Amazon Smart Plug
Summary
The Amazon Smart Plug allows you to control your appliances, such as lights or fans, with your phone or through an Alexa device. It can be purchased for $25.
Breach History
Has there ever been a breach or data leak?
Date of last breach
February 2020
A large database containing millions of European customer records was found unsecured on Amazon Web Services on February 3, 2020. Information from several companies was found on this database, such as Amazon, eBay, Shopify, PayPal, and Stripe. Leaked personal information could include name, shipping address, email, phone number, items purchased, payment history, and partially redacted credit cards.
Privacy Checklist
Is any kind of biometric data collected (health, heart, voice, etc.)?
Are you able to delete your data / the data collected about you?
Does it use cookies, telemetry, or third-party tracking scripts?
Is the privacy policy user-friendly (easy to understand)?
Does it have parental controls?
Does it use encryption to protect your data both in-transit and at-rest?
Does it get regular software and / or firmware updates?
Does it require you to create a strong password?
Is there a system in place for managing security vulnerabilities?
Does it have a privacy policy?
How Can It Snoop?
Does it have a camera or request / require access to a camera?
Does it have a microphone or request / require access to a microphone?
Does it track your location or request / require access to location data?
Account Requirements
Does it require an email address to use?
Does it require a phone number to use?
Does it require an address (home or office) to use?
Payment Options
Are you able to use a credit card as a payment option?
Are you able to use a cryptocurrency as a payment option?
Are you able to use PayPal as a payment option?
Are you able to use cash or gift cards as a payment option?
What Could Go Wrong?
Not much risk other than someone potentially figuring out how to control your lights. The biggest concern is that Amazon loves to collect device data and create personalized ads, and they may now know when you turn your lights on and off and what music you listen to during those times. Be aware that this device could be collecting some of this information.
How Does It Share Your Data?
Amazon can use your device data to create targeted, interest-based ads. This includes data such as your browsing history and location.
Good Things
- Inexpensive.
- Integrates well with other Alexa devices.
Bad Things
- Minor data collection concerns.
- No compatibility with other voice assistants.
Final Thoughts
Amazon notoriously collects a large amount of data on its users and uses it to target them with interest-based ads. Amazon was also included in a data breach that exposed information from several million European Amazon accounts. As a result, personal information seems to be at serious risk when provided to Amazon. However, a Smart plug cannot collect much user data, so as long as you are careful, Amazon should not collect much data on you from use of this device.