“Today’s high-end televisions are almost all equipped with ‘smart’ PC-like features, including Internet connectivity, apps, microphones and cameras.,” Erica Fink and Laurie Segall report for CNNMoney. “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,” Fink and Segall report. “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.”
Fink and Segall report, “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.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Now, Now…” for the heads up.]
Yyyyyyeeeeah UM well and we find this surprising from the most ethical company on the globe.
Yes. “Flaw.” Uh-huh. Whatever you say . . .
So does the refrigerator have a camera, too?
Watch video at 5:40 where they mention that they tap into microchips in microwaves and dishwashers to figured out behavior patterns and where you’re located.
See what happens, Samsung, when you’re NOT copying Apple?
And why would Samsung be interested in your lives? Isn’t that the job of NSA?
Of everything in Orwell’s 1984, I figured TV’s that watch you is ONE thing that wouldn’t actually happen. I stand corrected.
Darn, Samsung, oops I mean Scumscam, didn’t have Apple to lead them by the hand when they made their stupid TVs:
a recently discovered security hole in some Samsung Smart TVs shows that many of those bells and whistles aren’t ready for prime time
Or were these REALLY blunders? IOW: Was this ScamScum’s intention? Big Brother indeed?
It is not a “secutity hole”, it is collaborative feature with NSA.
I like proof of such things, but I certainly am inclined to believe you are correct sir.
Apple: Please do NOT attempt same. You’re better off as the wonderful company you are.
Not me. Will never own any Samdung badged products in my house. Isn’t it amazing how a company can let this occur when obviously every user would want this prevented?
A year or so ago I wrote about how the US was copying every little detail from George Orwell’s 1984. People on this board called me a lune and said i was wearing a tin foil hat….or something. Now it is plain to see the lunes were actually the lunatic fringe of both parties, also known as the, “No matter what, the sun shines out of America’s anus”, party. The brain washing starts every morning chanting “America the land of the Free and Brave” from age 4 to 20……just like in 1984.
A small well placed piece of paper attatched with gaffers tape is never a bad idea if you have a device with a camera facing you and it is tied to the Internet. Any device. Made by anyone. Nothing wrong with a little honest suspicion. It’s not paranoid it’s logical. Better safe than sorry. Just saying.
Just a couple of layers of gaffers tape would do the job. Paper is not required. Have used it to tone down annoyingly bright leds on external hard drives. Works very well.
Oh Samsung. How will your fans try and deny this??
Instead of all the conspiracy theories, the Careless Caveat applies: Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by mere incompetence. And Samsung has shown the capacity for an infinitude of incompetence. 😆
And the TV thinks the same of me as I do of it
“As usual, nothing on tonight….”