Does Siri Actually Listen to You? Tips to Protect Your Privacy

Is Siri always listening to me, for real?

For now, you can breathe a sigh of relief as Siri doesn’t always listen to your conversations. In fact, voice assistants wait for a specific trigger phrase (such as “Hey Siri”) to start listening to you and recording your voice. Until an assistant like Siri hears it, it won’t listen to you. 

But things are not that easy, of course. So, let’s first figure out how Siri actually works and how it collects your data.  

How does Siri work?

As mentioned, Siri starts functioning once it hears the “Hey Siri” trigger phrase. Then, it begins to record your commands and sends them to Apple servers. But neither your device nor Siri itself can trigger this action without your involvement. 

Now, what happens to the recorded data?  According to the company, your Siri and dictation history is necessary to analyze the tool’s functionality and come up with relevant improvements. Apple also claims that those recordings are not linked to users’ Apple IDs. 

At the same time, there were several cases when Siri accidentally recorded private conversations not intended to trigger the tool’s activity, resulting in privacy-related scandals and even lawsuits against Apple. Let‘s look at those cases in more detail.

Real-life examples of Siri listening to users

In 2019, a whistleblower from Apple reported several snooping incidents. They claimed that some Apple employees listened to user conversations that weren’t intended as Siri commands. Apparently, the tool mistakenly interpreted some that sounded similar to Siri’s trigger phrase. 

Apple apologized for that accident and immediately came up with Siri updates. Starting from iOS 13.2 and macOS 10.15.1, users can opt out of the Siri grading system and remove their Siri voice history. 

💡 Pro tip: To opt out of Apple’s Siri grading system, follow these steps:

1. Enter Settings > Analytics & Improvements.
2. Disable Improve Siri Dictation.

At the same time, these steps didn’t save Apple from a lawsuit against the company in 2021. According to users’ claims, the company’s voice assistant improperly recorded private conversations and violated customer privacy. Similar cases were brought against two other companies running voice assistant software – Amazon (Alexa) and Google (Hey Google).

You can learn more about the risks to be monitored through your phone’s microphone here.

All in all, while it’s safe to say that Apple’s Siri doesn’t listen to all of your conversations, it may compromise your privacy to some extent. So, let’s discover how to protect your personal info from potential leaks, even if they are accidental. 

How to stop Siri from listening to you

Here’s how to disable Siri on all popular Apple devices.

Mac

1. Open System Preferences.

2. Select Siri.

3. Toggle off Enable Ask Siri

iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Click Siri & Search.

3. Toggle off Listen for “Hey Siri.”

Apple Watch

1. Head to the Watch application on your iPhone.
2. Tap Siri.
3. Toggle off Listen for Hey Siri and Raise to Speak.

HomePod

1. Go to the Home application on your iPhone.
2. Tab and hold HomePod.
3. Tap the gear icon at the bottom right corner of your screen.
4. Toggle off Listen for Hey Siri.

Apple TV

If you don’t press the Siri button on your Apple TV, Siri will not be activated. 

How to remove your Siri & Dictation history

Now, let’s figure out how to clear your Siri & Dictation history to remove your requests and commands from Apple servers.

Mac

1. Open System Preferences.

2. Select Siri.

3. Click Delete Siri & Dictation History.

4. Confirm your action.

iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Select Siri & Search.

3. Choose Siri & Dictation History.

4. Tap Delete Siri & Dictation History.

Apple Watch

1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Tap Siri.
3. Select Siri & Dictation History > Delete Siri & Dictation History.

HomePod

1. Open the Home app on your phone.
2. Tap and hold HomePod.
3. Tap the gear icon at the bottom right corner of your screen.
4. Tap Siri History > Delete Siri History.

Apple TV

1. Head to Settings on your Apple TV.
2. Choose General.
3. Tap Siri History.
4. Select Delete Siri & Dictation History.

More tips on how to keep your private data to yourself

Even if you disable Siri, your iOS or macOS device may still be vulnerable to potential privacy pitfalls and unwanted monitoring. Also, if you’re actively using Siri and don’t want to turn it off, you might want to take some extra steps to protect your personal information. Here are some additional measures to prevent your phone from listening to you.

Manage your app and system permissions

While Siri itself may not be as harmful as some believe, third-party applications may cause some actual cybersecurity risks or even spy on you. Luckily, Apple’s privacy sandbox lets you manage and control applications’ access to your personal details. 

In particular, it’s worth paying attention to the apps requesting consent to access your device’s microphone, camera, contacts, locations, and more. If this data doesn’t seem essential for the app’s functionality, it’s better to deny it. 

Want to learn more? Check out our recent blog post about the most important iPhone privacy settings.

Regularly clear your voice history

If you’re using iOS 13.2 or higher, you can clear your Siri & Dictation history whenever you like. Doing it on a regular basis is another privacy best practice, especially if you often use the voice assistant. The same applies to your browsing history, cache, cookies, and other data that may potentially be used for marketing purposes or even appear in the wrong hands.

Update your software

Installing the latest updates helps you avoid security flaws, system weaknesses, and other vulnerabilities that often result in hacks or private data leaks. So make sure to keep your Apple device, OS, and other programs (including Siri and other apps that use your microphone) up-to-date at all times. Also, remember to create strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication where required.

Use a VPN

A virtual private network (VPN) is a powerful tool that protects your private information and avoid various security risks, from iPhone viruses and spyware to public Wi-Fi threats and phishing attacks. A VPN masks your real IP address and covers your personal data (including messages, emails, and Google requests) with strong end-to-end encryption. It prevents snoopers, hackers, and other third parties from spying on your online activities. 

But note that not all VPNs are equally safe and effective. Free services often appear to be too weak to protect your personal information. Moreover, some of them turn out to be fake programs that collect and sell your data. So it’s recommended to choose a reputable VPN service provider that offers the essential security features and follows a transparent No Logs policy (doesn’t collect your connection and activity details). 

Protect your privacy with VeePN

Looking for a strong privacy-focused solution to avoid unwanted monitoring? Consider VeePN! It’s a trustworthy VPN service that provides many critical security perks, including NetGuard, Kill Switch, Double VPN, and DNS leak protection.

Check out VeePN’s pricing plans and try a VPN for iOS or a VPN for Mac today with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Keep your data private at all times!

Written by VeePN Research Lab VeePN Research Lab is dedicated to provide you latest posts about internet security and privacy.

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