Google is listening...but not to YOU

[@txkflier]

My wife asked me why I spoke so softly in the house. I told her I was afraid Mark Zuckerberg was listening! She laughed. I laughed. Alexa laughed. Siri laughed. Google laughed.. 😎

[@k.b.tidwell]

Somewhere on a yacht Jeff Bezos said, "He thought Zuck was listening!"

[@RaymondSwanson-u9y]

The NSA was not laughing, however.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

LOL

[@KlodFather]

@@AskYourComputerGuy - There was a story in the news around here where Alexa heard a couple arguing and called the police on them as a domestic. SHe found her ass out at the curb with the rest of the trash. I am an electronics engineer and my two friends are software engineers. We all work together on projects. The danger of this is real and a menace. We tape over the webcams with orange or red electrical tape to show where the cam is and to prevent activation. The mics are just as dangerous. This mechanical ahole is listening because if you talk about buying selling or doing something, the ads follow... But you have to have the mics hot and the permissions on and allow these POS contraptions in your home. WE DO NOT ALLOW THEM. Check out that domestic call... It is very much Orwellian and 1984'ish.

[@CYPH3R-G4M1NG]

What about the toaster, microwave, refrigerator, oven and the washing machine?

[@Cyba_IT]

Google are probably aware that people are getting wise to this and intentionally don't blast you with ads on other websites after you search for something.

[@graybeardnj3216]

It's concerning that Google listens into our phone conversations in violation of federal law, but won't let us record both sides of a phone conversation with one party consent in compliance with most state and federal law.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Agreed. Bet if we made the kind of money Google does, that wouldn't be the case 🤷‍♂️

[@annacurransmotherofmeghanc1841]

Dude they've been listening to you 24/7 since at least 2017 through all of your devices and are utilizing the cameras as well by taking screenshots and taking a pic at specific intervals throughout the day all without your permission or knowledge and is stored on their servers under your name forever to be used aginst you at any time. They will even track and listen to you through other people's phones who are around you. I'm not exaggerating this is all true.

[@corvox2010]

lmao

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Please cite your sources.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

I'm with you here 😂

[@pedraw]

My desktop has no microphone. My phone sits next to me so I'd say it's highly probable that Google is eavesdropping.

[@SonistheFatherofMan]

I have seen KZbin give me recommendations of very obscure songs or films that I have only THOUGHT about. I am talking about one to two days later. Please explain to me how THAT works lol.

[@fypvideosonline]

The algorithm has you on check my friend. It has learned How you think and is serving you videos based on that

[@SonistheFatherofMan]

@@fypvideosonline But how do they do it????

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Probably because they listen to us when we sleep talk lol

[@SonistheFatherofMan]

@@AskYourComputerGuy makes sense!

[@H.F446]

There were no google products around while you were talking. So of course google wasn't spying......you did nothing involving google searches or devices while talking. There have been leaked documents proving that devices/apps have been listening. What google products were you using during your tests? none. Just another "debunking" video that didn't debunk anything.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Ok.

[@neilw2O]

Good subject! CORRECTION! It was iPhone microphone enabled in the KZbin app. My friend has a reasonably new LG flatscreen smart television. With no other recording devices, other than the tv microphone (in the remote, I guess) he was DISCUSSING about a product, he had never searched for, and some hours later, his browser threw some adverts at him on the subject that he had discussed. Maybe the TVs are getting really smart? More on the details later. They were discussing bank/credit card transactions.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Wow

[@safeconnectaustralia9291]

❤

[@trickster11300]

Very interesting experiment. Value. Thanks for your time and expertise.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

I appreciate that 👍

[@txkflier]

I know that some device is listening. Not sure if it's my iPhone or my friend's Android phone, but if we talk about something, we start getting recommendations for whatever it was when we surf the Internet. Yes, RIP Teri Garr..

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Phone listening is the next privacy video coming. This was just desktop microphone privacy 👍

[@D.von.N]

Google or whoever is listening to me. One day I had data turned on and talked with a nurse about a particular medication. Bam! Next day I had ad for that stuff in my Fakebook feed! Out of blue. It never was there before. I don't need any other arguments about this. It would be too much of a coincidence.

