Surely everyone has been surprised by an unusual situation in which, after talking about something random, not everyday, and, soon after, browsing the internet or accessing email, they come across an advertisement related to what they were talking about and then wonder if the phone is capable of listening to conversations.
To find out if this really happens or if it’s just a coincidence, researchers at NordVPN created an experiment to unravel this ‘mystery’ of the digital age. To do this, topics such as favorite animals, random countries, and fashion items were intentionally discussed near the devices to measure the time until related ads appeared.
And the result was spot-on! After discussing certain topics, the researchers began receiving sponsored ads, ranging from travel destinations to animal welfare NGOs. So, yes, the phone listens to everything to deliver personalized ads.
But isn’t that illegal? No. You know those terms of use where you have to click the box and say “I agree”? Well, as long as the user has consented to the use of personal data in the apps, big tech companies can listen to conversations and use the data to serve ads.
NordVPN warns that anyone can perform this test and recommends reviewing the permissions of installed apps.
But how does this work? The built-in microphone in cell phones remains active at all times, ready to listen for voice commands from virtual assistants—which also capture background conversations to generate personalized ads based on what’s being said.
To test this technology in action, a team member talked about random tourist destinations, like Saudi Arabia. A few days later, Booking.com ads for hotels in AlUla began appearing on Facebook.
Another researcher mentioned the topic of “orangutans” repeatedly, and the next day he received advertisements from animal charities.
4 steps to know if your cell phone is spying
- Choose a unique theme
Talk about something you’ve never researched or discussed on your cell phone.
- Discuss the topic
For a few days, mention the topic with keywords near your cell phone.
- Use your cell phone normally
Don’t research or interact with content about the topic being tested. Just talk.
- Watch the ads
Pay attention to the announcements in the coming days. If the topic comes up, your phone may be listening.
Privacy Tips
“Most people have seen an ad for something that was only talked about, never researched. This is a red flag: your device may be accessing more data than it should,” says Marijus Briedis, CTO of NordVPN.
To avoid this, Briedis recommends 6 tips for maintaining your privacy on your smartphone:
- Only download from official stores: apps outside of Google Play or the App Store may contain malware.
- Review permissions regularly: Be wary of apps that request access to your microphone, camera, or location without clear reason.
- Manage voice assistant data: Clear your Alexa or Google voice history frequently.
- Use a good VPN: NordVPN encrypts your data and secures public connections.
- Always update: old versions of the system have flaws that facilitate attacks.
- Enable native security tools like two-factor authentication and encrypted backups.
