The FBI just issued a warning about the risks of owning a smart TV - here are its suggestions for protecting your privacy
- The FBI has issued a warning to smart TV buyers highlighting the risks associated with such devices.
- Smart TVs, which connect to the internet to offer online apps and services, can be exploited by hackers.
- The devices also pose surveillance risks, according to the FBI warning.
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If you own a smart TV - or recently purchased one for the holidays - it's time to acquaint yourself with the risks associated with the devices, according to a new warning issued by the FBI.
Smart TVs connect to the internet, allowing users to access online apps, much like streaming services. And because they're internet-enabled, they can make users vulnerable to surveillance and attacks from bad actors, according to the FBI warning.
"Beyond the risk that your TV manufacturer and app developers may be listening and watching you, that television can also be a gateway for hackers to come into your home," Beth Anne Steele, an agent in FBI's Portland bureau, wrote in the warning.
"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," she added.
Hackers have also proven that it's possible to take control of smart devices in people's homes. An investigation by Consumer Reports last year found that Samsung and Roku smart TVs are vulnerable to hacking.
"In a worst-case scenario, they can turn on your bedroom TV's camera and microphone and silently cyberstalk you," Steele wrote.
Here are the steps that the FBI recommends all smart TV owners take to protect their privacy: