Just as computers before them, the latest smart TVs and other internet-connected devices have also become vulnerable to hacking. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States recently warned smart TV owners that cybercriminals have discovered ways to compromise their devices, including hacking them.
The bureau urged owners to do due diligence to secure their devices. Because many of the new TVs now feature microphones and cameras, hackers could commit serious privacy intrusions, such as cyberstalking users in their own homes, said the FBI. A smart TV could also be a gateway to a home network, allowing hackers to gain personal information from the set or from other Internet of Things devices.
To combat the potential cybersecurity threats the FBI called on owners to review the features of any smart TV purchased, and learn how to control them. Buyers should review the features before choosing a set, and then read the manual.
Those who still have questions should search the Web using the model number and such words as “microphone,” “camera” and “privacy,” the FBI advised.
Users should not depend on the default security settings. They should change passwords when possible. If they are unable to do that, they should turn off microphones and cameras when not in use. If a TV camera cannot be turned off, a back-to-basics solution is to cover it with a piece of black tape.
The FBI suggested that users consider whether it is necessary to buy a model that utilizes cameras and microphones.
Smart TV owners also should research how a set gathers personal information, what data is collected, how that data is stored, and what the manufacturer might do with it.
Finally, buyers should assess the manufacturer’s ability to update the device with security patches, and check into how it has addressed these issues in the past, the FBI suggested.
Computers are great for bringing information into our homes, but anything that can carry data in can also carry data out, warn computer experts. A smart TV is just a computer system that some manufacturer has configured for a specific role in our living rooms, so it is not a surprise that they are actually built to transmit, not just receive.
You need to remember that any device can be hacked — any device with a camera and microphone can potentially be put to spy on you and your family at home. In recent years, smart TV functionality has increased, as more and more viewers are watching streaming content from the net.
Though the potential for hacking is worrisome, what the manufacturers are gathering from TV owners is also a major cause for concern. Media reports have shown that multiple smart TV makers, including LG and Samsung, were collecting information from users about the content they viewed, without their permission.They were monitoring content to help advertisers better target ads, according to the report.
Too often, consumers consider security to be someone else’s job or responsibility. The problem is, that kind of passive fatalism sets people up to be victimized both by consumer electronics giants who use customers’ data for commercial gain, and by cybercriminals looking to profit personally.
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