trackers and motion sensors from the list of affected devices.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/05/amazon-devices-will-soon-automatically-share-your-internet-with-neighbors/?comments=1​

 

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