24 Feb Is Your Smart TV Spying on You?

Samsung recently had to warn its “smart TV” customers that they should be careful what they say in front of the TV. Apparently anything you say is recorded and retained and could be forwarded to third parties. It is still recorded even if you turn off the voice recognition feature, but then it is not forwarded to others. Who is your data sent to? Samsung has not been clear about that. They also suggest you disconnect the TV from your wi-fi if you really want to eliminate worry.

The bigger picture? It’s simple. Assume that any device you have may be hacked, compromised or surreptitiously recording you whether it’s your webcam, smartphone camera or even the bluetooth in your car. Assume that cameras are watching you anywhere you go in public. It’s not quite George Orwell’s 1984 with “Big Brother” seeing and controlling everything. But our super high-tech, post-9/11 hacker-infused world has made it thus. I have friends who put tape over the camera on their IPad unless they need it.

So keep an eye on anything non-human claiming to be “smart”! We get convenience, voice control over devices, enhanced security from terrorism, and easy access to so much content. In exchange there is risk of losing some privacy for sure. The right balance? Mostly it is in your control – simply shut down and disconnect anything that you think is getting a little too smart!