I am an avid user of Alexa for years, so answers below.
Original message:

> I’m finally thinking about getting one and wanted to know a couple of things;


>    1. Obviously, you have to have an internet connection (we use 
> satellite at this point and have to contact them to see how to attach 
> the modem to it.

>    1. Is it really secure, and can everything be blocked other than 
> unplugging every day?
** In spite of some of the sensationalism out there, the fact is it is 
secure. There is a setting in the Alexa App which prevents anybody 
piggy backing on your connection. On the echo device itself there is a 
button which disables the microphones completely. You can also through 
the Alexa app delete any record of your voice requests. The 
conspiracies about security are just that, conspiracy theories and not 
supported by reality.

>    1. Is the music ‘free’ or do I have to pay per song…the only thing 
> I’m interesting in
** You have a choice here.  If you have Amazon Prime, it comes with a 
basic music service which is free and contains a lot of music. However, 
you can subscribe to Amazon Music Unlimited service which has just 
about everything old and new, for about $9 a month. Sometimes they 
offer a cheaper price for new subscribers. You can also link other 
music services to your Echo device. So, if you have a subscription to 
Spotify, Apple Music, or Sirius XM, you can play that content through 
the echo. It also offers Tune In which carries thousands of radio 
stations and network services from around the world for free. You do 
not pay per song.


>    1. Obviously, the instructions to saving to your playlist will be 
> prompted, but can I have more than one play list? I like the old stuff, 
> 50s – 80s. Eileen likes new country
** You can ask for music by particular artists, or ask for whole 
albums, or ask for specific songs, or ask for types of music like 
country. I personally do not use play lists, not sure, but I think you 
can save more than one play list. The echo and Alexa can also be 
trained to recognize you verses your wife and so only do what each of 
you prefers.


> 5 The issue we both have is the security and privacy one. I’ve tried to 
> tell her, we’re on-line all the time and we haven’t beenhavkced so 
> what’s the difference?
** Your security is as strong as your WiFi Router.
> 6 Have the security andprivacy issues been caught and corrected sinc 
> ethe last time I heard anything?

> Tanks

> Robert


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