[@boqoll]

This happens to me all the time😂 not once, not twice but all the time. It can't be a coincidence

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Phone listening video is on the drawing board. This was "desktop microphone" evaluation 👍

[@xdsmastermia]

Google definitely listens. I was talking about the springs in Florida with a co worker once, and when I went to my computer got ads for springs in Florida. Way too specific to be coincidence. I was downstairs in a parking lot with my galaxy note 10. Computer was upstairs. Hmmm

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Phone video totally separate, coming soon. This was just "desktop microphone"

[@eawil-sunart]

Internet of things- IOT everything you do is stored!!!

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

👍

[@u2-beehappy]

hang on you just made an advert for Starbucks, Walmart 🐝 Google doesn't need to be listening

[@chameleonagreen5644]

My sister and I had landlines living at differentaddresses. Our smart phones were in the rooms, but not necessarily active. Within hours of a conversation, subjects that we discussed on landline would pop up on KZbin videos, it was uncanny. Not necessarily advertising, although that as well, but subjects like hypertension, child care, really totally random subjects that were only of passing interest. The one that specifically was ridiculous, was pleghm! So, I know that there was no reason for those subjects to come up on my KZbin feed unless my inactive, but not completely switched off, phone was listening.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

I don't disagree about the phones listening. That's an upcoming separate video 👍

[@cybersean3000]

The problem wit this test. The test did demonstrate that a browser with no history will not produce targeted ads. However, web sites can pull the search history or the view history from the browser and use that to target ads. Also, Android phones are always listening, which is why target ads appear based on recent in person face to face conversations. The instructions to turn of google listening are out there. Search for them on another computer you have never used before. The roasting process removes some caffeine from the beans. The lighter roasts, such as a breakfast blend has more caffeine. If you want the caffeine hit, go for a light roast. If you are going for bold flavor, go for a darker roast. If you want a little of both, go for a medium roast.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Phone privacy is for another video. This was to address whether your PC microphone was listening/recording. We all know our phones listen..I plan on addressing that in another video 👍

[@Julian-ij3vc]

Would the results have been different if you'd used the Google Chrome browser rather than Edge? Edge has some tracking protection enabled by default which could potentially block Google tracking cookies. It's only an idea.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Perhaps. Fair argument 👍

[@throughmylens5127]

Definitely listening to my phone.

[@bokami3445]

I'd be interested in a follow up video, to know if in say a week you started to notice more ad's for coffee, Starbucks ... etc...

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

I will include that in my upcoming video about cell phone listening. Stay tuned!

[@bokami3445]

Thanks, looking forward to seeing it

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Thank you! Looking forward to making it...just need to get the wife upgraded so I have a "clean" phone to test

[@bigoldgrizzly]

@@AskYourComputerGuy a wife upgrade ??? ! ....... count me in ! ;

[@Bullminator]

They spy on you, but if you wipe your profile, they think you are a new user. Takes a while for profiles to connect to your search history, voice in background (if you have mic connected with no security) or you were near your phone or smart tv. A new user is not worth a lot to them, but people they already have some data on them. The more data they have on you (and stuff connected to you), the higher chance a personal add will hit you.

[@turkeymountain6431]

I agree with others. Id like to see a test with a "clean" phone, logged into a Google account, and see what happens.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Actually on the drawing board. Gotta upgrade the wife's phone, wipe it clean and run the test! Stay tuned 👍

[@callumrodgers2976]

What settings do you have within the computer settings as you can set those to not have any personalised ads? I'm sure you thought of that but just had to ask. Also thank you for all your videos I've found a new love of computers again through yourself and a couple other youtube channels..keep the videos coming they are the most informative and easy to understand and got me out of many an issue.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

I appreciate the support! I had "standard" Microsoft privacy settings enabled, same as most people have when they click "ndxt next next" at initial setup 👍

[@ethimself5064]

Ya just have to try Folger's Black Silk - The name says it all.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Ooh, don't care for the silk. Just does something to my taste buds. Regular Folgers I can handle

[@ethimself5064]

@@AskYourComputerGuy Woops

[@midnightkitty8172]

A couple on YT performed an experiment by saying 'We need to pick up Cat food' many times over the course of a day ( and they do not own a Cat ). Sure enough, their feed was chock a block full of ads for Cat food. IT IS LISTENING!!

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Perhaps on mobile, 100% for sure. That video is upcoming. This was specifically for people wondering if their PC microphone was listening 👍

[@midnightkitty8172]

@@AskYourComputerGuy PC ... microphone?

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Yes.

[@midnightkitty8172]

@@AskYourComputerGuy Am I correct to assume it exists for some reason directly pertaining to the normal operation of the computer itself?

