These LG TVs Have Serious Security Vulnerabilities
If you have an LG smart TV, you need to update your device’s software—right now. Research firm Bitdefender recently discovered vulnerabilities in LG’s webOS that could open the door for hackers to take over your TV.
This in itself is a problem, but a potentially worse consequence is that access to your Smart TV could open up access to many other sensitive personal data, from your email account to your banking information, as well as including your device in a botnet. .
The following models are at risk:
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LG43UM7000PLA (webOS 4.9.7 – 5.30.40)
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OLED55CXPUA (webOS 5.5.0 – 04.50.51)
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OLED48C1PUB (webOS 6.3.3-442 (kisscurl-kinglake) – 03/36/50)
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OLED55A23LA (webOS 7.3.1-43 (mullet-mebin) – 03.33.85)
Fewer than 7,000 of the nearly 92,000 affected devices belong to users in the US – most of them are located in South Korea, as well as Hong Kong, Sweden and Finland. But no matter where your LG TV is located, you should make sure this vulnerability is patched. (LG released the patch on March 22.)
How to update your LG TV
Whether or not you think your TV has been affected, you should make sure it has the latest LG software installed. Go to Settings > All Settings > Support and select Software Update . Select Check for Updates > Download and Install . Once downloaded, turn off your device’s power for 10 seconds and then turn it on again to complete the installation. Please note: If your TV already has the latest version installed, you will not see the Download and Install option.
You can also enable automatic updates through the Software Update menu. Most LG devices automatically download new software, but it’s best to check and enable this setting so you don’t miss any important updates.