Wi-Fi can track you through the walls. Your coffee maker knows when you wake up. And that mouse next to your computer.
And you know how grandma doesn't trust Alexa? Well, let's just say she might have been right all along. I'm Mike with List 25, and today I'm diving into 25 disturbing devices proven to be spying on you.
Starting with everybody's favorite digital assistant. Alexa's supposed to help you out. Sorry if I activated yours.
But it's also been known to help itself to your conversations. Amazon hires thousands of people to listen to voice recordings from Alexa. And not just the ones you wanted her to hear.
They've picked up private chats, bank details, and even someone singing in the shower. And trust me, these reviewers have heard it all. One team even caught what sounded like an assault.
They reported it, but higher-ups shrugged it off. Probably because they didn't want to admit that they were listening to you. The worst part, some of those recordings happened while Alexa was supposedly off.
Others include names, account numbers, and product details. Yeah, so much for anonymity. Now, if Alexa's listening, what do you think's going on with the cameras you can't even see?
Hidden body cams aren't just for law enforcement anymore. And that's the problem. These tiny devices have been found illegally placed in hotel rooms, changing areas, even inside air vents, all recording without consent.
They're easy to buy, easy to hide, and nearly impossible to spot. Some models even automatically upload their footage to the cloud, which means that even if you find the camera, the data is already long gone. And because they look like everyday objects, pens, phone chargers, even shirt buttons, you might not even realize you're being recorded.
It's not just who's using them. It's that the tech itself is built to spy quietly, consistently, and without your permission, but you don't always need a camera lens to be watched. In fact, you don't even need a camera at all.
Researchers at Carnegie Melon have recently found a way to map human bodies using nothing but standard Wi-Fi signals. Yeah, long gone are the days when your biggest concern was your neighbors stealing your password. Their system has the ability to track dozens of key points across your body, creating a kind of 3D pose that shows roughly where you are, what you're doing.
According to them, it's meant to improve your privacy somehow, which feels like a bit of a stretch because all it really does is make human trafficking cheaper, easier, and harder to detect. Your kids, on the other hand, might be getting tracked through their toys. That's because they think they're just talking to a toy.
But what parents rarely think about is where that conversation might end up. Take my friend Kayla for example, a doll made by the company Genesis. It was caught recording kids, transcribing what they said, and sending the info to third parties.
Even creepier, when the children asked, "Can you keep a secret? " It would always answer, "I promise not to tell anyone. It's just between you and me.
" Yeah, not quite. Other toys like FisherPrice's smart toy bear were found to be hackable. Researchers showed that it was possible to access the camera, the mic, even GPS data, all remotely.
And as tech gets more advanced, so does the spying. These days, it's not just toys. Even your headset might be watching.
Augmented reality headsets don't just show you incredible digital overlays. They also collect visual and audio data from your surroundings and sometimes send that data to company servers. Researchers have even used AR headsets to map entire environments and track users movements in real time.
The potential is huge, but so are the privacy risks. If hackers get access, they can see what you see, hear what you hear, and even grab sensitive data from networks linked to the device. A couple of apps have been found to include hidden ads, malware, or fake content designed to trick users through visual manipulation.
Either way, it's not just about what you're seeing or hearing. You should probably know that your connected bathroom scale might also be sharing more than just numbers. A computer science student named Martin Kramer decided to poke around a couple of popular smart scales for a project and found a bunch of them leaking personal data.
Not just weight or BMI either. They were leaking everything from logging credentials to passwords and other private info quietly drifting out through the companion apps. A lot of these devices connect to cloud services, social media, or analytics tools without making it all that clear what's being shared or where it's going.
And sadly, most of these gadgets aren't held to any kind of medical privacy standard. They're just regular consumer tech with sensors and way, way too many weak spots. Anyway, why should these guys stop at Weight and Health data where they can also steal our caffeine schedule?
Smart coffee makers sound convenient, and they are. They remember when you wake up, how strong you like it, and they'll even have your cup ready for you before you open your eyes. But some of them do a little more than just brew.