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Just wanted to debunk a common misconception about your computer microphone (specifically) listening the way a mobile device does. Lots of people cover their PC cameras with black tape for the same reason. Just providing factual information for those that might be wondering if true 👍

[@s4ke5179]

This might seems hilarious, but this video reminded me on some of kinda cool (?) or concerning things that happened to me last year. So, back in the day, just 5 minutes before going home from work, I was with my friend discussing about a food that we are going to eat for dinner. My phone was on the table at that moment, and one of my friend said "McDon*ld's Cheese Burger!!" while saying it out loud. Then, I went back home to my apartment, and guess what? When I open my phone, login to my Instagram, the first ads that showing on my feeds is the ads from McDon*ld's showing me the exact same menu that my friend said before we come home, a Cheese Burger!.

[@AdeebaZamaan]

I'm not very careful but neither am I much of a consumer. Even when I search for specific things, ads for them usually take a few days to show up. And that pees me off, because generally the ads offer me something closer to what I wanted than the thing I already bought. On the other hand, what I'm looking for tends to the eclectic.

[@rediffusion7996]

You've achieved a high level of success with this demonstration. 👍

[@Systematiclol]

You have to be signed into a google account so they can link your searches and what you say to an id. I dont know what you expected from this "test".

[@Cyba_IT]

Not necessarily. Presuming you're not using a VPN they have your public IP address and can use that to link searches.

[@mpc6500]

​@Cyba_IT not just IP. Browser config, device settings, your screen, and a whole list of stuff contributes to your fingerprint. They don't know who you are, but they know it's the same person.

[@Cyba_IT]

@mpc6500 exactly man. Sure, an account gives them a lot more data to play with but they can still track and customize ads without one.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

If they are truly listening (and I use Google frequently and have 10+ Google accounts), and the microphone was "hot", they would know. This was not a mobile device test (coming soon), this was a "pc and microphone" test.

[@rhondae8222]

Thank you for sharing. 🙂

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@bitehunter122]

You reset everything. So how do you expect Google to profile you? If you just started to use everything reset? You can’t.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

That was the point. With a complete blank slate, it could absolutely confirm whether my microphone or pc was listening. It's not scientific, but I just wanted to improve on the previous test by another creator to see for myself

[@jimlincoln2313]

It's so crazy people put Alexa and Siri in their house so everything they say maybe listened to.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Agreed

[@paulmoffat9306]

I'm NC with Google via voice -> I use a desktop PC that has NO microphone. Let Google listen to static. My laptop has the camera masked, and the microphone is disabled, when I use it on a trip.

[@rhondae8222]

I make my coffee from coffee beans, different brands.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

I wish I could be that fancy. I'd love to play with a French press, but I broke...and lazy LOL

[@DominicMazoch]

If there was the Internet in his day, I wonder what flavor of gunpowder Guy Fawkes would order?

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Interesting!!! Lol

[@ethimself5064]

Question - I can't find specific words that Chrome uses to auto fill when appropriate. How do I find the setting to either manage them of delete them?

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

I'm not 100% but check your chrome settings under your specific profile. I think there is an auto fill option in there 👍

[@ethimself5064]

@@AskYourComputerGuy Thanks

[@rhondae8222]

I believe Google tracks my information, including my emails.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

👍

[@thethinkingman-]

i believe in the tooth fairy

[@thethinkingman-]

@@Sum_Yousah you too. dum-sum

[@mrjazzhandsgo4740]

What is the best password manager to have, that can also be used inside a web browser and understand how to use them? (potential video idea?)

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Nordpass is my password manager of choice:: nordpass.com/computerguy

[@johnpickett8533]

What I think is insane is if I think of something and type one or two letters it is the top choice. That happens a lot..more than coincidence.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

I have heard that same thing from MANY others...makes you wonder, huh?

