Smart TVs can contain a lot of personal information, which may make them a tempting target for hackers says CHOICE’s Peter Zaluzny. Want to stay safe? Read our smart TV security tips and add your own experiences in the comments below.
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That would be “not”.
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Here’s an interesting follow up from the States regarding Smart TVs and security. It turns out Vizio failed to inform consumers it was collecting their data and has been ordered to pay a $2.2 million fine (USD).
However, it raises other questions - assuming Vizio had cleaned up it’s terms of service and consent, are consumers even aware this data collection is taking place and is it a concern?
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As a large portion of smartTVs are connected by WIFI, it is also best to use the highest possible encryption setting that ones router allows.
How to Geek describes the best encryption settings. Also check with your Router manual to see how to change your wifi encryption settings to ensure the maximum level of security is used.
Using highest level of encryption reduces the risk for signals from the TV to the router being ‘listened into’ and data collected (such as passwords for non HTTPS websites).
Likewise if one plans to purchase a powerpoint network adapter to connect your TV to the internet using your in home electrical wiring, check the type of security built into the device. With encryption ensure that it is at least 128 bit.
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This seems like a good thread to add this to. A non-Amazon device suspected to be a smart-TV got access and despite doing everything the unauthorised charges kept coming.
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It doesn’t matter how secure your router is if the device behind it is not - whether a TV, baby monitor or door lock. Unfortunately there are way too many examples of ‘smart’ devices being pretty dumb about security for me to trust any TV online. I’d go for a set top box instead - if I needed to.
Oh, and since we’re on the subject of routers, disable plug’n’play and WPS.
P.S. Why am I responding to a comment from nearly three years ago? Please return to the usual station, and ignore further disruption.
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From the US FBI…
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Updates present their own special concerns.
Our Sony TV appears to have a recently updated version of iView for ABC. Instead of typing the slow way, a program to search for, it now wants us to direct it by Voice!
How thoughtful, not!
It’s not readily evident if it is all down to the ABC app or a Sony update.
P.S.
What odds most of the world will stop connecting or using smart enabled devices because they present a privacy or security concern?
Zero chance.
Only when the level of harm and disruption from poor internet device security exceeds the capacity of the community to absorb it will there be a political rethink.
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???
That’s pretty funny because certain agencies of the US government have been outed as using known security flaws to remotely compromise smart TVs.
Mixed messages?
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It is presumably the same FBI that gave up on Apple helping them break into a dead guy’s phone and bought the exploit they needed from a shady Israeli company. (At least, that is the impression they want to leave - it is still not certain that they did in fact gain access to the phone, or simply wanted to avoid a court case they were going to lose.)
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