The number of smart TV users is forecast to grow to 119 million by 2022, representing about 58.3 percent of all connected TV users. As a result, some smart TV users fear that their TV’s camera will be hacked, showing hackers what is going on. Because of this fear, many ask how to hack a smart TV camera. What they are really asking is how to avoid being hacked. The notion of camera hacking on smart TVs came into the limelight when the FBI warned consumers about the possibility of being hacked. That all said, this is something we’d evaluate and thus preclude any that are applicable from our best TV list.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Some smart TV cameras can be hacked to watch you while you watch TV.
- To avoid hacking, you may want to have a secure home network, including a password.
- Be careful what links you click while on your smart TV.
How Do Hackers Get In Your TV?
Anyone who is trying to hack you will have to be on your home network. Because of this necessity, it would be a good idea to place a password on the network. Additionally, the hacker will need a computer, and they will try to get you to click a link on your TV or a smartphone previously used to control your TV.
Once the hacker hacks your TV, they can utilize various features to change your TV. For example, they may obnoxiously change the channels or volume. Sometimes, they may play an inappropriate video while your children are watching TV. Other times, the hacker can activate the camera or microphone included in the set, allowing them to potentially watch or listen to what is happening in the room.
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How to Protect Your Smart TV
As I mentioned above, you should set up a password for your WiFi network. Make sure this password is something that you will remember because you will likely have to use this password every time you get a new device or have a guest over. You may also want to change this password occasionally in case someone accessed it.
To protect yourself while your smart TV is on, you may want to see what features your TV has to block the camera’s view. For example, some TVs allow you to push the camera up for use and down when you’re done. Other TVs have cameras that can be turned, so the feed shows the inside of your TV instead. Additionally, the FBI recommends putting a piece of opaque black tape over the camera, removing it when you want to use the camera.
How to Stop Smart TVs From Collecting Data
In addition to cameras, your smart TV microphone and viewing habits inform brands of your data. Every time you tell your virtual assistant to do something, it activates the microphone. The virtual assistant also searches its server for the correct action, providing the server with your voice. Various smart TV brands insist that they do not keep these searches. Many smart TVs feature a tracking setting that allows the brands to watch what you are watching. Some of these brands include their setting for tracking in their privacy policy, which you agree to when you set up your TV. However, many of these TVs have settings that allow you to turn this feature off. There may be multiple settings, with one being for tracking content and another being for ad tracking.
F.A.Q.S
Do all smart TVs have Cameras and Microphones Installed?
No, some smart TVs do not have a camera or a microphone. However, these TVs may still be controlled by a smart device on the same network.
Can a smart TV be hacked?
Smart TVs can be hacked by malicious people as long as the hacker is on the same network and the settings are not secure enough.
How Do I Turn off the Camera and Microphone of a Smart TV?
The camera and microphone settings can be found in the “Settings” menu, but each brand’s menu is different. Do a quick google search for your brand to find out more information.
STAT: The number of smart TV users is forecast to grow to 119 million by 2022, representing about 58.3 percent of all connected TV users. (source)
