Got An Echo Device? Make Sure You Turn This Setting Off

Alexa...Stop Letting The Neighbors Use My Wi-Fi

My friends, it's always something. And this time it's like the small print on an agreement. Except it's a setting deep in your Amazon Echo or Ring Doorbell device.

And you're going to want to turn it off.

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Follow me closely here because there's a few twists and turns as we go down this rabbit hole.

What Exactly Is Amazon Sidewalk

Sure, on the surface it sounds pretty useful. If you would have them explain it to you.

Amazon Sidewalk is a shared network that helps devices like Amazon Echo devices, Ring Security Cams, outdoor lights, motion sensors, and Tile trackers work better at home and beyond the front door. When enabled, Sidewalk can unlock unique benefits for your device, support other Sidewalk devices in your community, and even locate pets or lost items. (Amazon)

A couple of things I missed. I forgot this also included Tile trackers.

So they tell you in a roundabout way something something "shared network" and then something something "unique benefits" and "support other Sidewalk devices" followed by the old pull of the heartstrings and "locate lost pets and items".

You don't want Fido and your keys missing do you? Leave Amazon Sidewalk on for Pete's sake.

Here's That Small Print Stuff I Was Telling You About

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The company launched a program that forces users of many Echo smart speakers and Ring security cameras to automatically share a small portion of their home wireless bandwidth with neighbors. The only way to stop it is to turn it off yourself. (WSET)

Automatically share? Wait. What now?

When did this happen? Did you even tell us about this Amazon?

Amazon says it sent emails to customers last month and in November that Sidewalk was coming. The company says you'll also get a notification when you set up gadgets that work with Sidewalk. (WSET)

Sounds a little sketchy and suspect to me. You too? Want to know how to turn it off?