[@realtorjames2586]

Now put your phone near you and repeat that. As far as I am concerned, by listening to us 24/7, Google, Facebook, 😮 and the rest are illegally wiretapping everyone's phones.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Phone observance is a totally different topic, I'll be making a video on that soon 👍

[@garyameika187]

I am surprised you do not seem to know about "utterance". In 2016 I attended "Affiliate Marketing East" in NYC. It was a 5 day event. On the last day the lunchtime keynote speakers were 3 CEOs of the biggest digital marketing companies in the USA. They spent 30 minutes explaining the new big thing... " utterance"... your phone is listening EVEN WHEN YOU ARE NOT USING IT.... a human could be listening but they said BILLIONS were being spent on AI to parse your words and send you ads based on what you seem to be interested in.... I don't know about laptops but your phones are listening... it is mega business and I have seen it along with others who notice.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

I never said I didn't know about it. As you stated, "phones". That was not the topic of this video, and will absolutely be mentioned in the upcoming "is your phone listening to you?" video 👍

[@rohnkd4hct260]

It seems to have scaled down some fro what it was. They know most people don’t click the ads. I really hate the ones that masquerade as real news stories.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

100% agreed

[@RaymondSwanson-u9y]

Google admits that they scan your emails for purchase infoirmation and sells it to marketers.

[@ricopyro9282]

Im pretty sure Google can tap into your energy. Ive seen ads for crap i *thought* about. No need to speak nor search...

[@mybachhertzbaud3074]

It appeared to me that the media companies were advertising pretty much the same way they have for years. Paid ads direct to their site.?🤔

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

🤷‍♂️

[@leakyboatent]

So how does this answer the question ! Will Google use Telepathy as you have removed everything that can listen to you including defaulting your browser and shutting it down. Bring everything back and activate it then run the experiment, I think hearing you might might be the trick they use.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

I did not want to skew the results with any past browsing history. I wanted to determine if Google, using my microphone and connected to the internet, would hear/store/use anything I said to show predictable ads. I will be doing further experiments as you suggest to show the differences between when they aren't using your voice and when they are. Also doing some social media experiments along this line as well. Stay tuned 👍

[@terrylandess6072]

About halfway though I'm wondering if your IP address is also a tag on the generated ad content history. Your results nullified that thought.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

👍

[@susieangelique2669]

At 13:02, right at CNN, Death Wish coffee ad appeared, but you either missed it, or you tried to cover it up.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

I did not see that! I will check it out, thanks for the catch

[@mrjazzhandsgo4740]

what do you think is the best password manager?

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Nordpass is my password manager that I personally use and prefer: nordpass.com/computerguy

[@k.b.tidwell]

I've been using a free and open source password manager called KeepassXC for years.

[@StephanBuchin]

Brands pay for being served to you. Maybe coffee brands didn't pay enough.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

🤷‍♂️

[@espumatt]

I have no proof but neither doubt, they spy on us. I was having a casual conversation about ice cream a couple of days ago. I'm pretty sure I haven't talked about ice cream in at least a couple of months (late winter/spring over here). Within the next half hour, while checking in my phone, my Instagram in-between stories ads were all about ice cream stores in my city. I don't see it as often in desktop PCs these days but phones? Like I said, no proof but neither doubt.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

I 100% believe your mobile is listening. That's an upcoming experiment, stay tuned!

[@MerwinARTist]

Well .. we were listening! ;-) lol

[@TechnoEveryday]

You need to work harder on this topic.......😅

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

This was video 1, desktop microphone privacy. Next up Is mobile phone privacy. Stay tuned 👍

[@tomshaffer70]

It doesn't matter if you turn off microphone your Google account user agreement you agree to with opening A Gmail account gave permission for them to listen for marketing purposes and being as 9/11 opened door for dept. Of Homeland security to enact software that monitors all devices mostly based on if any of the preprogramed words are used in conversation it will record from that point forward as well as send alert to them if more than like 2-3 of there preprogramed words are used in conversation.

[@bambihasantlers4744]

HELLO 👋 I have a question : can someone upload a BIOS/UEFI virus into a computer that has no operating system installed ? I am reluctant to buy a computer because it was on display in the showroom

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Yes. BIOS is "software" for the motherboard, regardless of whether you hwve an OS installed or not

[@xeruexe1624]

Wouldn't your IP also already have a profile on you? I have a pretty much tight ad free, minimal scripts setup on my systems and devices, but when I allowed a guest access to my wifi, during the next few days my subscription feed suddenly became, well, let's say more folksy.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Doubtful. An IP address doesn't identify you, except to show your geolocation and your internet provider

[@xeruexe1624]

Woops. When I said IP I meant Internet Provider, not the IP address itself. I get that the IP address itself, just being a bunch of numbers wouldn't be used for profiling itself, but I really believe that the Internet Providers themselves already have a profile of their users and the connected addresses they provide to them. Otherwise, if they really are just medium and communication providers, they wouldn't be able to provide much information to investigating agencies. But we know for a fact that they do. I think it's just a matter of if and how much of the information they have on us are used for advertising and algorithms.

