We’re living in a technologically advanced era where every other thing has ‘smart’ labeled on it. Although smart technology makes our life more convenient and easier, it also poses a threat to our privacy.
You must have heard plenty about the importance of securing your computers, laptops, and mobile phones from hackers, malware, and viruses. That said, were you aware that the smart TV should also have cybersecurity? Get Philo 30 Day Free Trial and watch tv channels easily.
Smart TV security is as important as securing other devices, because, without any proper security protocols, savvy hackers have the ability to take advantage of vulnerabilities in your smart TV’s system.
Through this, hackers can access your device, and worst of all, even take control of it. Smart TV is dominating the smart home market, and it’s no mystery why. Smart TVs give you access to a wide range of content, through broadcast and streaming apps.
This allows the user to enhance their entertainment options and see content that you may have otherwise required a computer for in the past. However, as mentioned above, this new technology is vulnerable to hackers, and you should know how to protect it. Let’s take a look at how you can protect your smart TV.
Also, it’s advisable to use a surge protector for your smart TV, so as to avoid any damage from power surges.
Risk of Not Securing Your Smart TV
Most households today have a smart TV in place, and to enjoy the perks of it, you need to have an internet connection. If your smart TV has no IoT security, it’s particularly vulnerable to hackers.
Hackers can easily exploit the vulnerabilities present in your smart TV’s operating system. They can access all the information stored on your Smart TV, and further use it to perform unscrupulous actions, such as:
Spying through the Smart TV’s Camera
Your smart TV camera doesn’t have to be on for hackers to spy on you, it can be done even if the camera is off. They can easily use your TV’s webcam to take pictures or even see if there’s anything worth stealing in your home.
Accessing Your Social Media Apps
If you were to log in to any of your social media accounts through their app on your smart TV, you might be providing a hacker with your personal information. This could allow them to gain illegal access to your social media accounts.
Malware and Viruses
A smart TV that has no IoT security is vulnerable to malware and viruses that can wreak havoc. Now, the fact that your smart TV is connected to the same internet router as all other devices in your house, this malware can also infect them.
How to Improve Your Smart TVs Security
Thankfully, you can still take adequate actions to ensure that your data, devices, and privacy are protected, such as:
Keep Your Internet Router’s Credentials Protected
The router is used to connect your smart TV and other devices to the internet. It’s essential that you secure the router by changing the default admin password to something much stronger and unique.
You should also use a firewall for your routers as an additional security measure. Although it’s important that we share that most routers have a built-in firewall, hence you might not need to purchase an additional one.
Lastly, it’s a good practice to disable router features if you’re not using them, and ensure that your router’s software is always updated.
Use Your Smart TV’s Security Features
Your smart TV most probably has pre-configured security settings. However, you can also configure the privacy settings by yourself to improve the cybersecurity threat of your device. For instance, you can turn off the feature that enables your smart TV to share information and data with other providers, alongside turning off the camera and microphone.
Download Trusted Applications
Smart TVs let you download a wide range of apps. That said, you’re still taking a risk if you don’t download apps from your smart TV’s app store because those apps might be loaded with malware and viruses.
Always check the reviews of any app that you plan on downloading. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Conclusion
There’s always a way to prevent any threat to your smart TV’s cybersecurity, and we’ve shared them with you in this article. We hope you now understand how you protect your smart TV’s privacy.
