Your TV might be watching you

[Elspeth]

It's a story about hackers, but it's not really about hacking. Note the article says the "flaw" is fixed, but I'm betting the NSA gets around that.


Your TV might be watching you
http://money.cnn.com/2013/08/01/tech...l?iid=HP_River

Today's high-end televisions are almost all equipped with "smart" PC-like features, including Internet connectivity, apps, microphones and cameras. But a recently discovered security hole in some Samsung Smart TVs shows that many of those bells and whistles aren't ready for prime time.

The flaws in Samsung Smart TVs, which have now been patched, enabled hackers to remotely turn on the TVs' built-in cameras without leaving any trace of it on the screen. While you're watching TV, a hacker anywhere around the world could have been watching you. Hackers also could have easily rerouted an unsuspecting user to a malicious website to steal bank account information.

Samsung quickly fixed the problem after security researchers at iSEC Partners informed the company about the bugs. Samsung sent a software update to all affected TVs.

But the glitches speak to a larger problem of gadgets that connect to the Internet but have virtually no security to speak of.

Security cameras, lights, heating control systems and even door locks and windows are now increasingly coming with features that allow users to control them remotely. Without proper security controls, there's little to stop hackers from invading users' privacy, stealing personal information or spying on people.


In the case of Samsung Smart TVs, iSEC researchers found that they could tap into the TV's Web browser with ease, according to iSEC security analyst Josh Yavor. That gave hackers access to all the functions controlled by the browser, including the TV's built-in camera.

"If there's a vulnerability in any application, there's a vulnerability in the entire TV," said Aaron Grattafiori, also an analyst at iSEC.

Yavor and Grattafiori were also able to hack the browser in such a way that users would be sent to any website of the hacker's choosing. While the hack would have been obvious if the website on the screen didn't match the desired address, Yavor says there could be serious implications if a bad actor sent a user to a lookalike banking page and retrieved a user's credentials.

[ralph wiggum]

That's just a touch freaky.

[SaintLouieWoman]

I'm so glad that the previous owner left their old Sony in the family room entertainment center. No worries about it being too high tech. Sometimes it's a blessing to be low tech.

The creep factor is too high with the thought of someone looking into our homes and listening--thinking more about big brother/government than hackers.

[linda22003]

If people who are worried about these TVs have smartphones.... well, they've already got you. I don't ever want a smartphone.