It's not like your voice-assistant conversations ever involve private information,free x rated movies right?
A report from the Guardian, which relies on an ex-Microsoft contractor as a source, claims that Cortana audio recordings were protected with "no security measures" until possibly as recently as last summer. Many of these recordings, which in some cases included audio clips from accidental activations of the smart assistant, were allegedly easily accessible over the Chinese internet with minimal safeguards.
How minimal? Well, according to the unnamed contractor, all they had to do was log into a web portal via their Chrome browser. What's more, the contractors, based in China, were all reportedly told to use the same password.
"They just give me a login over email and I will then have access to Cortana recordings," the contractor told the Guardian. "I could then hypothetically share this login with anyone."
We reached out to Microsoft in an attempt to confirm details of the Guardian'sreporting, but received no immediate response.
It's worth emphasizing that, for a long time — and in some cases still to this day — actual humans listened to the conversations you had with smart assistants like Alexa and Siri. Employees and contractors with access to these audio recordings admitted that many of the files they were sent for review appeared to have been recorded without the users' knowledge. That is, no prompt word or phrase such as "hey Google" had been spoken.
Following media reports on the eavesdropping practice, makers of smart assistants moved to partially curtail the practice. Facebook, for example, briefly paused the human review of Portal conversations — but only briefly.
Customers, at least some of whom had been unaware that recordings of their conversations with smart assistants were being passed around for laughs by contractors, understandably responded to the news with surprise. That, at least according to the Guardian'ssource, the security protecting Cortana recordings was so lacking only makes matters worse.
SEE ALSO:Amazon's 'Alexa Answers' is a hot mess, surprising exactly no one
Importantly, Microsoft told the Guardianthat the program described by the contractor no longer exists in China. Whether or not that alone should make you feel better about smart assistants, well, is an open question.
UPDATE: Jan. 10, 2020, 4:04 p.m. PST: A Microsoft spokesperson responded with the following statement:
We review short snippets of de-identified voice data from a small percentage of customers to help improve voice-enabled features, and we sometimes engage partner companies in this work. Review snippets are typically fewer than ten seconds long and no one reviewing these snippets would have access to longer conversations. We’ve always disclosed this to customers and operate to the highest privacy standards set out in laws like Europe’s GDPR. This past summer we carefully reviewed both the process we use and the communications with customers. As a result we updated our privacy statement to be even more clear about this work, and since then we’ve significantly enhanced the process including by moving these reviews to secure facilities in a small number of countries. We will continue to take steps to give customers greater transparency and control over how we manage their data.
Topics Microsoft
The Baffler’s May Day Round Up
Volkswagen, General Motors resume price war with steep price cuts in China · TechNode
Starbucks releases Douyin mini
Webb telescope just made a surprising discovery because of a mistake
This fat bear's before and after photos are stunning
Webb telescope just made a surprising discovery because of a mistake
Astronomers just witnessed a whole galaxy 'turn on the lights'
This 'House of the Dragon' scene is even sadder than you thought
How to Reboot and Reset Android Devices
TikTok child privacy complaint sent to U.S. Dept. of Justice
NYT Connections hints and answers for April 14: Tips to solve 'Connections' #673.
Scientists discover massive meteorite in Antarctica heavier than most bowling balls
What is Juneteenth and how do you celebrate the federal holiday?
Jupiter, Venus, and the moon are striking to view in the night sky right now
Best Sony deal: Save $100 on WH
Volvo’s parent Geely to build $170 million joint factory in Vietnam · TechNode
Apple is discontinuing Apple Pay Later, but a replacement is coming
NASA reveals its moon spacecraft was damaged as it plummeted to Earth
NYT mini crossword answers for May 12, 2025
NASA Mars Curiosity rover spots striking clouds in Martian sunsets
Watching plants grow is the best part of the slow webGoogle Tensor G2 chip announced at 2022 Made by Google event'Quordle' today: See each 'Quordle' answer and hints for October 4A video ranking Fritos, Doritos, Cheetos, and Lay's chips is dividing the internetTwo CNN reporters wore matching green jackets, and of course they got green screenedGoogle Tensor G2 chip announced at 2022 Made by Google eventElon Musk blames Twitter bots for RussiaWordle today: Here's the answer, hints for October 3Competitive Meditation 101: What you need to know about the world's weirdest sportTwo CNN reporters wore matching green jackets, and of course they got green screenedWhy spam calls are everywhere, and what you can do to prevent themGoogle Pixel 7 and 7 Pro announced at 2022 Made by Google event'Tár' review: Cate Blanchett dazzles in one of the year's best filmsHurricane Ian's victims need your help. Here's where you can send assistance.Watching plants grow is the best part of the slow webRhaenyra straight up gaslights a continent to nab 'House of the Dragon' MVPFacebook is giving us a little bit more control over our feedsThe summoning circle meme calls upon your deepest, darkest desiresGoogle celebrates the Lesbian Velma reveal with an extremely gay Easter eggToddler's reaction to successfully stacking cups was the best thing on the internet this week The government finally released its medical data sharing rules 'The Last of Us': Does Ellie know Joel is lying at the end? Jared Kushner apparently got coronavirus advice from a Facebook group 'Self Reliance' review: Jake Johnson teams with The Lonely Island for comic mayhem 'Luther' creator Neil Cross on why tech is a terrifying tool for villains How to do mantra meditation, and why TikTok is getting it wrong Wordle today: Here's the answer, hints for March 14 Google Pixel Fold and 7a leaks reveal potential June launch Arnold Schwarzenegger is self Why are celebs donning blue ribbons at the Oscars? TikTok to be banned from UK government devices We have a potent weapon against coronavirus and should use it promptly 'Quordle' today: See each 'Quordle' answer and hints for March 14 'Black Panther' costume designer Ruth E. Carter made history at the Oscars Chilling Italian obituary pages show the rising dead from coronavirus Watch a disturbing supercut of Trump's heavy breathing Spotify's TikTok What the coronavirus has done to the porn industry — so far 'The Last of Us': Who are the Fireflies and FEDRA? 'New Girl' is leaving Netflix. Here's where to watch it instead.
2.41s , 10132.6015625 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【free x rated movies】,Evergreen Information Network