A few models connect to apps that track your usage, log your brew times, and send that info to cloud servers. That might not sound like much until you realize it paints a perfect picture of your daily routine. One security researcher even found a vulnerability that let hackers take over the machine entirely, turning it on and off, changing settings, and copying the data it was sending out.
On the other side of that coffee machine breach is your pet's smart food bowl, because apparently nothing is off limits when it comes to the things hackers like to mess with. These devices were supposed to solve a simple problem. Making sure your pet gets fed on time.
That's it. But somewhere between convenience and connectivity, things went sideways. Researchers digging into the Dogness smart feeder found that with just a little bit of effort, someone could hijack the camera, change feeding times, or even exploit it as a weak point in your network.
The real problem isn't that pet owners are doing anything wrong. It's that these devices are being built without basic security, and hackers don't seem to care what kind of device it is as long as it gives them a way in. Then again, once pet feeders are on the list, it's not a huge leap to say your mouse secretly recording you.
Yeah, your mouse. The one sitting right next to your keyboard. Back in 2012, reports out of Singapore revealed that a few employers were using modified computer mice to spy on their workers.
These things looked totally normal on the outside, but inside it, they had a mic and a SIM card. And get this, they could actually call the mouse. Like dial a number and boom, the thing picks up and starts recording everything within about 10 meters.
No warning, no light, nothing. I mean, can you imagine employers using real life workplace surveillance that looks like basic office gear? There was a bit of an outrage, a lot of how is this even allowed?
And then it faded away quietly like most workplace surveillance scandals do. Okay, now let's talk about the thing watching you brush your teeth. Smart mirrors are exactly what they sound like.
Mirrors with built-in screens, cameras, microphones, and sometimes even voice assistants. They show you the weather, your calendar, or maybe your skin care stats, all while analyzing your face. They're not super common yet, but they have been popping up in homes, hotels, and even medical spaces.
Some can even monitor your mood, track your expressions, and link up with cloud services to log your emotional state over time. Now, to be fair, there haven't been any confirmed cases of smart mirrors being used to spy on people, but with all the tech they pack in, and the fact that they may connect to Wi-Fi and store data in the cloud, the potential is there. And when something's watching your face that closely, it kind of makes you wonder who else might be looking.
Because, as it turns out, the answer might have been Siri. And some of you are definitely saying, "I knew it, right? " Apple's currently on the hook for $95 million after a lawsuit claimed that Siri enabled devices were recording people without permission, even when no one said, "Hey Siri.
" Sorry if I activated anyone's iPhones. Those accidental recordings allegedly picked up everything from private chats to sensitive info, some of which may have been shared with advertisers. And if you're wondering if you can get in on that, well, the answer is yes.
If you're a US citizen, Apple's agreed to pay up to $20 per Siri enabled device for up to five devices. So depending on what you were using between 2014 and 2024, you might just end up with a little apology money in your inbox. Next up, the thing you stare at for hours that's been staring right back.
A new study from UCL has discovered that some smart TVs are snapping screenshots of your screen multiple times per second. That includes content playing through a laptop or external device. So yeah, that means your TV is quietly monitoring what you're watching, even if you're not using any of its own apps.
The culprit is something called ACR, automatic content recognition. It's usually enabled by default, buried under vague names like viewing information services, and it shares your viewing data with third parties. And while you can opt out, good luck finding the right submen.
Meanwhile, all that data is being transmitted, possibly including what time you watch, how long you stay on a show, and even what's playing on all of your connected devices. I should also discuss the time Google just didn't tell anyone there was a mic in their security system. Back in 2018, users of the Nest Secure Alarm System found out by accident that the device had a built-in microphone.
Google never listed it in the product specs, never mentioned it in any marketing, and never told customers it was even there. The only reason that anyone found out was that Google pushed a software update that suddenly enabled voice control, which naturally required a mic. The company called it an oversight.
