FBI Says: You Need to Secure Your Smart TV

Did you buy a fancy new smart TV on Black Friday? I didn't leave the house on Friday, but I did browse through the sales flyers and spotted some crazy deals on giant TVs. Maybe you're planning on taking advantage of Cyber Monday deals today.

Either way, the FBI is telling consumers to be concerned about the potential security issues with smart TV's. Lots of new models have camera's and microphones installed that hackers can access fairly easily. So, not only is your TV watching and listening to you, but creepy perverts could be peeking on you as well. Scary.

Beth Ann Steele, from the Portland FBI office writes:

 

Hackers can also take control of your unsecured TV. 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.

Suggestions to protect yourself include: reviewing your smart TV's privacy policy and camera/microphone settings, routinely updating passwords and putting a piece of tape over the camera lens.