Firmware Update Can I deactivate Whispernet in Kindle 3?

Artha · 08-24-2011, 05:59 AM

I have broken the screen of my reader and, being short on cash, I think about Kindle 3 as being the cheapest I can reach for that kind of screen. Yet, I am uneasy about letting Amazon track me and my book reading habits. I do not need their bookstore as I already have a hard time digesting a huge library. So can this be done? As the design is quite limited (no expansion card) I would like to use the USB to feed it books and that's about it.

Out of curiosity: can Kindle DX have its Whispernet cut off also?

JeremyR · 08-24-2011, 06:11 AM

Wrap it in tin foil?

Seriously, if just get the Wifi model and never turn on the Wifi, it never sends anything back afaik. I've kept mine off since I don't want the firmware that removes locations from the bottom of the screen. Just transfer via USB, even for Amazon's own books and AFAIK, it never phones back.

Artha · 08-24-2011, 07:48 AM

It would be nice to have access to the software inside and just remove the functionality and use that memory for an epub reader.

HarryT · 08-24-2011, 08:07 AM

Just keep the radio turned off. No need to modify the software for that - it's a standard feature.

DiapDealer · 08-24-2011, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Just keep the radio turned off. No need to modify the software for that - it's a standard feature.

Agreed.

But if you're feeling extra paranoid, you can always block your Wifi-only Kindle's MAC address at your router. Considering there's only a tiny number of wifi hotspots that a Kindle will "automagically" connect to without user interaction, that should be sufficient.

(of course never configuring the Wifi connection on a Wifi-only Kindle would achieve the same thing if you truly, truly don't believe you can trust the off switch.)

jswinden · 08-24-2011, 10:45 AM

If you only read sideloaded books then there is no need to even turn off WiFi. Amazon, regardless of how paranoid you are, could care less about tracking your sideloaded books.

There is no kill switch for Whispernet on any Kindle that I'm aware of. I hope they never put one on it too as Whispernet is the best feature offered by Kindles.

HarryT · 08-24-2011, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswinden

There is no kill switch for Whispernet on any Kindle that I'm aware of. I hope they never put one on it too as Whispernet is the best feature offered by Kindles.

There is, though, a kill switch for the radio transmitter.

No radio = no Whispernet.

hn333 · 08-24-2011, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artha

I have broken the screen of my reader and, being short on cash, I think about Kindle 3 as being the cheapest I can reach for that kind of screen. Yet, I am uneasy about letting Amazon track me and my book reading habits. I do not need their bookstore as I already have a hard time digesting a huge library. So can this be done? As the design is quite limited (no expansion card) I would like to use the USB to feed it books and that's about it.

Out of curiosity: can Kindle DX have its Whispernet cut off also?

The Kindle also has a mic that they use to listen and record you.

pdagenius · 08-24-2011, 04:03 PM

Deregister the Kindle on Amazon or on the Kindle itself. Then if you never turn on the wifi nobody will know what you're doing. End of. Enjoy.

ProfCrash · 08-24-2011, 04:18 PM

The only thing Amazon tracks would be what you bought in their store. I don't think that they can read what you side load.

If you don't care about using collections, don't register the device. If you want to use collections, activate the K3, register the K3, turn off the WiFi, and never turn on WiFi again.

Artha · 08-25-2011, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

The only thing Amazon tracks would be what you bought in their store. I don't think that they can read what you side load.

I wasn't aware they do share the code. Can you give me a link to that, please?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

If you don't care about using collections, don't register the device. If you want to use collections, activate the K3, register the K3, turn off the WiFi, and never turn on WiFi again.

That's an excellent tip. At the first glance I won't need it, but I'll keep that in mind.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdagenius

Deregister the Kindle on Amazon or on the Kindle itself. Then if you never turn on the wifi nobody will know what you're doing. End of. Enjoy.

Does it come as registered? I haven't bought it. I'm trying to understand a few things about the gadget before.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

There is, though, a kill switch for the radio transmitter.

No radio = no Whispernet.

By radio you mean Wifi? Or there's something else?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswinden

If you only read sideloaded books then there is no need to even turn off WiFi. Amazon, regardless of how paranoid you are, could care less about tracking your sideloaded books.

