Samsung Raises Malware Alert for Smart TVs

Samsung has warned owners of its Smart TV ranges to run virus checks. It then quickly deleted the warning after a negative response online.

The company posted on Twitter with a 19 second video showing how to access a sub-menu that would start a virus scan. The post read:

"Scanning your computer for malware viruses is important to keep it running smoothly. This also is true for your QLED TV if it's connected to WiFi! Prevent malicious software attacks on your TV by scanning for viruses on your TV every few weeks. Here's how."

The video showed that users needed to go through no fewer than 11 button presses to navigate the menus and trigger the scan. It's not clear if the scan option was added in a recent software update, or if it has been there for some time and Samsung realized people were not aware of it.

Samsung Tight-Lipped

Samsung deleted the tweet right around the time journalists began asking if a specific malware threat had inspired it to make the warning. It didn't address that question in reply, simply saying it was "posted for customers' education." (Source: bbc.co.uk)

In theory, a Smart TV could be vulnerable to malware in the same way as computers and similar devices: it runs an operating system and is connected to the Internet. Indeed, previous independent research has found dozens of bugs on Samsung sets that could be exploited. (Source: vice.com)

However, there's no clear evidence that hackers are actively targeting sets, mainly because in most cases there's little reason to do so. Outside of purely malicious attacks, most smart sets don't have much data to share other than what programming and apps people use.

Microphones Could Be Target

Possible exceptions might be some Samsung models that have a built-in microphone for voice control and some apps that let users type in or even store payment details for video on demand services.

In any case, Samsung's approach doesn't seem that effective. It's highly unlikely the average user is going to bother or even remember to manually run virus checks at regular intervals. Instead it would make much more sense for Samsung to update the operating system to run automatically in the background.

What's Your Opinion?

Do you own a 'Smart' television? Have you ever given any thought to it being hit by malware? Would you bother running scans if you had one of these sets?