App Phoned Home Audio Telemetry When I was out for my evening walk, I got a call from my home security system. The automated voice said that the system had been breached and the alarm had been triggered. It then proceeded to give me a play-by-play of the intruder’s movements through our home.
I could hear furniture being toppled over and glass breaking in the background. I was relieved that I had decided to upgrade to a security system with audio telemetry.
We’ve all been there. You’re in the middle of a heated game of Words With Friends when your phone suddenly dies. Or you’re about to capture the perfect selfie when your battery suddenly decides it’s time to call it quits.
We’ve all been there, and it’s frustrating.
But what if I told you that there’s a reason your phone does this? A reason why, despite having plenty of battery life left, it decides to die at the most inopportune moments.
The reason is audio telemetry.
What is audio telemetry? In short, it’s a way for apps to send information back to their developers about how they’re being used.
This information can be used to improve the app or solve problems that users are having.
For example, let’s say you’re using a new app that keeps crashing. The developers may not be aware of the problem because only a small percentage of users are affected by it.
However, if each time the app crashes, it sends audio telemetry data back to the developers, they’ll quickly be able to identify the problem and fix it. Audio telemetry is an important tool for developers because it allows them to track how their app is being used and identify any potential problems early on.
So next time your phone dies at an inopportune moment, remember that it might just be trying to help its developer out!
Credit: www.amazon.com
Is Webex Always Recording?
Webex is a cloud-based video conferencing service that offers users the ability to record their sessions. However, it should be noted that Webex does not automatically record all sessions. Users must manually start the recording process for each session they wish to save.
Once a recording has been started, Webex will continue to record until the user manually stops it or the session ends. That being said, if a user forgets to stop the recording, Webex will automatically save the entire session. So while Webex is not always recording, any session that is recorded will be saved in its entirety.
There are a few different ways to start and stop recordings in Webex. The first is through the use of keyboard shortcuts. To start a recording, simply press “Ctrl + Shift + R” on your keyboard.
To stop a recording, press “Ctrl + Shift + S”.
Another way to control recordings is through the use of the Webex toolbar. Simply click on the “Record” button to start or stop your recording.
Finally, you can also adjust your recording settings through the “Settings” menu. Here you can choose whether or not you want Webex to prompt you before starting a recording, as well as set other preferences such as file format and storage location.
Whatever method you choose, starting and stopping recordings in Webex is simple and easy to do.
And with automatic saving, you can rest assured that any important sessions will be preserved even if you forget to hit stop!
Why is Cisco Webex Meetings Using My Microphone?
If you’re a Cisco Webex Meetings user, you may have noticed that the app is constantly using your microphone- even when you’re not in a meeting. This can be frustrating, especially if you’re not sure why it’s happening.
So, why is Cisco Webex Meetings using your microphone?
The short answer is that the app needs access to your microphone in order to provide certain features. For example, if you’re using the app to make a video call, it will need to be able to access your microphone in order to transmit your voice.
In some cases, you may be able to disable the microphone access for Cisco Webex Meetings.
However, doing so may prevent you from being able to use certain features of the app. If you’re not sure whether or not you need the microphone access enabled, it’s best to leave it on and only disable it if you run into problems.
How Do I Mute Audio in Webex?
If you’re in a Webex meeting and need to mute your audio, there are a few different ways to do it.
1. If you’re using the Webex desktop app, you can click on the microphone icon in the bottom toolbar and select “Mute.”
2. If you’re using the Webex web app, you can click on the microphone icon in the top toolbar and select “Mute.”
3. If you’re using a phone or other device to connect to audio, there should be a mute button on that device that you can use. For example, on many phones there is a mute button on the side that will silence your mic when pressed.
4. You can also ask the host of the meeting to mute your audio for you.
Are You Really Muted
If you’re anything like me, you’ve been in a Zoom meeting where someone is having audio issues and they say they’re muted. But are they really? Here’s how to tell:
First, see if their video is still working. If it is, then they may just be having audio issues and not actually muted.
Next, try sending them a chat message to see if they can respond.
If they can, then chances are they’re not actually muted.
Finally, you could always ask them directly if they’re muted or not. Sometimes people think they’re muted when they’re not, so it doesn’t hurt to ask!
Do you have any other tips for telling if someone is really muted on Zoom? Share them in the comments below!
Conclusion
When you install an app on your phone, it might be sending audio telemetry data back to the developers. This was recently discovered with the popular app, TikTok. Audio telemetry is basically a way for developers to collect information about how you use their app.
This can include things like what buttons you press, how long you spend using the app, and even what kind of sounds are made while you’re using it.
The problem with this is that it’s a huge privacy violation. Imagine if every time you used an app, someone was listening in on everything you did.
It would be very difficult to keep your private life private. Even worse, audio telemetry data could be used to target ads at you or sell your information to other companies.
Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself from audio telemetry data collection.
First, only install apps from trusted sources like the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Second, check out the permissions an app asks for before installing it. If an app wants access to your microphone and camera, for example, that’s a red flag that it might be collecting audio telemetry data.
Finally, consider using a VPN service when using apps so that your data is encrypted and less likely to be collected without your knowledge.