Smart TVs have a risky voice-activated product or can be tapped

According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, smart TVs now have voice-activated features, but this user-friendly operation may have hidden risks. And if you are home to a Samsung smart TV, then you have to be careful about what you say and have been "eavesdropped" by this voice-controlled TV.

According to the report, Samsung Smart TV has a voice recognition function (voice control). Its slogan is "Let users find that it is so troublesome to press the remote control." According to the report, users can switch on and off the station by issuing simple voice commands to the Samsung Smart TV. If a complex request is made, press and hold a key on the remote control.

However, the Daily Mail in the UK said that what you said will be sent to a U.S. company called nuance. The company will send the data to a server and the server will convert the voice into text. Send back the reaction. This means that all speech can be “listened” and recorded by the TV during the key press. According to reports, although all information is encrypted and transmitted via the Internet, it can still be heard by nuance-authorized staff.

In addition, reports said that the appliances that are suspected of being "eavesdropped" are not just Samsung Smart TVs. Any product that supports voice control is in fact in doubt.

Expert explanation

Command-related speech, or recorded together

"From a technical point of view, the voice control function of smart TVs will generally be collected after the start of the corresponding instructions, if not related to the directive, it may also be collected together." Dalian University of Technology, Dean of Information Science and Engineering Wang Zhisen said.

For example, a simple voice command issued by a user to a smart TV may only have a dozen or so, similar to “power on”, “off”, “one channel” and the like. However, in the speeches, there are similar voices of "2 channels" and "Dalian channel". Smart TVs will also collect these instructions and conduct analysis and judgment. "This is the 'self-learning' function in voice control technology. This is generally in design. On the other hand, it was to perfect the receipt and processing of orders," Wang Zhisen said. Such a self-learning function naturally expands the scope of the voice collection of the TV and, when relevant to those instructions, is also recorded.

In other words, there may be dozens or hundreds of commands that a smart TV can “understand,” but voice related to keywords that it can “understand” when sending voice commands to a smart TV will generally also be combined. It was recorded on television, so when you watch TV, someone “listens” to you to talk. This possibility is not without it.

In another case, when a complicated instruction is issued, the user needs to press and hold a key of the remote controller. At this time, the television will open a voice recording function. Conversations other than the command may also be entered. Many users questioned the majority of "broadcasting" behavior of smart TVs. “But this situation, the average user should be informed, know that the recording microphone is turned on, so the need to pay attention to speech.” Wang Zhisen said.

According to reports, Samsung's reply is: Users can decide whether to enable voice-activated functions. That is, as long as the user sees a microphone icon on the screen, it can be easily determined that the voice recognition function is turned on. When the microphone is not on the screen, this “listener” is not there and you do not need to worry about it.

Invaded by viruses, smart TVs can also "eave"

If the voice control function of the smart TV is not activated and there is no icon for the microphone on the TV screen, "listening listener" is definitely not there? This is not necessarily! "If the smart TV is implanted in a virus program or is hacked, the 'listener' may work stealthily, stealing our conversation." Wang Zhisen said.

Just like the smartphones used by many people today, there is a microphone recording function, the owner does not start this function, it will not work. But sometimes, our mobile phone is implanted with certain programs. The microphone will be opened in secret and the phone will look the same, but our conversation is monitored remotely. "Smart TVs are just like our mobile phones. If such a program is implanted, then 'listeners' will be there."

remind

How to avoid eavesdropping on smart appliances?

Smart TVs may eavesdrop on our conversations and speak cautiously at home. Is such intelligence unpopular? However, many people still prefer to use voice-controlled television. "If I choose, compared with the TV using the remote control, I'm still willing to choose a TV that can understand the words, so to communicate, it will not feel so cold." Wang Zhisen said.

How to avoid "listening" problem when choosing smart TV? Wang Zhisen advises users to pay attention to the following three points: First, when the simple instruction is issued, only the contents related to the instruction are spoken; second, when the voice control is started, the content of the speech is watched and closed down promptly; thirdly, like our smartphones and computers, Smart TVs have the potential to be remotely monitored. This is to avoid receiving files or programs sent by strangers. In particular, there are tempting packages such as red envelopes and benefits. To avoid virus program intrusion, you can stay away from potential “listening”. problem.

Three points to avoid "listening"

1. When you issue a simple instruction, only the contents related to the instruction;
2. When starting voice control, pay attention to the content of the speech and close it in time;
3. Do not receive files or programs sent by strangers, to avoid intrusion of virus programs.