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posted by martyb on Wednesday February 20 2019, @06:34PM   Printer-friendly
from the How-many-TLAs-knew-about-it? dept.

Google admits error over hidden microphone

Google has acknowledged that it made an error in not disclosing that one of its home alarm products contained a microphone.

Product specifications for the Nest Guard, available since 2017, had made no mention of the listening device. But earlier this month, the firm said a software update would make Nest Guard voice-controlled. On Twitter, concerned Nest owners were told the microphone "has not been used up to this point". Business Insider was first to report the development.

The Nest Guard is one component in the Nest Secure range of home security products. The system includes various sensors that can be monitored remotely by the user. Nest Guard is an all-in-one alarm, keypad, and motion sensor but, despite being announced well over a year ago, the word "microphone" was only added to the product's specification this month. The change coincided with the announcement that it was now compatible with Google Assistant.

In response to criticism, Google said on Tuesday: "The on-device microphone was never intended to be a secret and should have been listed in the tech specs. That was an error on our part." It added: "The microphone has never been on and is only activated when users specifically enable the option."

Also at The Verge and Forbes.


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  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by zocalo on Wednesday February 20 2019, @08:21PM

    by zocalo (302) on Wednesday February 20 2019, @08:21PM (#804195)
    The Google Assistant app works based on the keyphrase "OK, Google", and when the app is enabled the mic. is always on listening for that phrase. I don't see why this device would be any different, which might provide a suitable angle to see if Google's claims are entirely honest or not, or if they're being disingenuous and it's actually some middle ground like the mic. is on but nothing is listening for the keyphrase. For instance, what happens if you load up some firmware that predates the official Assistant support version and see if any circuits suddenly go live if you say the phrase in the vicinity of the device's microphone? Or, if there's a ADB-style debug port present, is it possible to detect any spike in activity on the CPU, or similar?
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    UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
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