Perhaps the best-known home assistants, such as Alexa or Google, are usually part of the home with their devices, such as the Echo family or the Nest, although an old mobile phone is more than enough to have them available.
It is very common that we do not know what to do with those mobile phones that, after a few years, are new, but reach the end of the security updates.
Using a mobile phone in these conditions may not be the best way to protect yourself, so it is advisable that if you want to reuse it, you consider several important points regarding cybersecurity.
The first of all is that never leave a SIM in your mobilein addition to the fact that the most advisable thing is always to create a completely random account to use on the device, with the intention of separating your real identity.
This way, if someone tries to access your network, they will not get your personal data, a basic step to ensure that Reusing your old mobile phone does not have negative consequences for your security and privacy.
From here, you have several options, depending on the relationship between difficulty and security that you prefer.
The easiest and fastest way to turn an old mobile phone into a voice assistant
Taking into account a basic security optionthe most common thing would be to get the NetGuard application – no-root firewall, by its name in Google Play for Android – by logging in with the independent account created for the mobile.
This tool will be in charge of allowing or denying traffic, with an interface where you can review all this in great detail.
The important thing is that install Google Gemini or Amazon Alexa from its official app on Google Play and block with NetGuard lInternet browsing for everyone except the assistant.
Once you have completed these steps, you just have to deactivate the permissions of other applications that you have on your mobile, from the usual settings for your Android device; leave only the microphone for your assistant and remove any camera permissions.
With this you will easily have an old mobile phone as an assistant and you will be able to control internet traffic, to prevent your personal data from falling into the wrong hands, although it is not the safest way, since this involves a little more time.
A strict security configuration It is always something more complicated to achieve, although it is not impossible and it will help you save on a smart home device.
Set up guest WiFi and continuous listening
Los Mobile phones do not usually have a mechanical tab to close the camera or microphoneso if you have deactivated the camera permissions, it is best to also deactivate the constant recognition of your voice in the chosen assistant application.
Furthermore, the most important thing is that you previously configure a WiFi network for guests, something that most manufacturers allow from the router interface, with a name similar to Guest Network.
Any device that you are going to use as a voice assistant has to be on this networkwhich will appear to you independently of your own; Thanks to this, you will be able to prevent a possible attack from affecting your main network.
so that you downloaded application does not continue to track your voice continuouslyTaking the Google assistant –Gemini– as an example, you will have to deactivate an option known as Voice Match.
This is essential so that the device does not constantly collect audio and you have access to your most private conversations.
Whatever the method you choose to configure an old mobile phone as a voice assistant for your homealways thinks that no method is infallible at the security level, and that everything depends on constant review.