[NFBF-Melbourne] FW: [NFBF-L] Fwd: Amazon devices will soon automatically share your Internet with neighbors

Joyce Taylor dr.joycetaylor56 at gmail.com
Tue Jun 1 14:45:42 UTC 2021


Thanks Camille - It's already done!

 

 

 

From: NFBF-Melbourne <nfbf-melbourne-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of
Camille Tate via NFBF-Melbourne
Sent: Monday, May 31, 2021 7:12 PM
To: 'NFB of Florida Melbourne Space Coast Chapter List'
<nfbf-melbourne at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Camille Tate <ctate2076 at att.net>
Subject: [NFBF-Melbourne] FW: [NFBF-L] Fwd: Amazon devices will soon
automatically share your Internet with neighbors

 

This is important for anyone who currently has an Amazon device, including
Alexa, Echo or any other service provided through Amazon. Please pay
attention! 

 

Camille 

 

From: NFBF-L <nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> >
On Behalf Of Ryan Mann via NFBF-L
Sent: Monday, May 31, 2021 6:24 PM
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Cc: Ryan Mann <rmann0581 at gmail.com <mailto:rmann0581 at gmail.com> >
Subject: [NFBF-L] Fwd: Amazon devices will soon automatically share your
Internet with neighbors

 

 

 

Get Outlook for Android <https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> 

 

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From: tech-vi at groups.io <mailto:tech-vi at groups.io>  <tech-vi at groups.io
<mailto:tech-vi at groups.io> > on behalf of David Goldfield
<david.goldfield at outlook.com <mailto:david.goldfield at outlook.com> >
Sent: Saturday, May 29, 2021, 11:16 PM
To: tech-vi at groups.iotv <mailto:tech-vi at groups.iotv> 
Subject: [tech-vi Announce List] Amazon devices will soon automatically
share your Internet with neighbors

 

Ars Technica - Saturday, May 29, 2021 at 3:40 PM


Amazon devices will soon automatically share your Internet with neighbors




Enlarge
<https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/amazon-sidewalk.jpeg
> 

Amazon <https://www.amazon.com/> 

If you use Alexa, Echo, or any other Amazon device, you have only 10 days to
opt out of an experiment that leaves your personal privacy and security
hanging in the balance.

On June 8, the merchant, Web host, and entertainment behemoth will
automatically enroll the devices in Amazon Sidewalk
<https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Sidewalk/b?node=21328123011> . The new
wireless mesh service will share a small slice of your Internet bandwidth
with nearby neighbors who don't have connectivity and help you to their
bandwidth when you don't have a connection.

By default, Amazon devices including Alexa, Echo, Ring, security cams,
outdoor lights, motion sensors, and Tile trackers will enroll in the system.
And since only a tiny fraction of people take the time to change default
settings, that means millions of people will be co-opted into the program
whether they know anything about it or not. The Amazon webpage linked above
says Sidewalk "is currently only available in the US."

The webpage also states:

What is Amazon Sidewalk?

Amazon Sidewalk is a shared network that helps devices work better. Operated
by Amazon at no charge to customers, Sidewalk can help simplify new device
setup, extend the low-bandwidth working range of devices to help find pets
or valuables with Tile trackers, and help devices stay online even if they
are outside the range of their home wifi. In the future, Sidewalk will
support a range of experiences from using Sidewalk-enabled devices, such as
smart security and lighting and diagnostics for appliances and tools.

How will Amazon Sidewalk impact my personal wireless bandwidth and data
usage?

The maximum bandwidth of a Sidewalk Bridge to the Sidewalk server is 80Kbps,
which is about 1/40th of the bandwidth used to stream a typical high
definition video. Today, when you share your Bridge's connection with
Sidewalk, total monthly data used by Sidewalk, per account, is capped at
500MB, which is equivalent to streaming about 10 minutes of high definition
video.

Why should I participate in Amazon Sidewalk?

