Smart Speakers Always Listen: Privacy Controls for Yandex Alice, Marusya, Salyut, Siri and Google Assistant
Voice assistants from Yandex, VK, Sber, Apple and Google keep microphones active in standby mode to detect wake words such as Alice, Marusya, Salyut or Hey Siri. No audio leaves the device until the activation phrase is recognized, yet false triggers, stored interaction histories and third-party app permissions create ongoing privacy exposure. Hardware mute buttons on Yandex Stations and VK Capsules cut microphones at the circuit level and display red indicators. Users can also disable voice activation, delete activity logs and turn off model-training options inside Yandex ID, Apple Settings and Google account controls. The article details exact steps for each platform and warns against placing always-listening devices in rooms where sensitive conversations occur.
SecuritylabJul 29, 2026Translated from Russian