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News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
Your devices are listening to you, here's how to keep your data safe
Once upon a time, 'home tech' meant a microwave with a popcorn button. Now? Your fridge can suggest dinner, your lights know when you're feeling romantic, and your doorbell can recognise your mother-in-law before you do. As an Australian tech expert and author, I've seen first-hand how smart homes are changing the way we live – for better and occasionally for weirder. Welcome to the age of the smart home – where convenience is queen, and your devices are always listening (and sometimes talking back). The rise of the digital housekeeper Smart homes have shifted from novelty to near necessity. Whether it's a voice assistant that queues up your favourite podcast while you cook, a thermostat that adjusts to your body clock, or a vacuum that maps your floor plan with military precision, these devices are all about making life easier. And let's be honest – most of us are loving the convenience. Yelling 'turn off the lights' from bed, checking your front door camera from the beach … it's the stuff of Jetsons dreams. But while these gadgets are undeniably helpful, they're also quietly collecting data. And lots of it. What exactly are they learning? Every time you interact with a smart device, it picks up more than just your commands. Your smart speaker knows your music preferences, wake-up time, and whether you're a loyal almond milk drinker. Your smart TV tracks what you watch, when, and for how long. Even your robot vacuum? It's got a better map of your house than you probably do. Individually, these bits of data might seem harmless. But combined, they build a detailed profile of your routines, preferences, and even your mood. Here in Australia, we're on track to hit 357 million internet-connected devices by the end of 2025, with smart home adoption expected in 91 per cent of households. That's a lot of tech -and a serious amount of personal data floating around. Who's collecting this data – and why? Most smart devices send data back to their parent companies – think Amazon, Google, Apple, Samsung. The official line is that it helps improve services, personalise your experience, and yes, target you with ads. But here's the thing – more than half of smart home users don't actually understand how their data is collected or used. That's especially true with devices like smart thermostats, which might seem innocuous but can reveal a lot about your daily routines. As artificial intelligence gets baked into more of these systems, that knowledge becomes even more powerful – and potentially more problematic. The privacy trade-off (and why it doesn't have to be scary) Let's call it for what it is: we're all trading a bit of privacy for convenience. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Think of it like using a loyalty card at the supermarket. You get discounts and rewards, but the store gets insight into your shopping habits. With smart homes, the exchange is similar – just with higher stakes. What matters is understanding the deal. If we know what we're giving away, we're better placed to make decisions about what we're comfortable with. And it's something we should be teaching our kids too: privacy is a form of currency in the digital age. Smart home safety checklist • Mute when not in use – Most smart speakers have a physical mute button. Use it. • Limit permissions – Only give apps access to what they truly need. • Update regularly – Security patches matter. • Use strong passwords – And don't stick with the default ones. • Check your settings – Most devices let you control what's collected and shared. Want to know what your device knows about you? Here's a simple way to dig deeper. Try popping this prompt into your favourite AI chatbot: 'You are a privacy and cybersecurity expert. Explain what data is collected by a [insert brand/model] smart [device type], how that data is stored and used, and how I can access, limit, or delete it.' It's a great way to start a conversation with your tech – and take back a little control. The future of smart living Smart homes aren't just here to stay – they're evolving fast. AI-powered systems are already starting to anticipate our needs before we ask. Think lighting that shifts to suit your mood or playlists that kick in when your stress levels spike. We're even seeing emotion-sensing tech that can detect tone of voice and respond accordingly. Imagine your home knowing you've had a rubbish day – so it dims the lights, queues up your comfort show, and orders Thai. Not bad, right? But as our homes become more intuitive, the line between helpful and invasive starts to blur. The goal is to find a balance – embrace the benefits while staying informed and in control. Because your home should be your sanctuary, not a surveillance hub.