There is no kill switch for Whispernet on any Kindle that I'm aware of. I hope they never put one on it too as Whispernet is the best feature offered by Kindles.

Hmm, I understand that for you that feature is valuable as it saves you some time, but I fail to understand why there should not be a kill swtich. Could you please expand on that one?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Agreed.

But if you're feeling extra paranoid, you can always block your Wifi-only Kindle's MAC address at your router. Considering there's only a tiny number of wifi hotspots that a Kindle will "automagically" connect to without user interaction, that should be sufficient.

(of course never configuring the Wifi connection on a Wifi-only Kindle would achieve the same thing if you truly, truly don't believe you can trust the off switch.)

I never have touched the thing. I just read a few advertising pieces, as I could not possibly find a true review online. But is it possible to have in the second part of 2011 a device that can't hook up to open networks or known hotspots just because the user hasn't configured it? Cheapest, dumbest, ugliest chinese made network switch loaded with indian software can do that. Wouldn't a gadget advertised as user friendly AND at its third generation do any better than that?

HarryT · 08-25-2011, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artha

Does it come as registered? I haven't bought it. I'm trying to understand a few things about the gadget before.

If you buy a Kindle from Amazon, it will arrive pre-registered. If you buy it from a store, then obviously it won't.

Quote:

By radio you mean Wifi? Or there's something else?

Wifi and/or 3G, depending which model of Kindle you buy.

Quote:

But is it possible to have in the second part of 2011 a device that can't hook up to open networks or known hotspots just because the user hasn't configured it? Cheapest, dumbest, ugliest chinese made network switch loaded with indian software can do that. Wouldn't a gadget advertised as user friendly AND at its third generation do any better than that?

You misunderstand. It CAN connect to any WiFi network, but it WON'T connect to an unknown network unless you tell it to, any more than your PC would. Once a WiFi network is known to the Kindle, it will reconnect to it automatically (if the Wireless is switched on, of course).

lightbulbjim · 08-26-2011, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artha

I wasn't aware they do share the code. Can you give me a link to that, please?

Here you go: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...deId=200203720

Artha · 08-27-2011, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightbulbjim

Here you go: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/custom...deId=200203720

Wow! Thank you!

08-24-2011, 05:59 AM	#1
Artha ----- Posts: 114 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Samsung SNE65	Can I deactivate Whispernet in Kindle 3? I have broken the screen of my reader and, being short on cash, I think about Kindle 3 as being the cheapest I can reach for that kind of screen. Yet, I am uneasy about letting Amazon track me and my book reading habits. I do not need their bookstore as I already have a hard time digesting a huge library. So can this be done? As the design is quite limited (no expansion card) I would like to use the USB to feed it books and that's about it. Out of curiosity: can Kindle DX have its Whispernet cut off also?

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08-24-2011, 06:11 AM	#2
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	Wrap it in tin foil? Seriously, if just get the Wifi model and never turn on the Wifi, it never sends anything back afaik. I've kept mine off since I don't want the firmware that removes locations from the bottom of the screen. Just transfer via USB, even for Amazon's own books and AFAIK, it never phones back.

08-24-2011, 07:48 AM	#3
Artha ----- Posts: 114 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Samsung SNE65	It would be nice to have access to the software inside and just remove the functionality and use that memory for an epub reader.

08-24-2011, 08:07 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Just keep the radio turned off. No need to modify the software for that - it's a standard feature.

08-24-2011, 10:45 AM	#6
jswinden Nameless Being	If you only read sideloaded books then there is no need to even turn off WiFi. Amazon, regardless of how paranoid you are, could care less about tracking your sideloaded books. There is no kill switch for Whispernet on any Kindle that I'm aware of. I hope they never put one on it too as Whispernet is the best feature offered by Kindles.

08-24-2011, 04:03 PM	#9
pdagenius Enthusiast Posts: 38 Karma: 66 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle 3g + wifi Firmware: 3.2.1	Deregister the Kindle on Amazon or on the Kindle itself. Then if you never turn on the wifi nobody will know what you're doing. End of. Enjoy.

08-24-2011, 04:18 PM	#10
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	The only thing Amazon tracks would be what you bought in their store. I don't think that they can read what you side load. If you don't care about using collections, don't register the device. If you want to use collections, activate the K3, register the K3, turn off the WiFi, and never turn on WiFi again.