Stories
Smart Gadgets at Home Can Become Spying Tools! How Big is the Risk from TV to Camera?
- •Smart devices like TVs, Wi-Fi routers, and baby monitors can collect your personal information.
- •Apps related to children's smart toys often request camera and location permissions, posing privacy risks.
- •A family in Ahmedabad found live photos from their child's monitoring camera accessible on another phone.
- •Cheap smart gadgets may have security vulnerabilities, allowing hackers to misuse your device and internet.
- •When buying smart gadgets, check permissions, security updates, and data control options, not just price and features.
Key Questions Answered
Internet-connected gadgets like smart TVs, Wi-Fi routers, baby monitors, and robot vacuums can store information about your voice, photos, location, and daily habits. If their security is weak, hackers can access these devices or use them for other cybercrimes.
Research conducted by Cybernews in June 2026 on 10 AI toy-related apps for children revealed that all 10 apps requested camera permission, and 7 apps had other trackers. For example, the Miko app had 9 types of permissions and trackers, and one app continued collecting location data even after being closed.
When buying smart gadgets, users should check permissions, change default passwords, enable two-step verification, and keep devices updated. It is also important to check how frequently the company provides security updates to ensure the smart home remains secure.
