With the new Fire TV Stick, Amazon is hoping to take another bite out of the streaming market. A stripped down version of the popular Fire TV set-top box, the Fire TV Stick is an easy way to get the most out of your streaming service. To make it even easier to install, Amazon has released an update that makes it easier to set up the device, and adds some extra features.
Google and its Android partners know a thing or two about tracking you on the Internet. From Google to Samsung, most Android phone makers track users on both Android and non-Android devices. With the Fire TV Stick, Amazon is using a third-party tracker to collect similar information, even if you haven’t given the device permission to do so.
Amazon is adding a new feature to the Fire TV Stick that will enable it to automatically record all your personal information. Amazon is already known for tracking your shopping habits, but this new feature goes far beyond that. Instead, it will reportedly keep track of your family and friends’ activities, as well as monitor your social media accounts and search history in order to build a profile of you, showing what you’re interested in, your preferences, and who your friends are.. Read more about amazon fire stick security settings and let us know what you think.Not too long ago, Amazon released new updates for its FireStick and Fire TV line of devices. Honestly, I might not have even known that my FireStick had gotten the update if I hadn’t noticed that the device option in the settings had been renamed My Fire TV. But that’s not what we’re talking about here.
The update made some changes to the privacy settings that by default allow Amazon to collect data about device and app usage, which the company says is for marketing and product improvement purposes. The update also allows Amazon to monitor data usage on FireStick and Fire TV devices. In other words: Amazon has unknowingly allowed itself to spy on you.
The update affects all existing FireStick devices that have been recently updated, and new devices will ship with the update pre-installed.
I don’t know how this data is used and I don’t know if I can trust Amazon with my device usage statistics. I certainly don’t feel comfortable sharing my data with any organization, regardless of its status or reputation.
However, there is good news. Amazon has quietly allowed these settings to pass, but you can turn them off. You can disable these privacy settings and prevent your data from being sent to Amazon. I’ll tell you how.
Message: Although you can prevent Amazon from collecting information about your usage, your internet activities will always be known to your internet service provider, the government, and various third parties. Get a VPN and enjoy one hundred percent privacy.
Check for FireStick update (if not already updated)
As I mentioned, the new privacy settings only affect devices with the latest updates or brand new devices (like the Fire TV Stick 4K).
You should check that the latest firmware version is installed on your device. Here’s how:
- Go to the FireStick settings
- Tap your device (or My Fire TV)
- O press
- Select Check for system update
If a new update is available, install it. Yes, do it, even if it adds new privacy settings to your device. In any case, we will disable these settings. We recommend installing the latest updates on your FireStick or Fire TV.
Preventing Amazon from tracking you
Now let’s disable privacy settings and prohibit Amazon from collecting usage data:
- Open the settings on the FireStick startup screen.
- Press Preferences
- When you see the following options, click Privacy Settings
- You should now see two options – collect device usage data and collect app usage data. Disable these two options
- Now press the FireStick’s Back button once to return to the previous screen.
- Tracking of click data
- Click on Data Monitoring again and disable it (if it is enabled).
Keeping your streaming private
Even if you have disabled device/application usage data and data monitoring, your online activities are still not private. Your ISP and the government can easily find out what you are streaming online through the Fire Stick or other device and gain access to it. I connect ExpressVPN to all my streaming devices and I recommend you do the same.
ExpressVPN is the fastest and most secure VPN out there. There are dedicated apps for all devices, including Amazon Fire TV/Stick. Here’s how to quickly install ExpressVPN on your Fire TV/stick.
Step one: Sign up for ExpressVPN HERE. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. This means you can use it for free for the first 30 days. If you are not satisfied with the service (which is highly unlikely), you can request a full refund.
Step two: Turn on your Fire TV / Stick and go to the search option on the far left. Now type expressvpn (without quotes) into the search bar and select ExpressVPN when it appears in the search results.
Step three: Click Get to download and install the ExpressVPN for Fire TV / Stick application.
Step four: Open the application and enter the credentials you created when you purchased your ExpressVPN subscription. Click on Connection
Step 5: Click on the power icon to connect to the VPN server. That’s it. Now your connection is secure with the fastest and best VPN for FireStick.
You can also learn more about using ExpressVPN with Fire TV / Stick.
Reduction
I wish Amazon had been a little more honest about these changes. But why should we care about privacy when these companies are so social and collect our personal data right under our noses. Fortunately, Amazon offers a way to avoid this if you feel like you’re being watched in any way. I would like to know what you think of these changes. Tell us about it in the comments below.
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Amazon is spying on you, and apparently they don’t care. In a move that is starting to become more common, the online retail giant has updated the Fire TV Stick. In a move that is starting to become more common, the online retail giant has updated the Fire TV Stick. Before you get too upset, it’s important to remember that this is not actually Amazon updating the software. The company just quietly released the new firmware, which could mean anything – it could be that there is a bug in the software, it could be that Amazon has a new plan for the product, or it could be something entirely different. So far, the Fire TV Stick is only available in the UK, but as it’s an international product, it. Read more about amazon fire stick settings and let us know what you think.{“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@type”:”FAQPage”,”mainEntity”:[{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Is Amazon Fire Stick always listening?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:” The Amazon Fire Stick does not always listen. You must enable the microphone and camera in order for the device to listen and record.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Does Amazon Firestick listen to you?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:” No, it does not. What is the Amazon Firestick remote control? The Amazon Firestick remote control is a device that allows you to control your Firestick.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Is Amazon working on a new Firestick?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:” No, but you can watch Amazon Prime Video on your TV with a Chromecast.”}}]}
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amazon Fire Stick always listening?
The Amazon Fire Stick does not always listen. You must enable the microphone and camera in order for the device to listen and record.
Does Amazon Firestick listen to you?
No, it does not. What is the Amazon Firestick remote control? The Amazon Firestick remote control is a device that allows you to control your Firestick.
Is Amazon working on a new Firestick?
No, but you can watch Amazon Prime Video on your TV with a Chromecast.
