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Samsung: we heard that CIA may hack our smart TVs, and looking into the matter

Updated: Mar 08, 2017, 8:56 AM

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Samsung: we are aware that CIA may be hacking our smart TVs, and looking into the matter

By now you should have already heard about the largest scandal involving a US intelligence agency since the Snowden revelations. The CIA, tips Wikileaks, is capable of snooping on your phone or encrypted messaging chat app of choice with no less skill than the NSA, and the tools to hack your gear are probably coming exactly from there. What, CIA is spying on people?

We know, right, it's hard to believe, but the problem is not that they are - after all, that's what taxpayers fund them to do - but that the spying is so ubiquitous, with barely any civilian oversight.

We are aware of the report in question and are urgently looking into the matter

The CIA can grab info from your iPhone, Android handset or Windows device with ease, it seems, and, what raised an eyebrow or two - it can even hack your smart TV to upload your convos directly to their servers, all while you are blissfully chatting it up in your living room with the TV turned off.

As if exploding phones, bursting washers, or corruption probes weren't enough problems for Samsung to deal with in the US, the Weeping Angle hacking tool that Wikileaks gave as an example that even smart TVs aren't secure, involves exactly Samsung's connected TVs. Apple already issued a statement that it has patched those exploits mentioned in the Wikileaks hacking memorandum, and Samsung was quick to follow with "Protecting consumers' privacy and the security of our devices is a top priority at Samsung. We are aware of the report in question and are urgently looking into the matter."

The brevity of this statement tells us that Samsung may have been taken aback by the CIA hacking revelations, and is quick to answer users' concerns to prevent another backlash. The assuring words were issued by a spokesperson even though Samsung already includes warnings in the manual that the voice recognition software in its TVs can listen to conversations when the TV is off, so we expect further clarifications stemming from the Wikileaks hacking scandal.

source: The Inquirer

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.