Black Friday smart TV buyers should take this FBI cybersecurity advice
Black Friday smart TV buyers
should take this FBI cybersecurity advice
Black Friday smart TV buyers,
here’s some cybersecurity advice
By James Leggate Published
The FBI’s Portland, Oregon, field
office shared some tips this week for anyone who needs to secure a smart TV.
Savvy shoppers know that Black
Friday presents some of the best deals of the year on pricey electronics like TVs.
Overall, the National Retail
Federation expects Americans will spend about $730 billion this holiday season.
But new owners of
internet-connected smart TVs might not be as good at spotting hackers as they
are at spotting deals. The FBI’s Portland, Oregon, field office shared some
tips this week for anyone who needs to secure a smart TV.
Some models of smart TVs
include built-in cameras. They can be used for video chatting with friends and
family, and some can let the TV recognize who is watching and suggest
programming based on their past preferences.
But hackers may be able to
access those TVs through the internet, allowing them to spy through the camera
and microphone, or change channels, adjust the volume and play “inappropriate
videos,” the FBI warned.
Hackers could even
potentially use an unsecured TV as a backdoor to a router, potentially allowing
them to access a computer or other device connected to the Wi-Fi, according to
the FBI.
Here’s what the FBI
recommends to keep hackers out of smart TVs:
·
Because
each smart TV is different, owners should search for the exact model number
online and words like “microphone,” “camera” and “privacy” to learn how to
control those features.
·
Don’t
leave security settings on the default option and chance passwords if possible.
It’s also a good idea to check how to turn off microphones, cameras and
personal data collection ahead of making a purchase, and considering a
different model if they can’t be turned off.
·
A piece of
black tape can help when a camera can’t be turned off.
·
Check
whether the manufacturer can and whether it does update the device with
security patches.
·
Also check
the privacy policy for the manufacturer and any streaming services, including
what data they collect, how they store it and what they do with it.
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