A cyber security expert has warned of the danger of virtual assistants like Alexa ordering gifts online as unwitting parents discuss what Christmas presents to buy.
The ready-to-please devices have been known to take personal conversations as commands and act upon them without the owners’ knowledge.
And at this time of year parents up and down the country are particularly vulnerable, especially when talking about buying gifts in the presence of an Alexa or Google Home.
Users with Amazon accounts which have their payment details already logged could find the trigger-happy devices automatically ordering a present without realising, it is warned.
C3IS Solutions, a cyber security firm based in Poole, Dorset, said owners need to be extra careful what they say around the devices at this time of year.
Matt Horan, of C3IA, said in recent months there have been several examples of the systems taking personal conversations as commands and acting upon them without the owners’ knowledge.
In one instance, a couple were holding a conversation regarding what model of tent to buy and where from.
Their virtual assistant listened in, referenced the store’s on-line presence, searched for the details of the product ordered it.
They were only made aware of the purchase when an automated text was sent from their bank account.
Last year in America TV presenter Jim Patton sparked chaos when he said ‘Alexa order me a doll house’ live on air.
The comment was picked up by hundreds of devices with several ordering the dolls houses as requested.
Although Amazon say any accidental purchases can be returned free of charge, Mr Horan said people need to be aware of how their technology works.
He said: "With Christmas approaching I can foresee many people answering doors to delivery drivers with packages that the person knows nothing about – and which their ‘home helper’ has ordered for them.
"Last year these virtual assistants were enormously popular Christmas presents and this year they might be ordering the families’ presents themselves.
"If you do feel that life is so much better having your personal assistant, then are some safeguards you can take.
"The most sensible is to disable the voice purchasing element of the device, or at least set up a passcode.
"At least this way you will have some say so over what purchases you make rather than letting a machine on the kitchen worktop make ill-informed decisions on your behalf.
"And of course they can be turned off when you are having detailed discussions about potential items you might want.”
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He added: "I know of an instance where a conversation was being held regarding what model of tent to buy and where from, with particular emphasis on the model and type and cost.
"Their virtual assistant listened in, referenced the store’s on-line presence, searched for the details of the product to buy and as an added bonus dipped into the voice purchasing functions and ordered the tent – all this without the owner’s knowledge.
"Fortunately, an automated text had been sent from the person’s bank account advising of the purchase, which as you can imagine was somewhat of a shock.
"This is not an isolated incident; there has been a widely reported case in the US regarding a dolls house being ordered when a TV anchor stated ‘Alexa order me a dolls house’ – and multiple Alexas ordered dolls houses.
"In our own Houses of Parliament Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson was talking about Syria, only for his phone to hear its name, ‘Siri’, and answer him.
"It just demonstrates how these devices are always listening."
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