When it comes to using the internet, it pays to be as safe as possible. Internet viruses, hackers, and ransomware programs pose a real threat to countless users across the world. Luckily, to account for this, most personal computers, smartphones, and tablets come with built-in antivirus protections, to help keep your personal data safe while you browse the web.
However, most people generally assume that only devices like computers and smartphones are ever vulnerable to viruses. This might lead you to wonder whether other internet-connected devices are vulnerable. In this instance, you’re likely wondering whether smart TVs are vulnerable to viruses.
Want to be a little bit safer when interacting with the internet? Our Reliant tech experts can help you! They’ve taken a look at the data, to find out whether smart TVs are vulnerable to viruses. And how you can be more safe when using yours!
Are Smart TVs Vulnerable To Viruses?
The simple answer is that, like most devices, smart TVs are unfortunately vulnerable to viruses. There have been a few instances of dedicated viruses spreading to smart TVs across the world.
However, it’s important to note that smart TV viruses are actually incredibly rare. This is partly thanks to the fact that it’s difficult for hackers to develop viruses that attack common smart TV interfaces. As well as this, there’s also very little incentive for hackers to develop viruses that target smart TVs. It would be much more lucrative to target smartphones and personal computers, where users are more likely to keep personal information.
Technically, like any other device, smart TVs are vulnerable to viruses. However, the likelihood that you will encounter viruses on your smart TV is incredibly slim. There’s little incentive for hackers to develop smart TV viruses!
Most smart TV viruses are encountered when users browse the web on built-in web browsers. Smart TV web browsers are relatively simplistic and are thus slightly less secure. Unlike desktop web browsers that are more robust, and can be protected with multiple layers of antivirus software!
How Do You Protect Your Smart TV From Viruses?
Still, despite the fact that smart TV viruses are rare, it’s worth protecting yourself anyway. Viruses that do successfully attack smart TVs can be leveraged by hackers to access all kinds of personal information. Don’t forget that your smart TV will have all sorts of personal data, such as login details for streaming services!
To keep your smart TV safe from viruses, we’d recommend keeping the following tips in mind!
Keep Your Smart TV Updated!
One of the best things about smart TVs is that they can easily be updated for better performance through a simple download. Whenever your smart TV has a firmware update, we recommend installing it right away. Most often, these updates are intended to address vulnerabilities within a smart TV’s infrastructure. As such, keeping your smart TV updated helps it to stave off potential threats!
Secure Your Internet
In order to connect your smart TV to the internet, you’re going to need a local Wi-Fi connection. Since you can’t simply install antivirus onto a smart TV, you can instead install it into your router. When your router is secured with antivirus software and various firewalls, it helps to protect any devices connected to it.
Only Use Verified Apps
Smart TV app stores allow you to easily bump up the number of streaming services and even games that you have available on your TV. When browsing through the many apps found on these stores, we recommend that you only download those that are fully verified as safe.
For instance, trusted apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ are totally safe to use.
Certain smart TVs can actually show you if apps are verified. Such as TVs with Google TV or Android TV infrastructure. Verification allows you to easily install new apps to your TV with total confidence!
Make sure to also keep your smart TV’s apps updated. Much like your smart TV’s firmware, individual apps can be updated, to address vulnerabilities, or to otherwise improve performance.
Browse The Internet Carefully
We mentioned at the start of this guide that some smart TVs offer users the ability to browse the internet. While this definitely opens up a lot of freedom for finding great content on your TV, we recommend that you’re extra cautious.
Make sure to avoid websites that look dodgy, and especially avoid downloading any unverified software.
We’d recommend only using your smart TV’s browser for the most basic of websites. Such as news sites, or social media. If you need to use other websites, we recommend browsing them on a protected computer or smartphone instead.
Use Strong Passwords
This is a great rule-of-thumb to follow on any device! Whenever you sign up for online memberships for specific platforms, make sure to use strong passwords. Generally, a good password should be made up of different letters and numbers and should be incredibly hard to guess.
It’s always good to use strong passwords wherever you go on the internet. Stronger passwords make it nearly impossible for anyone to guess your login details for any online memberships!
Luckily, many platforms can actually recommend passwords for you. So you don’t have to spend ages formulating a complex password made up of letters and numbers!
More complex passwords make it much harder for anyone to take a guess when attempting to log into your accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Smart TVs Vulnerable To Viruses?
Yes. However, smart TV viruses really aren’t very common. This is thanks to the fact that it’s incredibly hard for hackers to get viruses to work on smart TVs. Due to how smart TVs operate, very often viruses will not even function on them. There’s also very little incentive for hackers to target smart TVs!
Do You Need Antivirus On A Smart TV?
No. Though smart TVs can be vulnerable to viruses, there are very few designed to solely target smart TVs. Instead of installing antivirus onto your smart TV, it’s best to ensure your Wi-Fi router is fully protected from online threats. When your Wi-Fi router is protected, so too are any devices you have connected to it!
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