How to Secure Your Alexa Device
Do you fear that some hackers may get into your Alexa device and take out the information? Well, every smart device needs to be secure, and Echo needs to be secured, too. So lets learn how to secure alexa.
Consumers have learned that any device can be hacked easily, and hence, securing the device beforehand can make a lot of difference. With the explosion of the Internet of Things (IoT) devices in millions of households, there are now chances of personal information to be collected, shared, and stolen without your knowledge. According to a recent study done by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, there are more than 50 million Amazon Echo Speakers installed in the US today.
Alexa is the smartest device that can enhance your lifestyle, but do you know How to secure your Alexa device? Don’t fret at all! We have got your back. Here is the ultimate guide for enhancing safety and protecting your privacy while using Alexa devices. Follow these steps immediately to know how to secure alexa:
How to Secure Your Alexa Device
Securing Alexa Devices is now fortunately easy with few techniques. From Wifi network to Alexa Device, we have covered everything that you must know to secure your alexa device. So jump right in and read all the detailed points carefully to know how to make alexa secure.
#1 : Secure your Wifi Connection
The most important step in how to make alexa secure is by securing your wifi network that Alexa uses to access the Internet. A secure Wi-Fi network is required due to a practice called wardriving, in which a black-hat hacker drives through various neighbourhoods with a portable computer or other device set up to seek for open wireless networks. If a hacks person finds an insecure network, he uses it to access the Internet (a person known as piggybacker) or to damage or cause harm to shared network resources.
The problem is that wireless networks are rather insecure, because the wireless connection that allows you to access Alexa from the kitchen or living room can also allow intruders from outside your home to access the network. Fortunately, you can secure your wireless network against these threats with several techniques:
- Change the router password
Choose the administrator password which is an important configuration for wifi router. This password has nothing to do with the internet services you log in. Changing the default administrative password disable hackers to access your login page. Avoid using common default passwords and usernames. Change the Wi-Fi network password and make sure it is protected with hard-to-guess password.
- Solidify your Wi-Fi router’s encryption
Any hacker may intercept your network data using a tool called a packet sniffer. That is why you have to encrypt your wireless network. Some routers have no encryption enabled or use an outdated one called Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). Make sure your router uses Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2) security type.
Note: If you are not sure about your network encryption or security type, then you can get free assistance from one of our security experts by connecting with them using chat bot.
- Check your network credentials
Make sure your Wi-Fi network name – known as the Service Set Identifier (SSID) doesn’t contain any text that identifies you or your location.
- Update the firmware on your router
The internal program that runs the Wi-Fi router is called Reputable Router Manufacturers, which releases regular firmware updates not only to fix bugs or problems and provide new features, but also to fill security holes. Therefore, it is important to keep the router firmware up to date.
- Create a separate Wi-Fi network for your smart home devices
If your router supports multiple networks, then setup one network for your regular internet access and the other network for your smart home devices. Home automation gadgets tend to be less secure, so moving them (and Alexa) to a separate network will keep your regular network safe.
- Install a Network Firewall
The most important step in how to secure alexa is to install the network firewall on your router. Malicious codes, or hackers can gain access to your devices on the Internet and can infect or steal your private information from any of your device connected to the same network. Therefore, by installing a firewall on your home network, will protect it from online threats. Not only that,it will also prevent unauthorized access and block malicious traffic. Usually, routers don`t have a built-in firewall. Firewalls have advance network security features, such as distributed denial of service (DDoS),web filtering, access control and much more. So, make sure to get that and enable it on your home network.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding it, you can contact our smart home security experts by using chat bot and get free consultation from them. Our experts will guide you with the best options available for network firewall and securing your home network completely.
#2 : Select a strong Amazon password
The next step in how to secure alexa is to select a strong amazon password. People sometimes forget that their devices are secured and protected by a password. If someone has your Amazon password, they can access your recordings, and security systems, have the ability to purchase, track your daily routine and so much more. If you are using a weak password or using the same password for multiple accounts, you should think of increasing your security. So let’s see how to make Alexa secure with a password. Use a strong password of long-tail words and include special characters like! @, #, etc. Also, you can use a different password for each account and app. To change your existing Amazon password, follow these steps:
Step 1: Sign in to your Amazon account by surfing to your country’s Amazon domain.
Step 2: Click Accounts and Lists → Manage Your Content and Devices.
Step 3: Click Login and security → Edit Button
Step 4: Now type your current and new strong password that you`ll like to set and click save changes.
#3 : Enable Two Factor Authentication
Although a strong password is a necessary security feature, it is unfortunately insufficient. You still need a second layer of security in case a hacker uses various techniques or brute force to get access to your account. This is a feature known as Amazon’s Two-Step Verification (which is a more comprehensible name than what the rest of the Internet most often uses for the same feature: Two-Factor Authentication) . The “Two Steps” feature means that access to your Amazon account requires two sepearate actions. Follow the steps to enable two factor authentication.
Step 1: Click login and security in your amazon account.
Step 2: Next to Advanced Security Settings, click the Edit button.
Step 3: Click the Get Started button to the right of the Two-Step Verification label.
Step 4: Click the radio button for the method you want to use.
Step5 : Select Got It and turn on Two-Step Verification.
#4 : Secure pin for voice purchases
A lot of people have expressed concern that their kids have misused the device and accidentally purchased thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise. Well, to avoid this you must have secured voice purchases and have a one-click payment method set up to make the voice purchases. This is a great way to take extra precautions and add a purchase code. You just have to say a four-digit confirmation code before making any voice purchase. To do that;
Step 1: Open the Alexa app.
Step 2: Navigate to Settings and click on “Alexa Account.” Now select Voice Purchases.
