Take steps to secure speaker devices

An internationally renowned cybersecurity expert has urged people to secure their smart speakers for the festive season, as tech experts tip the devices to be among this year’s most popular Christmas gifts.

Devices such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home have become useful additions to many homes, but can also cause a host of unintended problems.

Abertay University’s Professor Karen Renaud is encouraging people to be aware of this, and says there are simple steps they can take to mitigate the risk.

She said: “Firstly, I want to say that I am not discouraging people from using these devices. They are very convenient and have the potential to change lives for the better.

“What I’m saying is that you should set up these devices in a way that protects your privacy as much as possible, and stops people from abusing them.

“If you get a smart speaker for Christmas, I would encourage you to take these steps immediately. If you’re using one now, it’s never too late to update your settings.”

Professor Renaud’s five steps are:

● Change your smart speaker’s “wake word” – the word that tells it to start listening – so others cannot easily make commands.

● Switch off voice-based ordering to prevent unexpected and unwanted purchases.

● Know where the mute button is to stop the device listening to private conversations.

● Turn on the explicit filter – family friendly mode – if you want.

● Got guests over? Pack your device away to prevent others from giving it commands.

A smart speaker.