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Is Your Child’s Toy Spying on You? Hidden Dangers Of Smart Toys And How To Mitigate Them

Today, we have a 'smart' variant for every product. But smart toys, with their interactive experiences, have risks. They could compromise a child's privacy and safety. Here's how to address this.

They Collect Your Child’s Data

Increditools reveals that smart toys can amass surprising data about children. Major manufacturers recall toys due to unlawful voice, photo and location data capture. They collect user data to personalize, but such details pose a privacy risk.

Data Leak Risk

Smart toys risk data leaks, exposing personal information to threats like identity theft, cyberbullying, or physical danger if it includes location data. Parents should research a toy's security before purchase.

Potential For Voice Recordings

Smart toys may record and store background conversations, posing a privacy risk. Parents might be unaware of the extent of audio data collected and its potential misuse.

Insecure Wireless Connections

Smart toys connect wirelessly, often via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, to mobile apps. However, their connections can lack security, inviting eavesdropping or interference.

They Pose A Hacking Risk

Smart toys linked to home Wi-Fi are potentially hackable. Hackers can control the toy, mine its data, even possibly communicate with the child through the toy. This can range from harmless pranks to severe privacy invasions.

Lack of Consent and Age Verification

Smart toys often don't check user age or get parental consent for data collection, potentially violating privacy laws like the US's COPPA. This leads to possible unauthorized children's data collection.

Insufficient Data Encryption

Many smart toys lack strong encryption standards, making intercepted data easily readable. This could lead to fraud or exploitation. Stolen data risks include identity theft and unauthorized in-app purchases.

Unclear Data Retention Policies

Smart toy companies often have vague data retention policies. Without clarity, parents can't know how long their child's information will be stored or deleted.

The Risk Of Data Misuse

Data can be misused when collected with good intentions. It's often used for marketing, leading to ads targeting children, or sold to third parties, raising ethical concerns.

Lack of Parental Controls

Smart toys often lack sufficient parental controls, exposing kids to inappropriate content. Mitigating measures can be taken to cope with these risks.

Do Your Research

"Research a connected toy's data collection, security, recalls, and reviews before purchasing," says Increditools. "Investigate the privacy policies, terms of service, and device interaction security."

Secure Your Home Network

Secure your home Wi-Fi network with a strong, unique password, enable network encryption, and update your router’s firmware to reduce the risk of unauthorized access to smart toys.

Prioritize Security

Choose a smart toy with strong encryption for data transmission/storage that offers regular security updates. Security features = education/entertainment value as they protect your child’s info.

Turn It Off

"Turn off and store smart toys when not in use to prevent unsupervised use, unauthorized access and data leaks", advises Increditools expert.

Update Software Regularly

Keep your kids' toys software updated for security. Manufacturers fix vulnerabilities and add features via updates. Check and install these regularly. Some toys can self-update for constant security.

Privacy Settings

Adjust the toy's privacy settings to limit data collection. Use customizable settings to disable certain features and minimize data exposure. Regularly check for updates to policies.

Supervise Playtime

Monitor kids during play with smart toys and keep toys in shared spaces. This allows you to spot inappropriate content or interactions early. Guide them on safe, responsible use.

Consider Alternatives

Opt for traditional toys without internet connectivity to ensure your child's privacy and eliminate risks of data collection or hacking, advises Increditools expert. They offer educational value without compromising privacy.

Read and Understand the Return Policy

Know the return policy before buying a smart toy. It lets you assess the toy and return it if it doesn't meet your privacy/security standards. Understanding this can prevent compromising your child's privacy.

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