Amazon Sidewalk extends your internet through your devices… as well as your neighbor’s devices, and all the devices they may be connected to. It creates a mesh Amazon network between devices and households, which someone could use to piggyback off of your own internet connection. Soon, it’ll be on by default, and once it is, you’ll be able to opt-out. Until then, there’s nothing you can do to prevent it from turning on.
So how does Sidewalk work, why is Amazon doing this, and, most importantly, how can you turn it off?
In This Article:
What is Amazon Sidewalk?
What does that mean in plain English?
It’s a network that’s larger than most WiFi networks and can transmit very small amounts of data. All of Amazon’s devices will connect to it and also act kind of like routers, extending the network. This allows a single access point with internet to share some internet capabilities with other devices, even if they’re owned by someone else. So, your neighbor could turn their lights on in their house from work, even if their own internet is out, so long as yours is on and you’re both enrolled in Sidewalk.
Still confused?
It lets your neighbors use your internet, and that could open you up to new security vulnerabilities. Sidewalk could serve as a way for Amazon to violate your privacy and collect far more information on you, including your location.
Amazon says they’re using three layers of encryption, basically ensuring that your customer data only goes to Amazon, and their communication with your devices through your neighbors is stripped of non-essential data and re-encrypted. The idea is, your neighbor shouldn’t have access to your data. However, nothing in the tech world is perfectly secure as long as it’s capable of communicating with other devices.
The network is capable of triangulating users. With enough devices on the network, with GPS-like accuracy. Amazon says they have safeguards from anyone else getting that data, but they don’t mention whether or not they’re collecting it themselves.
Can you guess why they might not want to mention that?
But Why?
The idea is that, if you lose internet at your house, you could still have access to parts of your smart home if, for some reason, your neighbor hasn’t lose their internet. You could also find tags, similar to Tile trackers, without internet. Say your dog runs away. If it has a Sidewalk-connected smart tracker, it can help you find your dog. Of course, there are already tags that do this that use LTE, preserving your privacy, but that’s another story.
This can also extend the range of your devices. WiFi can only stretch so far, but low frequency bandwidths that the radios in Amazon’s smart devices can use can go further. This could allow you to control devices that don’t even have a WiFi connection because they’re too far away from your router.
Or you could use a mesh network of your own creation by buying another router or buying a mesh network package. That would also preserve your privacy and security.
No, but really, why?
This gives Amazon unprecedented access to location data, demographics, and more. They can figure out where you are, where your neighbors are, what your neighbors are like, if you talk to them often, and so much more. If you have an Amazon-connected dog tag, for example, Amazon could see how often you walk your dog. They could suggest you up your subscription of little baggies when they estimate you’ve run out from walking your dog. They could even see if you pass any businesses on your walk, to increase their advertising accuracy for other companies, who may want to buy into their targeting. It’s fantastic for data collection to use for ad targeting, product design, and changing your shopping experience.
Amazon could also be considering creating their own mesh network for more functionality. Perhaps a cellular-like network that uses their devices to expand coverage. This network certainly wouldn’t be capable of that, but down the road, Amazon could improve their radios, allowing them to create a mesh network of smart devices. Sure, that would be perfect for an always-on botnet, but try not to think about people taking advantage of the obvious security concerns here.
Disabling Amazon Sidewalk
Okay, so, you’re not interested in sharing your network with anyone. You don’t like the additional data Amazon could collect, you don’t want to aid in their mesh network, and you don’t like the possibility of a new way to break into your network.
Yeah, who could blame you?
There’s almost no use for you. This isn’t going to be very helpful. Why would anyone actually want this?
Perhaps that’s why Amazon is turning it on by default once they release it, they know no one would sign up willingly.
So, once this is out, here’s how you can turn off Amazon’s invasive feature.
First, make sure your Amazon Alexa app is up to date. Check this in the App Store or Google Play.
Next, open the app. On the bottom right you’ll see the “More” tab. Tap that.
You’ll have a list of options here. Select Settings. It has a gear icon.
Tap Account Settings.
Select Amazon Sidewalk.
The feature should be off. It’s a toggle switch, and, no, Amazon isn’t playing a trick on you. As of this writing, it will be off. If the circle in the oval is on the left side (left to right languages), it’s off. It may be flipped depending on your language setting. But if you’re reading this without translation, then it’s likely on the left side.
Once Sidewalk is Released…
Amazon hasn’t told us when they’d actually release Sidewalk. As a result, it’s off for everyone right now. However, as soon as Amazon turns the feature on, it’ll be turned on your device. The moment they flip the switch, that switch will flip in your settings too. That’ll be enough time for Amazon to collect a large amount of data on your household and those around you. It could also be a security vulnerability. If Amazon really thought this feature was going to be useful to consumers, they wouldn’t try to sneak it into your home.
You’re going to have to keep an eye on this yourself. Make sure Amazon can’t use your network without permission. Once Amazon releases this feature, follow the instructions I laid out above to disable it.
Amazon knows users won’t trust this. That’s why their page even includes a whitepaper on how Sidewalk will work. The thing is, no matter how secure it is, it allows Amazon to collect more information on you, it allows other people to use your network, it could open you up to another potential security flaw, it will use a small amount of more power, and what you get out of it is… improved internet connections when you lose your own internet? How often does your internet go out when your neighbor’s doesn’t? When it does, do you need to just reset the modem or wait a bit? Yeah. So what good is this?
Nothing for you, Amazon customer. But Amazon’s going to love it.
My advice? Just don’t buy an Amazon product if you care about your privacy. If you already have one, be ready to disable Sidewalk as soon as you can, then consider swapping that device out for something else.
Sources:
- Amazon
- Mike Peterson, AppleInsider
- Victoria Song, Gizmodo