New Delhi: In an era where smart TVs have become the centrepiece of our living rooms, offering seamless streaming and voice controls, a hidden danger lurks: hacking.
These internet-connected devices are essentially computers vulnerable to cybercriminals who can spy on you, steal data, or worse.
Experts caution that you should take immediate action to protect your privacy if your smart TV displays any of these five dangerous signs.
First, unexplained powering on/off: if your TV switches itself on or off, changes channels, or adjusts volume without touch, hackers might have remote access.
Second, unfamiliar apps or altered settings: Discovering unknown apps installed or sudden changes in preferences could indicate malware infiltration, allowing intruders to monitor activity.
Third, suspicious camera/mic behaviour: A built-in camera light glowing unexpectedly or the TV responding to voice commands unprompted means someone could be watching or listening to your private moments.
Fourth, sluggish internet or unusual data usage: Slow speeds or rapid data depletion, even when idle, suggest background malicious processes sending out your information.
Fifth, persistent pop-ups or strange messages: frequent unwanted ads, redirects to dubious sites, or odd notifications point to adware or viruses taking hold.
To protect yourself, keep software updated, avoid unknown apps, steer clear of public Wi-Fi, disable the camera/mic when not needed, and use strong passwords on a dedicated network. Stay vigilant — your smart entertainment shouldn’t come at the cost of security!