In many Pittsburgh homes, smart assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant have become part of the daily routine—answering questions, setting reminders, and even helping manage household tasks. But as convenient as they are, these voice-activated helpers may also be picking up more than you expect.

So what’s the catch?

When not properly managed, voice assistants can “wake up” unintentionally, capturing snippets of private conversations and sending those recordings to the manufacturer’s servers. While it’s often done in the name of quality control, it still raises an eyebrow (or two) when it comes to your household’s privacy.

🛡️ How to Keep the Eavesdropper in Check

Want the convenience without compromising peace of mind? Here are some easy steps to safeguard your space:

• Know your trigger words. Voice assistants activate when they hear “wake words” like “Hey Siri” or “Alexa.” Learn how to shut them off completely or mute the mic when not in use.
• Tweak your privacy settings. Dive into your device’s settings and opt out of data sharing when possible.
• Manage recordings. Regularly delete stored voice clips—or better yet, enable automatic deletion if the option is available.
• Review privacy updates. Keep an eye on changes in privacy policies. A small tweak from the manufacturer could open up more of your data than you realize.
• Create layered protection. Use separate, password-protected accounts for each person in your home. Add passcodes to emails and shopping apps, and disable voice ordering when not needed.
• Strengthen your digital doors. Build tough-to-crack passwords using a combo of uppercase, lowercase, symbols, and numbers—and add multi-factor authentication where you can.
• Secure your Wi-Fi. Consider using a VPN and updating your router settings for extra peace of mind.

Living in the digital age means finding harmony between tech convenience and personal security. Whether you’re relaxing in your Mt. Washington bungalow or working from a Lawrenceville loft, you deserve to feel just as protected inside your home as you do walking through the neighborhood.

Just like a well-inspected home gives buyers peace of mind, a thoughtfully managed smart home setup can provide the same kind of reassurance.