A critical vulnerability has been discovered in the specification that defines how smart TVs work, that could allow attackers to hijack home broadband networks.

For decades, television sets have been used as purely passive terminals. However, TV manufacturers are increasingly using the internet to provide a more engaging, interactive, and personalised viewing experience.

As a result, most US and European households with broadband Internet access now have at least one television set which is also connected to the internet, either directly, (through what is commonly known as the ‘red button’), or through a set-top box or console.

However, researchers from the Network Security Lab at Columbia University have discovered a flaw in the Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) standard, which defines how broadcast streams are combined with web technologies.

Exploiting this vulnerability, attackers could use the credentials stored in TV sets to access services such as social networks, webmail, or e-commerce sites, and perform fraud, insert spam, launch denial-of-service attacks, and compromise other devices within the home network.

More at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/internet-security/10887137/Red-button-flaw-leaves-smart-TVs-open-to-cyber-attack.html

Just shows anything is hackable.