Hot Tech Gifts Come with Privacy Risks

​The holiday season is here, and it’s tough to go wrong with the gift of gadgets! Most of your nearest and dearest have a bit of connected tech on their wish lists, from the hottest wireless earbuds to trending smart devices. As you scan through sites to pick the perfect present, just be sure to consider the potential security risks of all these Internet-connected things (especially when it comes to your kids).

Here are a few of the hot tech gifts that should be given with care.

• Connected communications: You may have heard of Facebook’s Portal. Designed to compete with the Amazon Echo and Google Home Hub, this smart device allows users to make AI-enhanced video calls using Facebook Messenger. It seems very convenient but connected devices with audio and cameras could be hacked to spy on a home or initiate inappropriate contact with kids. Also, Facebook has confirmed that the company records the complete call history of communications made through the device. If you choose a device that includes cameras, make sure the home network is as secure as possible, and review security settings to see if you can shut down the camera when not in use for calls.
• Digital assistants: Widely considered one of the “must-have” gifts this year, Amazon’s Echo Show is rapidly becoming a household staple, offering the ability to play music and videos, locate and display recipes, and even shop online on voice command. You can bet that someone you know will get an Alexa or other digital assistant device this holiday. But as we mentioned earlier this year, these devices pose privacy risks. Alexa is known for storing passive voice recordings (recordings of conversations going on around it) although Amazon emphasizes this is for internal development and says it does not sell or distribute this info. The good news is that Amazon does allow you to shut down this function and delete any recording history; before you consider giving any digital assistant, confirm that it does the same.
• Smart mobile tech: It seems that everyone wants the latest smartwatch/smartphone/tablet. With new tech coming out from Samsung, Apple, and Google, more and more children are becoming wired through the IoT (Internet of Things). If you give kids connected gifts, you need to make sure they know how to keep safe when connected. Even kid-specific tech comes with risks: many kid-targeted smartwatches have been shown to be trivial to hack; from eavesdropping to tracking or even communicating with children, these are risks you don’t want to take. That’s why many consumer advocates are advising extreme caution in giving children connected devices.

Remember, there are plenty of great gadget gifts to choose from. Just check that they can be secured, and let the recipients know how to use them safely, so your thoughtful present doesn’t come with unexpected risks.