But I don't know, maybe it's just me. If a company forgets to mention a listening device inside your home security system, that's not a whoopsie. That is a giant red flag.
Of course, if your alarm system's got a hidden mic, why wouldn't your vacuum come with a camera? Robot vacuums like the iRoot Roomba J7 come equipped with built-in cameras to help them navigate your home. At least that's what its marketing says.
Except in 2022, a set of development images taken by a Roomba ended up online. Some of them showed people in private spaces. One even showed a woman sitting on a toilet.
iRoot claimed the images were taken in a testing program and weren't supposed to be public, but they'd been shared with a third party data labeling company and somehow they leaked. In other words, your vacuum might be mapping your home, snapping photos and sending them off to people you've never met. Oh, and when you leave the house, your car is keeping notes, too.
And no, I'm not just talking about self-driving models. Even regular everyday cars are loaded with sensors and tech that might collect your data. Most modern vehicles come with something called an EDR, an event data recorder.
It tracks things like your location, your speed, your route preferences, and even the road conditions. That info gets sent back to the automaker automatically. They say it's for safety and crash analysis.
But here's the thing, car owners aren't always told what's being collected or who really owns that data. So, if your car knows where you go, how fast you get there, and how often you take that one weird back road shortcut, might be time to ask yourself some questions. Now, what have you heard about your headphones?
Not your AR headset, not some futuristic gadget, just regular everyday headphones. The ones you use to zone out on a plane or listen to music at your desk. As it turns out, they can double as microphones.
Literally, headphones and mics use the same basic components. One converts sound into signals, the other does the reverse. Plug your headphones into a mic jack and presto, you've got a DIY listening device.
Researchers in Israel actually built malware that can hijack your headphone jack, flip the signal, and turn your earbuds into full-on spy tools. They called it a speak ear because, of course, they did. And it works even when your laptop thinks it's just outputting sound.
All right, I've done headphones. Now, let's talk about your toothbrush. Yes, even that's gone smart.
In 2014, OralB launched a Bluetooth enabled toothbrush that connects to an app on your phone. It tracks every stroke, offers suggestions, and if you're feeling generous, can even send your brushing data to your dentist. Another brand, Calibri, went even further.
Their pitch, outsmart your dentist. They also encourage users to share brushing stats with family. Why your aunt needs to know how long you brushed your mers is anyone's guess.
Now, this all sounds mildly annoying until you realize some of these toothbrushes have been caught transmitting data without encryption, meaning someone could intercept your brushing habits mid swirl. Oral bee's Triumph model, for example, was found leaking unprotected data all the way back in 2015. And then there's the biometric side.
A recent lawsuit claimed one smart toothbrush was collecting facial geometry data without telling users, which yeah, is a little more serious than forgetting to floss. Then there's the kind of tech that doesn't need to sneak into your home because it's already waiting for you at the airport. Terminal B in Newark Liberty International has 171 LED ceiling lights that aren't just lighting the space, they're part of a surveillance network.
Each one is equipped with sensors and connected to eight video cameras monitoring movement in and around the terminal. The port authority says that the system is used to monitor things like long lines, license plates, and suspicious activity. But the hardware is capable of so much more.
And since they store the data and can hand it over to police upon request, it's not hard to imagine how easily that system could be used for other kinds of monitoring. Meanwhile, your home security cams aren't exactly innocent either. Plenty of models upload footage to the cloud by default.
Not just video, but audio, too. That means they're capable of recording private conversations, arguments, and everything in between, even when no one's breaking in. Some users have become so uneasy that a startup found fame by designing a camera that turns itself to face the wall when you're home.
And then there's Ring. The company says it only uses footage to improve object detection, but employees have admitted to seeing clips of people kissing, arguing, and even, well, everything you do in the privacy of your home when you think no one's watching. Since I've already looked at the devices watching you, it's only fair to mention your credit cards role, too.
Companies like Mastercard collect detailed data on your spending habits, how much you spend, where, and when, and sell that information to advertisers and data brokers you've probably never heard of. That means your purchase history could be used to target you with ads or influence your consumer behavior, all without your explicit consent. That should really bug all of us.
