Page 24 - ARUBA TODAY

Friday 22 december 2017 TECHNOLOGY
A24

Got a toy that can spy? Here’s how to know and what to do

By JOSEPH PISANI data.
AP Retail Writer “They become less of an
NEW YORK (AP) — The attractive target,” said
toys your kids unwrap this Alan Brill, who is a cyber-
Christmas could invite security and investiga-
hackers into your home. tions managing director
That Grinch-like warning at consulting firm Kroll in
comes from the FBI, which Secaucus, New Jersey.
said earlier this year that And if the item has a cam-
toys connected to the in- era, face it toward a wall
ternet could be a target or cover it with a piece
for crooks who may listen of tape when it’s not be-
in on conversations or use ing used. Toys with micro-
them to steal a child’s phones can be thrown in
personal information. a chest or drawer where
The bureau did not it’s harder to hear con-
name any specific toys versations, Brill said.
or brands, but it said any REGISTER, BUT DON’T GIVE
internet-connected toys AWAY INFO
with microphones, cam- A software update may
eras or location tracking fix security holes, and you
may put a child’s priva- don’t want to miss that
cy or safety at risk. That fix, says Brill.
could be a talking doll In this Friday, Nov. 25, 2016, file photo, shoppers browse at a Toys R Us store in Miami. The toys But when registering, be
or a tablet designed for your kids unwrap this Christmas could invite hackers into your home. stingy with the informa-
kids. And because some Associated Press tion you hand over; all
of the toys are being to rethink keeping it. “You shouldn’t use it,” is secure and has a hard- they need is contact in-
rushed to be made and formation to let you know
sold, the FBI said secu- Reputable companies said Behnam Dayanim, a to-guess password. Weak about the update. If they
will also explain how infor-
passwords make it easier
partner at Paul Hastings
rity safeguards might be require other information,
overlooked. mation is collected from in Washington, and co- for hackers to access de- such as a child’s birthday,
vices that use the Wi-Fi.
the toy or device, how
chair of the law firm’s pri-
Security experts said the make one up. “You’re
only way to prevent a that data is stored and vacy and cybersecurity Network. Never connect not under oath,” said Brill.
who has access to it. Usu-
the toy to free Wi-Fi that’s
practice.
hack is to not keep the “You can lie.”
toy. ally that type of informa- Companies can change open to the public. And if BE VIGILANT
tion is found on the com-
the toy itself allows you to
their privacy policies, so
But if you decide to let a If the toy or device allows
kid play with it, there are pany’s website, typically read them again if you’re create a password, do it. kids to chat with other
under its privacy policy. If
notified of a change.
POWER IT OFF
ways to reduce the risks. USE SECURE WI-FI people playing with the
Below, some tips: you can’t find it, call the Make sure the Wi-Fi the When the toy is not being same toy or game, ex-
company. If there isn’t a
used, shut it off or unplug
RESEARCH, RESEARCH, plain to children that
RESEARCH policy, that’s a bad sign. toy will be connected to it so it stops collecting they can’t give out per-
Before opening a toy, sonal information, said
search for it online and Facebook changing how it Liz Brown, a business law
read reviews to see if professor at Bentley Uni-
there are any complaints versity in Waltham,
or past security problems. identifies ‘fake news’ stories Massachusetts, who fo-
If there have been previ- cuses on technology and
ous issues, you may want “related articles” next privacy law.
to the false stories that Discussions are not
give context from fact- enough: Check the chat
checkers on the stories’ section to make sure
problems. Facebook children aren’t sending
said Wednesday that in things they shouldn’t be,
its tests, fewer hoax ar- Brown said. People could
ticles were shared when be pretending to be kids
they had fact-checkers’ to get personal informa-
articles spooled up next tion. “It can get creepy
to them than when they pretty fast,” said Brown.
were labeled with “dis- Reputable companies
puted” flags. that make toys with mi-
The new approach also crophones will offer ways
may help speed up for parents to review and
the fact-checking sys- delete stored informa-

In this Tuesday, April 18, 2017, file photo, a conference worker tem, which sometimes tion. Take advantage of
passes a demo booth at Facebook’s annual F8 developer worked too slowly . that.
conference, in San Jose, Calif. Now information from REPORT BREACHES
NEW YORK (AP) — Face- system. The social-media just one checker can be If a toy was compromised
by a hacker, the FBI rec-
book says it is changing network had put “disput- shown next to the false ommends reporting it on-
how it identifies “fake ed” labels on stories that story. The labeling sys- line through its internet
news” stories on its plat- fact-checkers found false. tem required two fact- crime complaint center
form to a more effective Instead, now it will bring up checkers.q
at IC3.gov.q