Android Authority
18 hours ago
- Business
- Android Authority
Fastmail replaced my Gmail and I'm never going back
Nathan Drescher / Android Authority I had the digital equivalent of an epiphany the other day. I opened my inbox and saw…email. Only email. There were no ads, no AI-generated summaries, and no prompts. It was a strange, yet welcome, feeling after years of using Gmail. Checking my inbox no longer felt like an argument with an algorithm. That's because I switched to Fastmail earlier this year. It all began when I started distancing myself from American big tech platforms, where Google sits high on the list. I wanted something more private and more personal, with less bloat. Fastmail, an Australian company, caught my eye as a well-regarded alternative to Gmail. Six months in, I am confident I made the right choice. Would you leave Gmail for something more private? 0 votes Yes, already have. NaN % I'm thinking about it. NaN % Maybe, if Gmail gets worse. NaN % No, I'm staying with Google. NaN % Why I left Gmail and Google Calendar Nathan Drescher / Android Authority It wasn't only because Gmail is part of a big monopolistic American tech corporation. It wasn't only the insane amounts of data it collected. It was the cluttered UI and the push towards AI-driven features I never asked for. Google Calendar, meanwhile, does its job, but has begun to feel like it's trying to be something more than it is. Gemini is snooping more and more in Calendar, trying to be helpful but getting in the way. All of it felt more corporate than personal. What I wanted was a fast, private email that respected my time and let me work. I wanted a calendar that synced reliably across platforms without becoming another vector for distraction. I seriously considered Proton Mail. I have great respect for what the company is building. However, I have heard from others about occasional delivery hiccups, and I can't afford to miss an interview with a subject or an important follow-up with a client. Reliability was non-negotiable. Proton was out. How Fastmail fits into my daily life Nathan Drescher / Android Authority Fastmail handles all my email needs. The interface is clean and responsive. No tabs, no promotions. Just email. I can choose between a folder or tag structure, and I went with tags. It's one of the things I enjoy about Gmail. The Fastmail app is more than just email. There's a dropdown in the top left that allows me to switch to Calendar, Contacts, Notes, and even a cloud drive. The base plan comes with 50GB of storage, which isn't bad for $60 a year. The built-in calendar has been surprisingly strong. It syncs perfectly with the email side of the app, so appointments and meetings can be quickly added. I can share calendar events with others, even if they don't use Fastmail, and it looks great, as well. The base plan comes with 50GB of storage, which isn't bad for $60 a year. One feature I didn't expect to appreciate so much was the filtering system. I can control exactly how messages are sorted and what gets archived and flagged. It's like Gmail's labels, but with the user in mind. Notes are simple, but they work, and sync instantly between all devices. However, they're not as powerful or quick as Google Keep, so I still use that as my primary notetaking app. That said, I wasn't looking for a notes replacement. What I gained by switching Nathan Drescher / Android Authority The biggest gain in my life has been peace of mind. Fastmail isn't tracking me. My messages aren't being profiled, and Fastmail isn't trying to sell me anything. I pay it once a year, and it delivers my emails. I also gained reliability. Everything feels faster, with messages loading instantly and folders responding immediately. The search works great. There's no AI engine or smart features getting in the way. There's no AI engine or smart features getting in the way. Nathan Drescher Fastmail gives me control. I have control over my email and my calendar, and I can decide how things look and behave. That kind of ownership is preciously rare in modern digital services. Of course, there are still limits Nathan Drescher / Android Authority Nothing is perfect. Notes are barebones, and like I said, I don't use it often. It's certainly not a replacement for Keep. There's no deep integration with voice assistants, which could be a dealbreaker for some. I'm okay with it myself. There's also a learning curve when it comes to setting it up. I use a custom domain and had to mess around with my host's MX records, something I know little about. Once set up, however, it stayed out of the way. And it's not free. In this case, I'm happy to pay for something that works. I don't like being the product, after all. Fastmail gives me what I want Nathan Drescher / Android Authority It's a private and reliable alternative to Google's suite of apps. Sure, it doesn't have all the AI bells and whistles, but I see that as a selling point. I still use Google Keep, and I'm fine with that. I didn't set out to replace it, and the built-in notes feature that comes with Fastmail is more of an added bonus than a core feature for me. This was about finding tools that weren't American and respected my time and privacy. Fastmail has done exactly that. Fastmail is more than capable if you're looking to step away from the big tech oligopolies. You don't need to sacrifice usability, because Fastmail isn't trying to be clever. It just does its job well.
