FBI Issues Smart TV Cybersecurity Warning

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a warning to holiday shoppers who are planning to swap some of their hard-earned cash for a smart TV.

In a statement released by the Oregon branch of the FBI, members of the public were warned that an unsecured TV that is connected to the internet could be used as a conduit for cyber-criminals to gain virtual entry into a home. 

The FBI said: "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. 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."

Potential smart TV owners were advised that hackers who had taken control of an unsecured set could do anything from messing around with volume controls to showing inappropriately violent or sexually explicit videos to children.

"In a worst-case scenario, they can turn on your bedroom TV's camera and microphone and silently cyber-stalk you," said the FBI.

Shoppers were warned that they cannot rely on the default security settings of any devices that they might purchase to provide adequate protection for themselves and their families. Instead, agents urged anyone considering buying a smart TV to make sure that they fully grasp exactly what features their smart TV comes with and how to control them before making a purchase. 

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