[@D.von.N]

Cleaning browser... well, is there some other database that links your interests and your device id? When you launch your Windows first time they ask you whether you want to have ads tailored to your device ID. What was your setup? So they have your device ID. What do data brokers trade with, besides your personal info? You clearing your history now won't delete their data they had prior. Not exactly applicable to this experiment, just on the side note. That you clear your browsing history now doesn't mean they don't have your past history coded somewhere. Besides, coffee is such a frequent topic people talk about, that if those algorithm worked this way, majority of internet would have ads for coffee most of the time. I don't think other advertisers would appreciate that. You probably chose a wrong topic.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Perhaps...but considering I never saw a single coffee-related ad, I feel confident in debunking the "listening through your microphone" debate. No social media and mobile devices...that will be a bit more revealing I think 😂

[@JediBuddhist]

It is sad about Terri Gar.

[@crazysquirrel9425]

NO ONE can listen to me via personal tech. Why? Because I have no cameras or microphones. I never use my real identity for anything either. Author forgot about the 'forever cookies' and tracking via Hardware/Software ID's.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Even still, no evidence of offline listening or recording. Definitely change that for next experiment 👍

[@crazysquirrel9425]

@@AskYourComputerGuy Even offline cannot listen or watch me as I have no camera or microphone. (very old computer) I do not have a phone of any kind either. No smart devices in my home.

[@ethimself5064]

Your LOL reply was a Bot with a porn link in the profile - That is Buggy. I have been reporting them for a few years now🤣

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

I actually typed LOL. Not sure what you mean

[@ethimself5064]

@@AskYourComputerGuy The last comment below u replied to with LOL - The comment came from a Bot with a porn link in her profile.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

@ethimself5064 oh I see! KZbin needs to get on that. Make sure you report it, I don't see it in my comments

[@ethimself5064]

@@AskYourComputerGuy You don't see this person's comment? Se la mia vita fosse interessante come questo commento, ora non sarei seduto su KZbin💝

[@ethimself5064]

@@AskYourComputerGuy Reported but still there

[@radmed979]

Use phone with a browser.... In the same reference....

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

I will be making another video about phone privacy. This one was specifically about your computer microphone and whether or not anyone was listening or taking notes. Stay tuned.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

You told it your plan ahead of time.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

LOL

[@godfree2canada]

A better method would be saying uncommon words / items

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

In my example, those were common words. Also have to understand that if I talked about Zaire, there may be zero ads related to "Zaire travel", so results would be commensurate. Somethlike "coffee" is ad-friendly enough to trigger an algorithm 👍

[@WalterHildahl]

I want to try that cat shit coffee! {Civet}

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Me too...just a little scared lol

[@Chase-Conway]

well whe they gotta pay millions of dollars to each state for recording illegaly theres your answer

[@darlenesye1609]

Hey Scott, MeThinks You should have taken all your tech to your parents' or siblings,... 😂

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

😂

[@itz_arnab1478]

Ooooo new googles

[@louf7178]

I've got so much to say about this, but for this test, it didn't seem listened to nor tracked. I can also say from my observations, though, some tracking topics/objects/nouns do not take notice. I've tested this to know it happens that way.

[@DocKingliveshere]

No results prove they were listening. Couldn't have you turn out right publically so your coffee ads got blocked. For now. 😂

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

🤷‍♂️

[@passtouchgoal]

So- No then ?

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Not from your PC microphone, at least not that my experiment revealed. I will be doing follow up videos on both Google listening through your mobile, and also social media/Facebook. But those are future videos 👍

[@frotobaggins7169]

Listening to you and specifically recording you is a violation of our rights.

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Pretty sure "they" don't care 🤷‍♂️

[@Zendukai]

get sum Cat Poo coffee :)

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

Always wanted to try Civet coffee...little scared LOL

[@Zendukai]

@@AskYourComputerGuy My niece went over to Bali and brought back some, it was majorly expensive but its the best coffee she said. Imagine that, following one of those animals and collecting the seeds from the poop, just to grind up for your coffee lol... But, those animals know the best beans to grind too, You have to think to yourself, who thought, I'm going to follow this animal and grind the beans they find in their poop...

[@connerwilliams668]

When I was younger I thought Google Spied on me all the time

[@AskYourComputerGuy]

And you're probably right