Got a Smart TV? Here’s How You Can Secure It From Hackers

The market is flooded with smart TVs which have become affordable, but are you aware of its privacy concerns?

Xiaomi Mi TV made its debut in India in 2018. 

(Photo: The Quint/@2shar)

In less than two years, the Indian market has been flooded with affordable smart televisions from local as well as global brands.

This has resulted in massive demand for TVs that support the internet, therefore letting you watch TV shows as well as stream digital content. Research analysts at IDC India estimate the smart TV segment in the country to be about 40 percent of the total TV shipments, which has grown 55 percent year-on-year in the April-June quarter in 2019.

However, one has to be wary of the concerns around hacking with regards to using smart devices and these TVs are also part of the same clan. So if you’ve bought a smart TV from any of these brands recently, you may want to read this article to figure out how to keep them safe from hackers.

1. Your Privacy Matters

An internet-connected, voice-enabled TV is capable of tracking what a person is watching. Companies can use this information to serve you with targetted ads crafted from your search history. This has been happening on mobile and desktop for years, and now smart TVs are the next target for such activities.

Just as is the case with other devices, smart TVs let the user turn off the tracking feature, which is usually not done by default. We suggest that you read through the product manual and disable the option immediately.

2. Snooping Through Smart TV Cameras

Remember the instance where the webcam of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s laptop was found to be taped? That could be a good way of making sure nobody hacks into your system, thereby allowing them access to your office or home. Some of these TVs also feature a webcam. Security expert Norton is cautioning users about this.

Be it laptop or smart TV, secure the webcams.(Photo: iStock)

“Smart TV webcams could be hacked for spying or malware can move from device to device through your router. A hacker could just as easily use the webcam on your television to find out whether you have anything worth stealing in your home or when you are most likely to be gone for long periods.”

<a href="https://us.norton.com/internetsecurity-iot-smart-tvs-and-risk.html">Norton security blog post</a>

So how do you prevent such incidents? Experts suggest you either disconnect and turn off the smart TV as well as the internet when not in use, or be smart like Zuckerberg and cover the camera with a piece of opaque tape.

3. Tips to Secure the Smart TV

These TVs are powered by Android TV or other forms of software that have been created by companies. To prevent them from getting hacked, it’s vital that users, as well as the manufacturers, regularly update the software running on the devices. This could help the TV safeguard itself from the latest forms of attacks.

PatchWall from Xiaomi is a customised form of Android.(Photo: The Quint/@2shar)

Using web browsers on these TVs leaves you vulnerable to malware attacks. We recommend that users download only the apps certified by Google. Side-loading apps puts the user and their smart TV in danger. Be very careful while doing that.

Also, if possible, users should consider buying Wi-Fi routers that support firewalls, which can also be integrated with the internet running on smart TVs. Adding another layer of security reduces the chances of your device getting hacked.