HDTVs vulnerable to hack attacks
This is the season to give gifts like big screen HDTVs, but hold on. Hackers can potentially use Internet-connected HDTVs to infiltrate malware into home networks, according to a new report.
Tests conducted on a range of inter-connected TVs found a security flaw in the kit of an unspecified manufacturer, according to Mocana, a maker of security software for smartphones. The firm does not elaborate on the firm involved or the security weakness, at least until the company releases a fix.
The security bug is a way to hack into consumers’ home network and potentially intercept and redirect internet traffic to and from the HDTV to mount phishing scams, gain access to backend services from third-party organizations (such as video streaming) or monitor and report on consumers’ private Internet usage habits, Mocana officials said.