Is Your TV Spying On You? Join Us For Our Cybersecurity Event
From TVs to thermostats to light bulbs, more and more devices have Wi-Fi capability. Are they vulnerable to hacking? A "smart" device is a tiny, internet-connected computer with a narrower purpose than a laptop or PC. An iPhone, for example, is not a phone - it's a computer that happens to have a phone app on it.
Anything connected to the internet is at risk of being hacked. As these devices become widespread, they create more points of entry for bad guys. If crooks hack your smart TV, they may or may not be able to monitor your activity through it, however they could potentially use it as a stepping-stone to attack or surveil other devices on the same network.
What information are smart devices legally collecting? Amazon Echo and Google Home are voice activated. They capture and record conversations within listening range of the microphone and send that data to the cloud for storage and analysis. Health-and fitness related devices such as the Apple Watch and FitBit, gather and store information about our biorhythms.
How can we guard our security and privacy? Change the default passwords that come with your devices and keep them up to date with the latest software patches. Configure settings to the most secure and privacy-protecting options available and disable features you don't need. Most home routers allow you to set up two distinct networks so put your smart devices on separate networks from your PCs or laptops.
It is important to remember that scammers target people of all demographics and often succeed because they catch people off guard. Practicing good security habits and being aware of threats may help lessen the odds of becoming a victim.
We invite you to join us for our Protecting Your Data: Aware and Prepared Virtual Event with our host Jennifer Dahill, Director with MFS Investments on
Wednesday, April 13th at 4 pm ET.
Register Online - https://www.covenantwealthstrategies.com/events