https://phys.org/news/2018-05-smart-gadgets-ways-minimize-privacy.html

Amazon blamed an "unlikely" string of events, and the company already has many privacy safeguards built into the device. Yet the incident shows that even with the best intentions, the risk is never zero. Gadgets these days come loaded with microphones and cameras—some smartphones even have three. They are all vulnerable to hacking or programming errors, and there's nothing consumers can do to eliminate the risks short of unplugging entirely.

But there are ways to minimize the risks for when gadgets don't act the way they are supposed to: