Smart TVs are common nowadays. As the demand for smart gadgets is increasing, many companies and political parties are ready to know your interest in order to bias sales and elections.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has recently warned people that Smart TV might be spying on you. As Smart TVs are connected to the internet to access Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, and many other applications, The data transfer is not one-way but two-way instead of that is your data including the person watching the Smart TV can be potentially targeted.
The Oregon Branch of FBI found that users who purchased Smart TVs on Black Friday can be hacked. Smart TVs can be a gateway for hackers to target you.
Beyond the risk that your TV manufacturer and app developers may be listening and watching you, that television can also be a gateway for hackers to come into your home. A bad cyber actor may not be able to access your locked-down computer directly, but it is possible that your unsecured TV can give him or her an easy way in the backdoor through your router
FBI
Not only this, the microphone of Smart TV can easily be used to control smart devices like Alexa or Siri. Hackers can also come to know about your choices like what you watch and what not, how you spent your time on television and many other things.
If your television started displaying unwanted ads then you can opt-out by going to Privacy Settings and turn off collect App data, Device usage data, and Internet-based ads. Also, check the settings regularly as sometimes such actions start automatically.
1. Know exactly what features your TV has and how to control those features. Do a basic Internet search with your model number and the words “microphone,” “camera,” and “privacy.”
2. Don’t depend on the default security settings. Change passwords if you can – and know how to turn off the microphones, cameras, and collection of personal information if possible. If you can’t turn them off, consider whether you are willing to take the risk of buying that model or using that service.
3. If you can’t turn off a camera but want to, a simple piece of black tape over the camera eye is a back-to-basics option.
FBI recommendation to protect yourself, Source: FBI
