Hackers could be Targeting Your Smart TV

Hackers Could Be Targeting Your Smart TV

Avast researchers have found a number of vulnerabilities in Smart TVs.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Nov 13, 2015

Security researchers at Avast have demonstrated a number of vulnerabilities and potential attacks against Vizio smart TVs, including data that displays a person's viewing habits.

Under the wide umbrella of the Internet of things and smart homes, Avast began to pull apart the security of a Vizio smart TV and found that it was susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks due to HTTPS certificates that were not being validated.

Avast discovered that the TV was constantly accessing tcinteractive.tv, a website run by a company named Cognitive Networks. The service appears to gather a time stamp that reports what someone is watching and when, and then sends that data to the content provider or advertisers. Avast even discovered that the TV would accept a forged certificated when connecting to the site, as it does not fully validate the HTTPS certificate. Instead, it just validates the checksum at the end of the data being transferred.

Essentially, the HTTPS certificate is what makes a connection secure, validating the information and telling the sender what a site actually is. Without it, a hacker could potentially steal the information. Carrying out a man-in-the-middle attack in which it impersonated the tvinteractive.tv with forged HTTPS credentials, Avast was able to crack the data that was being sent and view it.

"This data is the fingerprint of what you're watching being sent through the Internet to Cognitive Networks. This data is sent regardless of whether you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service when first configuring your TV," the researchers said.  

Avast has dubbed its discovery as a possible attack vector into a person's home network. It's just the latest evidence that shows how a smart TV can make your local network vulnerable, and Avast claims that it could be a possible means to display content remotely on someone else's TV. "Further investigation is needed to demonstrate a proof of concept, however, this appears to be a potential attack vector for remotely displaying unwanted material on a person's TV," the researchers said.

Vizio has patched these vulnerabilities and says the update will install automatically, but there is no still no report on whether this update has been successfully delivered to all TV owners yet.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Work Anywhere, Secure Everywhere: 2025 Tech Predictions

    Five years after the pandemic, organizations need a flexible work reset to stay productive and support any work arrangement. Despite the pandemic-fueled workplace shift that began five years ago, companies across industries and geographies continue to increase flexible work configurations. However, many tools adopted during COVID onset remain in place today, and they now need a reset to keep employees productive and secure regardless of location. Security leaders must re-evaluate existing practices and reinvest in zero trust security, passwordless environments, and automation adoption to improve efficiency and productivity. Read Now

  • Guiding Principles

    Construction sites represent a unique sector of perimeter security, especially amidst a steady increase in commercial construction. As in any security environment, assessing weaknesses and threats remains paramount and modern technology, coupled with sound access control principles, are critical in addressing vulnerabilities at even the most secure construction sites around the world. Read Now

  • Empowering 911

    In the wake of the tragic murder of UnitedHealth Group CEO Brian Thompson, media coverage flooded the airwaves with images, videos and detailed timelines of the suspect’s movements. While such post-incident analysis is not new, today’s 911 centers now have access to similar data in real-time. This technological evolution marks a pivotal transformation in emergency response, transitioning from analog calls to a digital ecosystem capable of saving more lives. Read Now

  • Security Industry Embraces Mobile Credentials, Biometrics and AI, New Trends Report From HID Finds

    As organizations navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape, security leaders are making strategic shifts toward unified platforms and emerging technologies, according to the newly released 2025 State of Security and Identity Report from HID. The comprehensive study gathered responses from 1,800 partners, end users, and security and IT personnel worldwide, and reveals a significant transformation in how businesses are approaching security, with mobile credentials and artificial intelligence emerging as key drivers of innovation. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.