Step 3: After enabling voice purchases, you can set up your purchase code.
#5 : Adjust your privacy settings
Amazon has its own security practices, terms of use, and policies. You can review this information to understand Alexa’s privacy and how to secure Alexa with the type of concerns you have.
Step 1: Locate and launch the Alexa app.
Step 2: Go to Settings and then Alexa Account
Step 3: Now click on “Alexa Privacy.”
Step 4: Choose , Adjust your privacy settings.
Review your history, manage the information sent to Amazon about your smart-home devices, and check skill permissions. See which kind of managing app permission it uses. Specific Alexa devices have particular privacy settings. For instance, Echo Look lets you pick your photos to be submitted for style suggestions.
#6 : Don’t create and share skills that use personal data
Some Alexa users build customised skills and then distribute them using Alexa Blueprints. This may look convenient, but these skills, like babysitting or individual tests, take sensitive data about you or another person. Develop a skill by outlining it first and thinking about it all the way to make sure it will not share any private information. Now evaluate the skill before making it public or sharing it with other people. Instead of saying, “Harry just turned 1 on June 7, and hence he is not sleeping through the night yet,” say “The baby isn’t sleeping through the night yet.” Try your best to make Alexa secure by keeping all your questions and answers vague and not tracking other people’s information.
#7 : Manage skills carefully
Third-party Alexa skills are always fascinating. But Amazon won’t share any personally identifiable information for any skill without taking the permission first. Many skills require the transaction of data and hence permission is needed. For example, if you start a quiz skill, Alexa sends you answers to the skill without asking permission so manage carefully. To do so, open the alexa app < review your skills to secure and adjust your permission settings.
#8: Delete saved Wi-Fi passwords
Amazon Wi-Fi Simple Setup technology makes it easy to set up supported devices by automatically connecting them to your Wi-Fi network. This automatic connection works because Amazon stores your Wi-Fi password on its servers. Amazon makes several efforts to ensure that your stored network password is secure. You can erase your saved Wi-Fi passwords from Amazon and, optionally, switch off Wi-Fi Simple Setup to allay these justifiable fears. To do so, follow the steps given below :
Step 1: Sign in to your Amazon account by surfing to your country’s Amazon domain.
Step 2: Click Accounts and Lists → Manage Your Content and Devices.
Step 3: Now, click on the preferences tab.
Step 4: Select Saved Wi-Fi Passwords → Delete
#9 : Manage your smart home device connections
Alexa can connect to all smart devices in your house. In fact, she is one of the best voice assistants for controlling it by using voice commands. However, all of this compatibility with smart home devices also brings some security issues. Alexa will receive data about your smart devices and how they are used in your home. Fortunately, like Alexa’s voice commands, there is a way to clear the history of your smart home device connections.
Step 1`: Log in to your Amazon account first.
Step 2 : Select Manage Your Content and Devices from the menu options.
Step 3: Click Manage Smart Home History. Here you will find the option to clear the history of your devices with just one button.
#10 : Erase your Alexa voice recordings and history every day
When Echo Show 5 was launched, a new privacy feature was announced that allow users to delete their recordings from the device for a specific day. So here is how to secure Alexa by deleting the recordings:
Step 1: You need to say, “Alexa, delete what I said today,” and the device will delete your daily voice recordings.
Step 2: Perform this action every night before you go to sleep. This will clear out all your Alexa recordings.
Now the next step is to erase history. Even when you delete all the recordings each night, you may still have past recordings that are not deleted. For them, you have to:
Step 1: Navigate into the Alexa app and tap on Settings. Now go to Alexa Account.
Step 2: After this, select “History” and manually delete all of your past recordings.
#11 : Turn off your microphone and camera when not in use
Some customers are concerned that a hacker may hack into their Echo and can listen to them, or, worse, that someone could be watching them through an Echo device with a camera. So how to secure Alexa? You can minimise the risk by following these steps:
Step 1: Press the microphone button located on top of the device, and your alexa will stop listening.
Step 2: Now turn off the camera on all Alexa devices by using your voice to say, “Alexa, turn the camera off.”
Step 3: Or you can go to Settings and select Device Options to turn off the Enable Camera option.
In the latest models, like Echo Show 5, Amazon went an extra step to include a camera shutter. So now you can put it over the camera lens, which helps assuage fears that digital privacy methods could be overwritten. and even new Amazon Echo devices are being designed for more private areas.
#12 : Place your Alexa device carefully
Avoid placing the device in places like windows or in a location that’s easily accessible from outside. This will reduce the risk of someone accessing your Echo from outside and people listening to your calls or other Alexa interactions. This is one of the major steps that you can follow on how to make Alexa secure.
#13 : Change your wake word
Change your wake word to a word you don’t use frequently in a conversation. Make sure the wake word doesn’t sound too similar to other words that you often use in your interactions. So if your sister’s name is Alexis, make sure to not use that word to avoid Alexa starting recording your conversations when you say this name. Check how to secure the Amazon Echo by changing the wake word:
Step 1: Change the wake word by simply saying, “Alexa, change the wake word.”
Step 2: Open the Alexa App and navigate towards Devices.
Step 3: Now select your device and pick “Wake Word.”
Step 4: After this, select a new wake word from the list and press OK.
Also read: Amazon echo dot troubleshooting guide and support
Final Thoughts
So these are the most vital steps on how to secure your Alexa device! Follow each one attentively and still if you are not getting any of this on how to secure alexa, you can contact our experts by dialing Alexa Customer Service Number +1-872-888-1589. You can even ask your question in the chat box as well. Our agents are available round the clock throughout the year to assist you with any issue related to the alexa device. Feel free to contact them!