There have also been instances where massive amounts of credit card data were leaked online, exposing consumers to potential identity theft and financial fraud. So, while you're swiping for convenience, just remember someone else might be cashing in on your data, and you probably never agreed to that. Which brings me to the stuff you don't even buy.
Just type into the search bar. Every time you run a Google search or click through a website, that activity is logged. And in many countries, governments can access that data without much effort.
In the US, the Patriot Act has enough wiggle room to let agencies pull up your web history when they feel it's necessary. And it's not just an American thing. In the UK, internet providers are required to hold on to everyone's browsing history for a full year.
And no, you do not get notified when that info is reviewed. Sticking with digital trails, your phone's probably the worst offender of them all. It tracks your location, logs your searches, and stores app data in the background, often for months, even years.
Some smartphones can even map out your movements day by day, going back over the last 12 months. And most of the time, you've already said yes to all of it, usually by tapping allow when you install a new app. In theory, that data stays on your device.
But we all know it doesn't stop there. The more powerful phones get, the more detailed the picture they build. And not just of what you do, but who you are.
And all of it is one accidental sync away from being somewhere else completely. Moving on, let's take a look at loyalty cards. I don't know about you, but I literally can't go anywhere without a new loyalty card being shoved in my face, promising discounts or exclusive savings.
I think most people probably have four or five different ones by now. But those little cards are doing a lot more than just saving you a few bucks. Every swipe logs what you buy, how often you buy it, and what time you tend to shop.
That data gets used to tweak what you see in store, online, and even in your inbox. Those eerily perfect coupons, not a coincidence. And sometimes it goes beyond the store.
A number of government agencies have proposed sharing supermarket data to monitor public health, track alcohol and junk food habits, and even send out lifestyle advice. Not exactly what you think about when you're grabbing a bag of potato chips, but hey, here we are. Loyalty perks aside, there's another kind of spying happening.
It's flying overhead. In March 2016, a Pentagon report revealed that military drones had been deployed over US territory for non-military missions over the past decade, mostly to help with things like natural disasters and search and rescue missions. Totally legal, they said, and rare.
But the idea of drones hovering over American cities made a lot of people uncomfortable, especially after the FBI confirmed that they had used drones for surveillance. They described it as very, very minimal. But still, once the tech is up there, where does the line get drawn?
The thing is, drones are getting better, cheaper, and way more common. I mean, I've got one behind me here. You can't see.
And while some uses make sense, others aren't so clearcut. Now, I'm wrapping things up with a device that seems harmless, even though it knows way more than it should. Smartwatches and fitness trackers count your steps and give you a buzz when you've been sitting down too long.
That's all well and good. I mean, that's why we buy them. But what we hardly ever think about is the fact that they constantly collect our motion data.
And that can be surprisingly revealing. Researchers have shown that just from the way your hand moves, some wearables can figure out what kind of mobile device you're using and even what you're doing on it. That includes guessing the pattern you use to unlock your phone, your ATM PIN, or the way you interact with a touchcreen.
In fact, in one study, a smartwatch correctly predicted someone's phone unlock pattern 64% of the time. For ATM pins, that jumped up to 87%. And for certain touchscreen gestures, it was nearly perfect.
So, I think it's safe to say that if it plugs in, powers on, or connects to Wi-Fi, chances are it's not just serving you. You should know that it's studying you. And that's a wrap.
Did you learn anything new today? Or did I miss a device that should have made the list? Drp it in the comments below.
I am always curious to hear what you guys think. And if you're in the mood for a bit of tech nostalgia, don't miss out our related video, 25 gadgets that disappeared after smartphones took over. From flip phones to digital organizers, I'm looking at the gear we lost and why it might have been better that way.
Thank you so much for hanging out with me today. Hit that subscribe button because you know you want to and turn on notifications so you don't miss out on any new content. And I'll see you again next time.
O Mike out.
