If you've recently received an Amazon Echo or Amazon Echo Dot, you may have realised that you can now order anything you need (from Amazon, obviously) just using a voice command. Great, right?
Well, it is - until someone (or something) decides to take advantage of it. Here's our top tips to make sure that you don't get any surprising deliveries.
Move it away from your television
This may sound like an obvious one, but we don't really just mean 'away' - we mean completely out of earshot. News channels are frequently reporting on the latest hilarious misunderstandings between Echos and their owners, and Alexa can't distinguish between your voice and that of a journalist.
Unfortunately that means whenever anyone - journalist, child or annoying guest - says 'Alexa', Echo will start listening. And if this story is anything to go by, Alexa will promptly order you a doll's house and four pounds of sugar cookies. Unless you have low blood sugar, move it away from anything with a speaker.
Set up a confirmation code
If you do keep voice purchasing on, it might be wise to set up a confirmation code. This is just like a pin for your Amazon orders, so opportunistic children, guests and random passersby can't shout purchases at Alexa. You can set it up from the Alexa app.
Every time you attempt to make a voice purchase, Alexa will ask for the four digit code. You will have to make purchases out of earshot to keep your confirmation code a secret, but if you wouldn't trust the people in your house with your debit card, it seems like a necessary precaution.
Change the wake word to Echo
If you're finding that Alexa is often hijacked by guests, a different wake word might be a welcome change. You can change the wake word from 'Alexa' to either 'Amazon', 'Echo' or the recently added 'Computer' for Star Trek fans. You can change the wake word from the Alexa app.
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