How your Samsung TV could be at risk to hackers spying on you
SAMSUNG smart TVs could used to spy on owners by hackers due to the way their voices are being uploaded to the internet.
The tech giant's Smart TV models are currently using an unencrypted form to upload voice command information to the internet, making it easier for customers' activities to be monitored.
cybersecurity experts have raised the issue with Samsung, who have revealed plana to release new code that will encrypt the data and help protect its users.
"Samsung takes consumer privacy very seriously and our products are designed with privacy in mind," the company told the BBC.
"Our latest Smart TV models are equipped with data encryption and a software update will soon be available for download on other models."
London-based security firm Pen Test Partners first raised concerns over Samsung's encryption methods on Monday.
It was discovered, through testing one of Samsung's older models of internet-connected TVs, that audio files were being uploaded to voice recognition specialist Nuance in an unencrypted form.
DDOS Attacks - The Facts
It left information about the TV and its MAC address as a clear identifier and when commands were sent back to the TV in a transcribed form, to let the voice commands be used, it was also unencrypted.
It left a situation where a successful hacker, having gained access to the connection, would be able to read the words off a computer screen.
Ken Munro from Pen Test Partners added: "Intercepting those communications could be done over wi-fi by neighbours and/or hackers outside your house, if you use the wireless feature of the TV to hook up to the internet," he said.
