It, maybe, took the FBI coming out to speak about the privacy and security dangers of a smart TV for most people to take it seriously.
From unpatched exploits to camera/ microphone hack and spying, the IoT-enabled device can be the biggest chink in your privacy armor.
Do these to prevent your smart TV from snooping/ spying on you even without your knowledge.
Step #1 – Choose the right brand
If you are just looking to buy a/ change your smart TV, this is the first step. Otherwise, skip this step.
There are a lot of new players in the field right now. Given that smart TVs make up the highest percentage of new TVs today, such a new influx makes sense. They also entice the user with lower entry prices into the smart TV market.
What you might not consider is the inferiority of their software. Besides the UI, such inferiority also affects the security of the TV software. That, and it is almost very likely that they will never push out a single firmware update to you.
If you must go the smart TV way, go with trusted brands at least. They have a name and reputation to protect.
Step #2 – Check your Device Settings
Your TV settings dashboard is the first place you want to be.
Depending on the make and model of that TV, some of these tips might vary for you. Apply the ones that work for you:
- Change the default TV name to something more personal.
- If there is an admin password, change it to something more secure.
- Disable microphone/ camera settings till when you need them.
- Opt-out of data collection.
- Turn off ACR settings.
- Check for software and firmware updates. Download and install them as soon as they become available.
Step #3 – Secure your Network
One of the biggest advantages of a smart TV is that you can connect it to the internet to access a variety of services without the need for wires. Depending on how you connect to the internet, that could also be your biggest undoing.
- Never connect to a public/ free Wi-Fi network on your smart TV.
- Encrypt your internet connection before connecting your TV. An easy way to do this is with a VPN download. Make sure the VPN is from a reputable provider.
- Change your router’s default name and admin password.
Enjoy the Revolution
Smart TVs are here to stay and we believe that they will only get better.
For now, though, even the top TV manufacturers are still finding their feet in this new tech market. Before they get their stuff together, the onus lies on you, the user, to keep yourself better secured against privacy and security threats.
By: Matthew Stern | Blog@TheTechFools.com
