You might live in a smart home that seems to offer endless possibilities and can be controlled using your voice, an app, or even by movement. We all know the conveniences and fun features that come with smart devices.

Your devices are watching you, whether they are called Alexa, Siri, Cortana, or Google! From smart lights to fridges, these devices collect your information, including your behavior, habits, routines, interests, and personality. They can share or sell this information and leave you vulnerable to manipulation: how you spend your money, how you vote in elections, how you spend your time,... not to mention the risk of your information being leaked online!

• Be aware how the devices work and what their risks are

• Close camera shutters, turn off microphones

• Consider free and open source alternatives:

  • https://www.privacyguides.org/en/tools/

  • https://codeberg.org/teaserbot-labs/delightful-humane-design (including open voice assistants and Internet of Things!)

  • https://github.com/nikitavoloboev/privacy-respecting

  • https://www.digitale-gesellschaft.ch/ratgeber/