Smart speakers have been around for years, so naturally, newer models are always available. Many users are looking to upgrade current models with expanded functions, better capabilities and renewed designs. While that is a splendid idea, it does invoke another thought. What do you do with your old smart speaker? That will be entirely up to you, whether you want to sell it or give it away. But there are a couple of things that you absolutely must-do if you value your data and privacy.
Scary details on smart speakers
Through prolonged use, the smart speaker will store small bits of information about you. This helps it to understand your needs better and to retrieve information easily. For example, if the speaker knows where you live, it can instantly tell you about traffic and weather conditions. But with all that data associated with your profile, what do you do when it is time to upgrade? Well, the smart thing would be to erase as much data as possible. It might seem logical, but researchers from Northeastern University found that not to be the case. They bought 86 used smart speakers through eBay and at flea markets. Unsurprisingly, 61% of the smart speakers had not been reset to factory settings. That means, in theory, that the previous owner’s details would still be associated with the device. So, before you even think of getting rid of your old smart speaker, take the following precautions. First, reset your device. Then deregister it from your account. Here’s how: This is so the device won’t be associated with your profile, and data can’t be traced back to you. This also comes in handy if you want to set it up somewhere else or use a different profile. Here’s how to deregister a device: Once your device has been reset and deregistered, it can safely be sold or given away for others to use. None of your personal data should still be on the device.
