Bezos could be watching you from Sidewalk

If you own an Amazon device like the Echo or Ring Doorbell, chances are you're linked to your neighbor’s devices. That's because Amazon quietly launched its new shared network called Amazon Sidewalk on June 8.

Amazon gave customers eight days to opt out before their devices connected, but many users have complained that the company didn't send out a text or email notification alerting customers to the new “service.”

Many believe that the service should have been opt-in, not opt-out, which requires the user to do something about it or blindly agree.

So what does it do? Amazon is touting Amazon Sidewalk as a new way to stay connected by using Amazon smart-home gear to create a series of mini mesh networks, meaning your devices can stay connected further away from your router, and even stay online when your Wi-Fi goes down.

But what does it really mean? It means you could be sharing your internet network with your neighbors if they have Amazon devices that can also be connected. They'll now share a portion of your internet bandwidth.

The service is supposed to ensure your products will work even if your internet goes down. It will also provide more connectivity to products outdoors, like lights and motion sensors.

Some customers are understandably upset because essentially the service has Amazon putting a device on their network that now will allow other devices from as far as a mile away to connect to that device on their network. According to cybersecurity experts, this could create a vulnerability on your network if another network can gain access that's untrustworthy.

As part of its strategy to get users comfortable with the technology, Amazon claims Sidewalk does not allow users to see what’s on each other’s devices. And it further claims that Sidewalk is designed with multiple layers of privacy and security to protect the data traveling over the network, which allows customers to keep control and feel safe.

But if history is any lesson, breaches are constantly in the news and cybersecurity experts believe that a new network will be a great target for hackers.

If you would like to opt out of this service, users should follow these steps:

For the Ring App:

Open the Ring app.

Tap the three lines in the upper left

Tap Control Center

Tap Amazon Sidewalk

Then toggle the slider button to turn the feature off

For the Alexa App:

Open the Alexa App

Tap three lines on bottom right

Navigate to Settings> Account Settings

Tap Amazon Sidewalk

Scroll to the bottom and toggle the slider to turn the feature off

Keep in mind, even though you opt out once, that doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t have to opt out again. With each app update you may have to go through the process all over again, so don’t get lazy about protecting your network.

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Match.com could be tracking you

If you're on the dating website Match.com (Match) and use that app on your cellphone, it might be easier than you think for people to track your whereabouts.

Match has a feature called missed connections, which takes advantage of location-based services on users’ phones. In case you're wondering what the purpose of this feature is, it allows those who might be interested in dating you to see if they've passed you or not in the course of a day. That way they could say “hi” if they’re interested in chatting with you.

Match assures members that since the information is not offered in a real-data location and is to the nearest intersection rather than the actual place, privacy is maintained.

Also, the information is shown only after the fact but usually within several hours. The feed is curated based on your current matching criteria so Match points out that not every subscriber can see your whereabouts.

However, considering that many people usually have a routine, it could be possible for someone to figure out where you are if they keep getting a notification that they are passing you at the same interconnection every day when you're likely going to work, class or the gym.

From personal experience, I've received notices from Match warning me that certain members have been involved in “suspicious” activity so Match opted to delete that subscriber’s profile and warn the other members who were targeted to be careful.

The suspicious activity wasn't defined but it appeared to be flagged due to other users reporting the person, but no other information has ever been provided by Match as to the true nature of the activity, so it remains a mystery.

While this tracking feature isn’t new, it certainly is a modern-day twist on newspapers’ personal classified ads with the intrigue of a possible chance meeting, whether that's a good thing or not. Of course, you can opt to turn the feature off if you don’t like it.

In addition, members can block other users if they're uncomfortable. But this is still a form of tracking and another way that we as consumers are voluntarily giving away our privacy without necessarily considering the consequences.

Remember, it's still our responsibility to protect ourselves since it takes the company a while to figure out someone is up to no good. Don’t make yourself an easy target. Turn off these tracking features.

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Remember: I’m on your side.

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If you have encountered a consumer issue that you have questions about or think our readers should know about, please send me an email at terridickersonadvocate@gmail.com or call me at 208-274-4458. As The CDA Press Consumer Gal, I’m here to help. I’m a copywriter working with businesses on marketing strategy, a columnist, a veterans advocate and a consumer advocate living in Coeur d’Alene.