How to Protect Smart TV from Internet Threats

With the advent of Internet connection technology, modern TVs have become an attractive target for cybercriminals. In particular, using smart TV security vulnerabilities, attackers can record conversations from users or infect other victims' home network devices.

In view of the potential dangers, here are some basic tips for protecting smart TVs from today's Internet threats.

Source

1. Make sure your router's credentials are reliable.

Due to the convenience and convenience of using the technology of connecting TVs to the Internet via router is quite popular. This allows multiple devices to be connected to the network at the same time without the need for a large number of cables. However, if infected with the router, cybercriminals can access and install malicious software on all devices connected to the network, including smart TVs.

For this reason, use a unique name and a secure password for your router account to prevent unauthorized access to your network. You also need to disable features that you do not use because they can make it easier for attackers to gain access to your network. In addition, like all other devices connected to the network, the router must be updated regularly to protect against new vulnerabilities and up-to-date threats.

2. Create separate networks for different types of devices.

If you connect a large number of devices to your network, create a list of all and specific networks with special permissions. Viewing the list of devices will allow you to disconnect devices that are not used temporarily or at all from the network. In addition, having a list of your device names will make it easier to detect intrusion attempts.

Creating a separate network also has several advantages. For example, to avoid leaking sensitive data, you can separate sensitive data devices such as surveillance cameras, storage devices, and other connected Internet devices into separate networks.

3. Set up your smart TV correctly.

First of all, you need to configure your privacy settings to determine what information your provider may collect and pass on to third parties. Because some smart TV manufacturers collect voice and webcam data by default, you need to restrict the collection of sensitive data in your device settings. If your device has a webcam, you need to turn it off when not in use. For added security, we recommend using a specific webcam sticker so that no one can watch you, even when the TV is off.

In addition, you need to provide reliable protection for your smart TV and enable parental controls to protect your children from unwanted online content, if necessary.

4. Update your smart TV firmware regularly.

Cybercriminals are always looking for new vulnerabilities to gain access to the device and the victim network. Almost all Internet-connected devices, including smart TVs, come with firmware that is regularly updated to protect against new threats. Unlike computers or smartphones, most Internet of Things (IoT) devices do not install updates automatically, so you need to monitor for new updates and install them yourself.

5. Only download proven applications and applications.

Banking Trojans, fake security programs, paid programs distributed as free legitimate applications, or malicious software disguised as games or legitimate applications are not a complete list of tactics that cybercriminals can use to infect your devices. Therefore, you should only download applications from the official Google Play and App Store. In addition, always check the name of the software developer, the number of installations, and the rating of other users before downloading the application.

6. Use secure websites to watch streaming video.

Often, attackers use websites to spread different types of threats, so choose only trusted and legitimate websites for viewing information, including streaming video.

7. Use a solution to protect your smart TV from cyber threats.

Not only computers or smartphones but also most IoT devices can infect malware with malware. Therefore, products that provide reliable protection against malware should also be used for such devices. Specifically, Android-based Smart TVs have been specifically developed by ESET Smart TV Security, which protects smart TVs from a variety of threats, including hacking attacks and unauthorized access to your sensitive data. The full and free versions of the app are available in the official Google Play Store.