Good point on the email to Mr. Cook, although those tend to get customer service issues resolved, not new features.
Yes, you can turn on/off Hey Siri, but the user has to do it. We refer to that as an administrative control. We have no way to know if it was done.
I saying we want a technical control (and MDM restriction option). That way we know it was done.
--
Thanks,
Allan Marcus
Chief IT Architect
Los Alamos National Laboratory
505-667-5666
email@hidden
If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got. [Albert Einstein]
From: <Edgell>, Joe < email@hidden>
Date: Friday, September 19, 2014 at 9:35 AM
To: Apple Fed-Talk < email@hidden>
Subject: Re: [Fed-Talk] "hey siri", how can I turn you off?
Hi Alan,
Perhaps I'm missing something or not understanding the issue, exactly. But the "Hey Siri" function can be turned on or off independent of home-button activation. In Settings > General > Siri there's a preference called "Allow 'Hey Siri'". It's independent
of the Siri function itself. When that preference is activated it allows the listening mode when connected to power. When it's off, no active microphone.
I assume, however, that what you're looking for is a way to disable the "hey Siri" functionality altogether, without crippling Siri herself.
Perhaps a note to Tim Cook might get that, particularly if it's from a federal enterprise customer. According to a
recent BusinessWeek article, it's because of Tim that Apple's taken a new liking to enterprise customers.
Joe
From: Marcus, Allan B <email@hidden>
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2014 11:01
To: Edgell, Joe; Apple Fed-Talk
Subject: Re: [Fed-Talk] "hey siri", how can I turn you off?
I completely agree with you! Now, if only we can get Apple to agree. They are the once that have coupled the control of Hey Siri on a locked device with home button activation. That is why I would very much like to see an “Allow Hey Siri” restriction (whcih
we can then turn off), thus letting the user use Siri via home button when the device is locked.
I don’t think any organization that deals with sensitive information should tolerate a live microphone in the room. I think it’s reasonable to want control over that feature.
--
Thanks,
Allan Marcus
Chief IT Architect
Los Alamos National Laboratory
505-667-5666
If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got. [Albert Einstein]
From: <Edgell>, Joe < email@hidden>
Date: Friday, September 19, 2014 at 6:43 AM
To: Apple Fed-Talk < email@hidden>
Subject: Re: [Fed-Talk] "hey siri", how can I turn you off?
> Disabling Siri completely also does the trick, but that's very heavy handed.
It is. Plus it disables a fairly useful feature. I find Siri to be pretty useful.
I think disabling "Hey Siri" would be fine, but disabling Siri by using the home button/earbud button is also a bit heavy-handed and eliminates good functionality, while not enhancing security that much. Given that you can specify what Siri has access
to, if memory serves, the risk is that someone who gets the phone improperly would be able to make phone calls, send text messages, or ask certain other questions that would not reveal confidential information.
Button-activated Siri access from the home screen allows a person to get directions while driving. This is a significant safety enhancement that could eliminate accidents of federal employees while driving. I commute by bike, when I hear a text message
alert, I ask Siri to read me a message. While that is a theoretical security risk, we should ask ourselves if it's an ACTUAL threat. Having that functionality allows me to respond while commuting without pulling over and unlocking the device.
Additionally, for disabled users, Siri voice access can be essential. Care should be made to ensure that any adopted policy does not violate the Americans with Disabilities Act and any federal implementing regulations. We need to ensure that differently-abled
employees can do their jobs.
Anyhow, I know some on this list have a zero-tollerance perspective when it comes to anything that might be theoretically a security risk. But I suggest an actual balancing of the risk of harm with the benefit of the technology would create better policies.
Joe
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