Is My Amazon Ring or Echo Sharing My Network and Jeopardizing My Security?

Is My Amazon Ring or Echo Sharing My Network and Jeopardizing My Security?

Starting June 8, 2021 your Amazon device may be jeopardizing your security by sharing your internet network with your neighborhood.  Amazon is introducing a new feature called “Amazon Sidewalk.”  Sidewalk has been in the works for a few years and essentially turns devices such as the Ring and Echo into public hot spots for devices outside your home.  While Amazon claims your information can’t be shared, any additional devices accessing your bandwidth make you more vulnerable to hacks and breaches.  On June 8, Amazon’s devices default to turn this Sidewalk feature ON.  If you do not want to share with your neighbors, you need to turn it off.  The good news is that it is very easy to disable from your Alexa App.   

To Disable Amazon Sidewalk and Bandwidth Sharing from your Devices:

Open the Alex App
Open More and select Settings
Select Account Settings
Select Amazon Sidewalk
Turn Amazon Sidewalk Off for your account

For additional information on Amazon Sidewalk, explore these links:

Cnet on Amazon Sidewalk

https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home/amazon-sidewalk-will-create-entire-smart-neighborhoods-faq-ble-900-mhz/

KMOV on Amazon Sidewalk

https://www.kmov.com/news/your-amazon-devices-will-essentially-become-public-wifi-hotspots-if-you-dont-disable-this-option/article_f954997b-16bc-51f3-b116-38df20916d08.html?block_id=1057681

Amazon Sidewalk Instructions

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GZ4VSNFMBDHLRJUK