Big Brother Is Watching: Device Privacy Risks

It's time to fight back!

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Keywords:
telemetry, privacy, internet, security, data collection

Key Takeaway:
Smartphones, computers, printers, streaming devices, smart speakers, televisions, and even robotic vacuum cleaners constantly send data back to manufacturers through a process called telemetry.

Category Insights:
SECURITY — Security best practices include strong passwords, MFA, and regular patching.

Intro

Most people think of spyware as malicious software secretly installed by hackers. In reality, many of the devices and services we use every day already collect huge amounts of information about us. Smartphones, computers, printers, streaming devices, smart speakers, televisions, and even robotic vacuum cleaners constantly send data back to manufacturers through a process called telemetry.

This is a real eye opener!

Actual screenshot: Pi-Hole log screen

This screenshot was taken from Pi-Hole ad-blocking software. It shows tracking requests in red being blocked to a single cellphone over a 1 minute period. It also shows a number of data-collection domains that you likely never new existed. Now, imagine this happening with every device in your household or business!

What many people do not realize is that consumers are actually paying for the Internet bandwidth being used to send/receive the information being used to track you. While you pay your monthly Internet bill, large technology companies use your connection to gather valuable data that helps them improve advertising, track user behavior, and increase profits.

Nearly Every Major Tech Company Collects Data

Telemetry collection has become standard practice across the technology industry. Companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Yahoo collect information about websites you visit, applications you use, searches you perform, and even how long you stay on certain pages. This information helps build advertising profiles that can be sold to marketers, data brokers or used to target personalized ads.

The search engines are the so-called 'free' service.
Your personal information is the product thats being sold to other companies.

Hardware manufacturers such as HP, Dell, and others also collect system performance information from their devices. While some of this data is used for diagnostics and troubleshooting, it can also reveal how customers use their computers, what hardware they own, and how frequently the systems are active.

Printer companies have become especially aggressive with telemetry collection. Manufacturers such as HP, Brother, and Epson often track ink and toner usage. Some printers can detect whether third-party cartridges are installed and may display warnings or disable certain features. I have personally observed a printer sending network traffic at the rate of once a minute! Users will typically receive pop-up advertisements encouraging them to order replacement cartridges directly from the manufacturer.

Smartphones and smart TVs gather even more information. Modern televisions can track which channels you watch, how long you watch them, and what streaming applications are being used. Some smart TVs even analyze voice commands and viewing habits to improve advertising recommendations.

If you value your privacy, it would behoove you to take steps to block as much of this behavior as possible.

Windows 11 and Telemetry Collection

Windows 11 has also raised major privacy concerns among users because of the amount of telemetry built directly into the operating system. Microsoft collects diagnostic data that may include hardware information, application usage, browsing activity, search behavior, typing patterns, location information, and system performance data. Some telemetry features can be reduced or disabled through the Privacy and Security settings menu, and advanced users may also use Group Policy settings, registry changes, or third-party privacy tools to limit data collection even further. However, many experts believe that not all telemetry can be completely disabled in the standard consumer versions of Windows 11. Certain background services continue communicating with Microsoft servers even after privacy settings are adjusted. Microsoft states that this information helps improve security, stability, and user experience, but critics argue that users should have more control over what information leaves their computers.

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Streaming Services Know Exactly What You Watch

Streaming platforms collect enormous amounts of viewing data. Services such as Roku, Amazon Firesticks & Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ and the rest, monitor which shows you watch, how long you watch them, whether you pause or skip scenes, and even which thumbnails attract your attention.

This information is extremely valuable to advertisers and media companies. Streaming providers use these statistics to determine which shows are popular, what types of content should be renewed, and how advertising rates should be set. If millions of viewers stop watching a program halfway through, executives notice. If users repeatedly binge-watch a particular type of show, more similar content is likely to be produced.

Targeted advertising has become one of the largest businesses on the Internet. The more companies know about your habits, interests, and routines, the more valuable your profile becomes to advertisers.

Smart Devices May Contain Serious Privacy Risks

Many smart home devices are designed for convenience, but they also create serious privacy concerns. Devices such as Amazon Alexa and Google smart speakers are constantly listening for wake words. While manufacturers claim the devices only actively process recordings after hearing a command phrase, concerns remain about accidental recordings and stored voice data.

