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They Are Listening

The Hardening Guide

Concrete, actionable steps to reduce your acoustic and cross-device tracking footprint.

01

Mobile OS Lockdown

iOS (Apple)

  • Revoke Mic Access: Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone. Toggle off for *all* apps unless strictly necessary (like Maps or Phone).
  • Disable Ad Tracking: Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking. Turn off "Allow Apps to Request to Track".
  • Limit Siri Data: Settings > Siri & Search > Siri & Dictation History > Delete. Then, Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements > Disable "Improve Siri & Dictation".

Android

  • Revoke Mic Access: Settings > Privacy > Permission manager > Microphone. Set to "Ask every time" or "Don't allow".
  • Delete Advertising ID: Settings > Privacy > Ads > Delete advertising ID.
  • Disable Assistant Ambient Tracking: Google App > Settings > Google Assistant > General > Toggle off Google Assistant entirely if not used.
02

Defeating ACR (Smart TVs)

Automatic Content Recognition is the primary way TVs spy on you. Here is how to kill it.

Samsung (SyncPlus) Settings > Support > Terms & Policy > Viewing Information Services (Disable). Disable "Interest-Based Advertisements".
LG (Live Plus) Settings > All Settings > General > About This TV > User Agreements. Opt out of "Viewing Information" and "Personalized Advertising".
Roku Settings > Privacy > Smart TV Experience. Disable "Use info from TV inputs". Under Advertising, enable "Limit ad tracking".
Vizio (Viewing Data) Settings > System > Reset & Admin > Viewing Data (Disable).
03

The Nuclear Option

If you do not trust software toggles, use hardware interventions.

  • → Dumb TV Conversion: Disconnect your Smart TV from WiFi completely. Use a dedicated streaming box (like an Apple TV, which has better baseline privacy) plugged via HDMI.
  • → Physical Disconnects: Use hardware kill switches on laptops or physical mic blockers (though blockers only muffle, they don't sever connection).
  • → Network Level Block (Pi-Hole): Route all home traffic through a DNS sinkhole to block telemetry endpoints used by ACR and brokers. View Pi-Hole setup guide.