If your home Wi-Fi is like most, it is packed with connected devices.Smart TVs, phones, tablets, laptops, refrigerators, robot vacuums and security cameras may all be sharing the same network.The problem is that most people connect a new device first and think about security later.
Some never check the settings at all.That gives hackers, data brokers and nosy companies exactly the opening they want.Before you connect your next smart TV, tablet or phone, take a few minutes to lock it down.Free live CyberGuy class: Sick of Spam? Join us July 22Join us Wednesday, July 22, at 1 p.m.
ET for a free CyberGuy Live class that will help you cut down on robocalls, spam texts, junk email and other unwanted messages.Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson will walk you step by step through simple ways to filter spam, clean up your inbox and recognize the messages that could put your personal information at risk.
No technical experience is needed.You’ll also receive our spam-stopping checklist, and every registrant will get a link to the class recording afterward.Reserve your free spot today at CyberGuyLive.com.FIVE DATA BROKER OPT-OUT MYTHS THAT LEAVE RETIREES EXPOSEDA new smart TV, phone or tablet can expose your Wi-Fi network if privacy and security settings are ignored during setup.
(Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)When a new gadget arrives in your hands, it isn't a blank slate.It comes loaded with factory settings designed for convenience instead of protection.
Manufacturers want the unboxing experience to feel effortless, so they turn on features, like automatic connections, data sharing and remote access, that make setup easy but leave you exposed.Smart TVs are some of the worst offenders.Many come with a feature called Automatic Content Recognition(ACR), switched on by default.
It works like a fingerprint scanner for your screen, capturing information about everything you watch and sending it back to the manufacturer.You agreed to it somewhere in the terms and conditions you blitzed t...