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Security Concerns Over Connected Toys

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19 November 2017

By Lauren H

Just a few days ago, we reported that a German regulator has banned the sale of smartwatches aimed at children, calling them spying devices.

Now, there are concerns over connected toys, which have ‘worrying’ security issues.

These toys include Furby Connect, the i-Que robot, Cloudpets and Toy-fi Teddy. According to Which? these toys do not require authentication when connecting to Bluetooth, meaning that any device within physical range could, in theory, link to the toy and take control, or even send messages.

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Alex Neill, managing director at Which? said:

Connected toys are becoming increasingly popular, but as our investigation shows, anyone considering buying one should apply a level of caution.

Safety and security should be the absolute priority with any toy. If that can’t be guaranteed, then the products should not be sold.

Adding to this, cyber-security expert Professor Alan Woodward told the BBC:

Sadly, there have been many examples in the past two to three years of connected toys that have security flaws that put children at risk,” he said.

Whether it is sloppiness on the part of the manufacturer, or their rush to build a product down to a certain price, the consequences are the same.

To produce these toys is bad enough, but to then stock them as a retailer knowing that they are potentially putting children at risk is quite unacceptable.

Though other connected toys tested by Which? did not have major security issues, this research is certainly concerning. What do you think? Will this stop you from buying connected toys this Christmas?

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