Smart TV’s are entering the realm of the “Internet of
Things” (IOT). IOT can be any device that can send or receive information via
the internet. IOT devices can include:
·
Your car.
·
Healthcare devices such as a Fitbit which
monitors your health and sends that information to the cloud.
·
Appliances, manufacturers have been trying to
push internet capable refrigerators for several years.
·
Wearables, including Apple watch and Fitbit devices
that can pass information about you.
·
Lighting, yes light bulbs are coming out that
can turn on and off automatically and extend the range of your wireless network.
·
Home security devices such as alarms, cameras,
sensors and locks that can inform you of activity around your home on your
smart phone or tablet computer. Some systems can also allow you to unlock
doors, turn on lights, etc.
There have been a couple of warnings about smart TV’s. With
their new capabilities, it is now best to treat your smart TV like your
computer. Not only can you browse the web you can run apps to play games or
many other tasks like you can on your smart phone. Scammers can hack into your
smart TV, just like they can hack into your computer or smart phone. On your
smart TV they can access voice controls, cameras, or gain access to other
devices on your home network to gather usernames and passwords.
Samsung recently warned that its voice enabled smart TV’s listens
to conversations in the room. The TV is listening for certain command words to
take action. But to do that, it listens to any words that it hears and sends
those words to a third party who processes them looking for voice commands. While
on a daily basis there probably is not a function saving everything said in the
room, there apparently is a chance that your TV or the third party’s server
could be hacked, and a criminal or another entity could record those
conversations. So, Samsung says, do not talk about sensitive or personal
matters in front of your Samsung smart TV.
The Better Business Bureau recommends that you take action
to keep your smart TV secure:
·
Avoid malware by staying away from suspicious
websites and being careful about clicking on strange links.
·
Keep your smart TV up to date, like you should
with your computer, by installing manufacturer updates when you receive them.
·
Use the firewall on your smart TV and your
network router.
·
Be sure that your network is secure by using
strong passwords and keeping your software up to date.
·
Assume that the smart TV’s camera and microphone
are turned on. An extra precaution that you can take is to place a piece of
tape to cover the camera.
Some basic precautions can help you avoid problems on the
future.
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