Smart TVs are susceptible to be infected with malware, as they are an internet-connected device. Smart TV is in the core of small systems, and also increasingly exposed to attacks from the internet. Moreover, the smart TV runs on the OS the say way as Smartphone or PC does. In most cases, the OS is Android or Web. They enable companies to develop apps and interact with the TV but have vulnerabilities and flaws.
Last year, many Smart TVs suffer from privacy shortcomings that leave the user data up for grab to malicious activities. In a fitting bit of irony, Samsung’s OS Tizen developed for all of its internet-connected devices including its Smart TVs and was exposed in 2017 to be mainly packed with security flaws that could be potentially browbeaten by an attacker.
There are malware and other types of malicious software designed to attack flaw in Smart TVs, but they aren’t common. The number of attacks targeting smart TVs is lesser compared to the number of traditional PC viruses, we see that it’s growing with the number of devices being sold.”
How bad is a TV Virus?
In rare cases, your Smart TV is infected with a virus, and the potential damage could be done is different than what you’ve expected from the virus on device or Smartphone. It’s like that there is personally relieving information on your TV, but there may be some information that may be roughly falling into the hands of an attacker. For instance, most smart TVs use a technology called Automatic content recognition (ACR) that can recognize every show that you watch. Additionally, smart TVs are linked to internet-connected devices that could expose more data about you and your home as they deal with data between one another. As more connected these devices become, the more necessary is the securing. While it’s improbable that an attacker would access credit card information or passwords from your TV, it is possible that the data is shared with your TV by another connected device could be left susceptible.
Given the prevalence of smart assistants and speakers, increasingly push things like shopping features may have access to your financial information; it’s possible that your data isn’t explicitly on your TV could be intercepted. Bigger possibility for the invasion of privacy exists if malicious software uses the features of your Smart TV against you. Whatever functionality is available to a developer is also available to someone performing something malicious with the device.
Do TV’s need Antivirus Software tools?
Smart TV does need to be secured. The issue is that the antivirus is not widely accepted for most devices. Samsung’s latest models of TV come with the Antivirus built-in, and while it’s buried in the device’s menu it is available. “For most Smart TVs or IoT devices there is the antivirus that can be installed, and we believe that most individuals do not want to install a separate security solution onto every IoT system in their home, such as a smart fridge.
Image Credit: Mockup vector created by vectorpocket