Robot vacuum cleaners such as the Roomba can map the layout of your home in great detail. This information helps the device navigate rooms, but it also creates a digital floor plan of your house. Security researchers have repeatedly warned that smart devices connected to the Internet can become targets for hackers.

In one widely reported security incident, A Spanish software engineer accidentally hacked into 7,000 DJI Romo vacuums globally. By attempting to connect his device, a severe backend glitch inadvertently gave him global control, allowing him to access real-time video, microphone audio, and accurate floor plans across 24 countries. Incidents like this demonstrate how poorly secured Internet-connected products can become major privacy risks.

In May 2026, there have been reports involving Yarbo robotic lawn mowers and snow blowers sharing sensitive information such as Wi-Fi credentials and live-video with overseas servers.

The 'Fine Print'. Even when data collection is described in lengthy privacy agreements, most users never read the terms before clicking “Accept”. How many of these agreements have YOU actually read?

Wi-Fi Routers Can Detect Movement Inside Your Home

Modern Wi-Fi technology is capable of much more than simply providing Internet access. Researchers have demonstrated that ordinary Wi-Fi routers can function almost like a radar system by analyzing how wireless signals bounce around rooms, walls, furniture, and people. Changes in those radio waves can reveal when someone is walking, sitting, falling, or moving from one room to another, even through walls and closed doors, all without using traditional cameras or microphones.

Some companies are already marketing this technology for home security, smart home automation, and elder care monitoring because it can detect movement while remaining less intrusive than video surveillance. However, privacy advocates warn that this creates another powerful form of monitoring inside private homes. As smart homes become increasingly connected, the amount of data generated about a household’s daily activities continues to grow.

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and several major technology companies have published studies demonstrating how standard Wi-Fi signals can be used for motion tracking and human detection using ordinary wireless hardware. While the technology may sound futuristic, some newer routers and smart home systems are already capable of limited motion sensing using standard Wi-Fi equipment.

How to Monitor What Your Devices Are Doing

Many users have no idea how much information their devices transmit every day. Fortunately, there are tools available that can help monitor network traffic and identify suspicious activity.

One popular tool is Wireshark, a free and powerful network analyzer used by IT professionals and security researchers. Wireshark allows users to inspect network packets and see exactly what devices are sending and receiving over the Internet. It can reveal unexpected telemetry traffic, hidden background communications, and connections to third-party servers. It must be stated that this tool is intended for IT professionals and requires knowledge and the ability to interpret what your seeing. It's extremely revealing for those who know where to look.

Another useful tool is Pi-hole, which acts as a network-wide advertisement and tracking blocker. Pi-hole provides logging features that show which devices are attempting to contact tracking domains. While it is considerably less detailed than Wireshark, it is much easier for a person with a knowledge of basic networking to understand. It can help reduce unwanted telemetry traffic across an entire home network.

Of course, these are not the only choices. There are several others, available and many of them are command line only such as tcpdump and Tshark. Microsoft makes a Windows based program called Microsoft Message Analyzer. At the beginner level, your only real choices are the basic filters found in common anti-virus software. However, these lack any real detail.

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Can You Completely Stop Telemetry?

No.

Completely avoiding telemetry in modern technology is extremely difficult. Many devices and online services depend on cloud communication to function properly. However, users can reduce data collection by changing privacy settings, disabling unused smart features, limiting app permissions, using privacy-focused browsers, and blocking tracking domains through network filtering tools.

Some users choose to install alternative operating systems such as Linux to reduce data collection from large corporations. Others avoid smart devices entirely or disconnect them from the Internet whenever possible.

The reality is that convenience often comes at the cost of privacy. The more connected our homes and devices become, the more information is being collected about our daily lives.

If your serious about your privacy and security, I urge you read our blog post on layered network security. Here you will find an outline of steps you can take to safeguard your information from multiple angles.

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Final Thoughts

Technology companies argue that telemetry improves products, fixes bugs, and creates better user experiences. In some cases, that is true. However, consumers should also understand that their devices are constantly collecting information that can be used for advertising, analytics, and behavioral profiling.

The next time you use a smart TV, streaming device, voice assistant, or connected appliance, remember that it may be collecting far more information than you realize. In today’s connected world, Big Brother is no longer science fiction. It may already be sitting in your living room.