Bugs in the software can cause smart devices to record conversations only when the microphone is muted by software. In addition, attackers can bypass the recording disabling mechanisms in the software. Experts commented on Yandex’s claim that the virtual assistant “Alice” does not “monitor” users and explained how the technology works. Experts also recalled the story from 2023, when an analysis of fragments of Yandex source code leaked online showed that the device’s microphone was turned on for several seconds without a user command.
Experts have described cases where smart speakers can still spy on users
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Last week, Dmitry Masyuk, head of Yandex’s search and advertising technology business group, said that there is no technological capability to “spy” on users on smart devices using the Alice virtual assistant.
“All of our devices have a microphone mute button, which simply blocks at the hardware level any possibility of listening in,” a company representative explained.
As noted by Maria Gordenko, Deputy General Director for Information Technology at the Industrial Engineering Plant, the microphone can be turned off on these devices in two ways: hardware, i.e. by means of a button, and software, i.e. by means of code.
In a comment to reporters, Masyuk said that the microphone mute button actually turns off the microphone. According to Maria Gordenko, in theory, “smart” devices can be equipped with alternative power sources. However, the presence of such a source does not mean that the device will continue recording when the microphone is turned off.
Therefore, the risk persists only when recording is disabled programmatically.
“There are nuances associated with software bugs that result in recordings even with the microphone turned off. Also, if the device was compromised or used unreliable security protocols, attackers may try to bypass microphone muting mechanisms,” the expert sums up.
IBS’s Denis Bazarnov notes that the stereotype of listening to conversations with “smart” devices arose thanks to so-called preprocessing technology. In smartphones, when the camera is activated, a series of photos are taken before the photo button is even pressed and stored in RAM. The technology allows for greater image detail.
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“This technical nuance has been documented, which has led several publications to begin to interpret this point in favour of supporters of the “conspiracy theory”. The same goes for voice recognition,” notes Denis Bazarnov.
Evgeniy Kolychev, head of the Smart Devices department at the Astronim distribution company, agrees that a Yandex smart speaker cannot have any hidden elements (which would, for example, include an alternative power source).
“The microphone is only turned on to record and transmit it for processing. The processing is done by the processor. If the microphone is off, nothing can be recorded or processed,” the expert explained.
In 2023, Yandex was faced with the release of source codes containing data from various company services and programs into open access. Analysis showed that the code contains an algorithm that turns on Alice’s microphone without any corresponding commands. Yandex later claimed that this algorithm only works in a beta version, available only to employees.
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