I would like to know how much money I spent on Amazon.com and maybe you would also like to see your stats. There is an internal trick to getting a detailed report from Amazon. Tap or click here to see steps to see everything you’ve purchased and when you’re on Amazon.com.
Amazon is much more than just shopping. The Echo smart speaker is a useful tool at home. If you’re stuck just asking for weather updates, check out these 20 new smart commands to try [list].
As with all things at Big Tech, you cannot skip critical steps to ensure your privacy. Keep reading to deal with three of the biggest ones.
Yes, you have a public Amazon profile
This tip always catches people off guard. As an Amazon customer, you have a profile that is visible to other Amazon users, created automatically.
It contains comments and reviews you have left about the products purchased on the site, your biographical information and other interactions on the site. Fortunately, your public profile does not include your purchases or browsing history, but it is still very revealing.
Here’s how to control what is shown on your profile:
- Log in to your Amazon account. Click Account and lists.
- Under Order and purchase preferences, click Your Amazon profile.
- Click on the orange box marked Edit your public profile.
Here you will see Edit public profile and Edit your privacy settings.
Click on the various options to review. You can adjust the section about me, shopping lists, wish lists, any pets added, etc. Also check the activity section of your community.
Check the Echo input settings
One of Echo’s best features is Drop In. It connects you to an Echo speaker or display for instant conversation. “Alexa, show up at the Echo Dot garage.” If you have multiple Echo devices in your home, you can use this command to make an announcement. “Alexa, appear on all devices.”
But you can’t forget that the Echo speaker or display works both ways. It also allows someone to listen immediately or observe what is going on in the room after 10 seconds. It is best to control these options, unless you don’t mind someone listening or watching what you are doing.
Take a look at the contacts you’ve approved for Drop In:
- Open the Alexa app on your phone.
- Touch To communicate at the bottom of the screen, and on that page, tap the contacts icon at the top right corner.
- Scroll through your contacts and make sure Allow entry is enabled only for the right people.
Then, set the permissions to enable or disable for a specific device.
- In the Alexa application, select Settings> Device settings and choose the device you want to turn on / off Drop In.
- Touch Communications and then and select Show up. Here, you can select Enabled only for allowed contacts, My Household to only sign in to devices in my account, or Off, which means that no one can enter.
If you would like to disable Drop In completely, open the Alexa app on your phone and follow the steps above for each of your Echo devices. When you reach the receiving page for each Echo device, select Off. That’s it, Drop In is now disabled on each of your devices.
Do not avoid the sidewalk
Sidewalk is essentially a mesh network that extends the range of your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection by up to 1.6 km. It turns your Echo speakers and some Ring devices into bridging devices to boost Internet-connected technology.
Amazon says the total monthly data is limited to 500 MB per account or the equivalent of 10 minutes of streaming HD video. This is not much.
But not that fast. What about your privacy? Amazon says the Sidewalk network uses three layers of encryption and that its neighbors will not be able to see your data.
They may say so, but the Internet of Things is known for its unsafe and un-up-to-date devices. There is no standard. I turned off.
If you want to cancel, open the Alexa app.
- Touch Most followed by Settings.
- Touch Account Settings, followed by Amazon Sidewalk.
- Turn Amazon Sidewalk off if you don’t want to participate.
Note: This only applies to some devices, including Ring’s Floodlight Cam, Wired Spotlight Cam and Spotlight Cam Mount from 2019 or later, along with most Echo models (including Dot, Plus, Show, Dot for Kids and Studio) made after 2016.
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