Amazon Sidewalk helps your devices get connected and stay connected. For
example, if your Echo device loses its wifi connection, Sidewalk can
simplify reconnecting to your router. For select Ring devices, you can
continue to receive motion alerts from your Ring Security Cams and customer
support can still troubleshoot problems even if your devices lose their wifi
connection. Sidewalk can also extend the working range for your
Sidewalk-enabled devices, such as Ring smart lights, pet locators or smart
locks, so they can stay connected and continue to work over longer
distances. Amazon does not charge any fees to join Sidewalk.

Amazon has published a white paper
<https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GRGWE27XHZPRPBG
X>  detailing the technical underpinnings and service terms that it says
will protect the privacy and security of this bold undertaking. To be fair,
the paper is fairly comprehensive, and so far no one has pointed out
specific flaws that undermine the encryption or other safeguards being put
in place. But there are enough theoretical risks to give users pause.

Wireless technologies like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have a history of being
insecure. Remember WEP
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wired_Equivalent_Privacy> , the encryption
scheme that protected Wi-Fi traffic from being monitored by nearby parties?
It was widely used for four years before researchers exposed flaws that made
decrypting data relatively easy for attackers. WPA, the technology that
replaced WEP, is much more robust, but it also
<https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/04/serious-flaws-leave-
wpa3-vulnerable-to-hacks-that-steal-wi-fi-passwords/>  has
<https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/02/flaw-in-billions-of-
wi-fi-devices-left-communications-open-to-eavesdroppng/>  a checkered
history
<https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/05/farewell-to-firewalls-wi-fi-bugs-op
en-network-devices-to-remote-hacks/> . Bluetooth has had its share
<https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2018/07/decade-old-bluetooth
-flaw-lets-hackers-steal-data-passing-between-devices/>  of similar
<https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/10/google-and-intel-war
n-of-high-severity-bluetooth-security-bug-in-linux/>  vulnerabilities
<https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/08/new-attack-exploitin
g-serious-bluetooth-weakness-can-intercept-sensitive-data/>  over the years,
too, either in the Bluetooth standard or in the way it's implemented in
various products. 

If industry-standard wireless technologies have such a poor track record,
why are we to believe a proprietary wireless scheme will have one that's any
better?


The omnipotent juggernaut


Next, consider the wealth of intimate details Amazon devices are privy to.
They see who knocks on our doors, and in some homes they peer into our
living rooms. They hear the conversations we're having with friends and
family. They control locks and other security systems in our home.

Extending the reach of all this encrypted data to the sidewalk and living
rooms of neighbors requires a level of confidence that's not warranted for a
technology that's never seen widespread testing.

Last, let's not forget who's providing this new way for everyone to share
and share alike. As independent privacy researcher Ashkan Soltani puts it:
"In addition to capturing everyone's shopping habits (from amazon.com) and
their internet activity (as AWS is one of the most dominant web hosting
services)... now they are also effectively becoming a global ISP with a
flick of a switch, all without even having to lay a single foot of fiber."

Amazon's decision to make Sidewalk an opt-out service rather than an opt-in
one is also telling. The company knows the only chance of the service
gaining critical mass is to turn it on by default, so that's what it's
doing. Fortunately, turning Sidewalk off
<https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GZ4VSNFMBDHLRJU
K>  is relatively painless. It involves:

1.	Opening the Alexa app
2.	Opening More and selecting Settings
3.	Selecting Account Settings
4.	Selecting Amazon Sidewalk
5.	Turning Amazon Sidewalk Off

No doubt, the benefits of Sidewalk for some people will outweigh the risks.
But for the many, if not the vast majority of users, there's little upside
and plenty of downside. Amazon representatives didn't respond to a request
for comment.

https://arstechnica.com/?p=1768704

 

     David Goldfield 

Assistive Technology Specialist

 

Feel free to visit my Web site

WWW.DavidGoldfield.info <http://WWW.DavidGoldfield.info> 

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