A recent FBI report has warned that smart televisions equipped with internet streaming and facial recognition capabilities may be vulnerable to intrusion.
On Tuesday, the FBI’s Portland field office published a blog post detailing all the ways someone could take advantage of a smart TV’s features for evil purposes.
“TV manufacturers and app developers may be listening and watching you,” FBI said in their warning.
According to the report, a television can also be a gateway for hackers to come into your home.
The bureau says malicious cyber actors can also take control of unsecured smart TVs and potentially wreak havoc on unsuspecting owners.
“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 explained.
SECURITY VULNERABILITY
“At the low end of the risk spectrum, they can change channels, play with the volume, and show your kids inappropriate videos. In a worst-case scenario, they can turn on your bedroom TV’s camera and microphone and silently cyberstalk you,” FBI further said.
The agency recommends that user do their research before buying a smart TV to ensure they understand any security vulnerabilities.
“If you do buy a smart TV, make sure to change any default passwords and figure out how you can turn off its cameras or microphones. If you can’t turn off a camera, you can always put a piece of black tape over the camera lens,” the agency explained.
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