Happy Friday my friend,
LG is my favorite brand, hands down. In my opinion, their electronics, appliances and software ecosystem is some of the best you can get. But, like all big brands, they have their flaws. If you or someone you know has an LG smart TV, make sure it gets updated to the latest firmware. Attackers could gain complete control of the TV, steal data or install malware.
What's going on here?
Cybersecurity researchers from Bitdefender discovered critical vulnerabilities in LG TV's back in November of last year. LG took some time to update their software and started sending out the fix a couple of weeks ago in late March.
But, not everyone has updated their TV's and there are around 100,000 internet connected LG TV's out there that have yet to install the update.
What LG TV models are affected? The following LG TV models are affected by these vulnerabilities:
LG TVs running webOS 4.9.7 – 5.30.40 (e.g., LG43UM7000PLA) LG TVs running webOS 5.5.0 – 04.50.51 (e.g., OLED55CXPUA) LG TVs running webOS 7.3.1-43 (mullet-mebin) – 03.33.85 (e.g., OLED55A23LA) LG TVs running webOS 6.3.3-442 (kisscurl-kinglake) – 03.36.50 (e.g., OLED48C1PUB.
How do I fix this?
LG TV's will give you a pop-up alert when it's first turned on requesting a firmware update. Most people hit 'cancel' but not you - you now know better.
To double-check your firmware version, from the smart remote, hit the Gear button > Settings > All Settings > General. Select About this TV. Select Check for Updates and if an update is available > Download and Install.
Stay safe out there.
-Attila
New Friday Funnies
A burglar broke into a house one night. He shined his flashlight around, looking for valuables when a voice in the dark said, "Jesus knows you're here."
He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and froze. When he heard nothing more, he shook his head and continued.
Just as he pulled the TV out so he could disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard "Jesus is watching you."
Startled, he shined his light around frantically, looking for the source of the voice. Finally, in the corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot.
"Did you say that?" he hissed at the parrot.
"Yes", the parrot confessed, then squawked, "I'm just trying to warn you that Jesus is watching you."
The burglar relaxed. "Warn me, huh? Who in the world are you?"
"Moses," replied the parrot.
"Moses?" the burglar laughed. "What kind of people would name a bird Moses?"
"The same kind of people who would name a Pit Bull Jesus."