Bridging the Country
If an Echo device, for example, loses its Wi-Fi connection, Sidewalk can simplify reconnecting to your router. Using some Ring devices, you can continue to receive motion alerts from your security cams, and customer support can still troubleshoot problems even if your devices lose their connection.
Go Private or Go Home?
While the new features could be useful, the semi-public nature of the network could be a problem, some experts say. Some privacy advocates aren’t convinced that Sidewalk is worth the risk, however. “This reminds me of back in the day when we all used to share the same big neighborhood network so we could play multiplayer games, but it doesn’t mean it was a good idea,” Heinrich Long, a privacy expert at Restore Privacy, said in an email interview. “I’d honestly stay away from this feature, at least until we see how it fares, security-wise. I’m afraid we’re in for a bunch of imminent news stories about hacked networks and devices.” If the idea of joining a grand experiment in networking and pet rescues appeals to you, then you’ll be happy to know that Sidewalk is coming soon. If not, then there’s always the option to just turn it off.
