Is Your Smart TV Watching You Instead of the Other Way Around?

Sure, a new smart TV sounds like the perfect piece of technology to add to your home, especially if it's on sale for the holidays. But the FBI wants to remind us to make sure we're shopping safely.

The idea that your TV, smartphone or tablet is watching or listening in on you has gone from a weird, scratching-your-head type of conspiracy theory to something a lot of us are taking a little more seriously and are concerned about.

The FBI says the same internet connection that allows you to instantly open popular services and stream your favorite shows or movies could also leave you open to security threats.

Here's what the FBI field office in Portland suggests:

– Know the exact features of your smart TV: do a basic internet search with your model number and the words 'microphone,' 'camera' and 'privacy.'

– Don't default to manufacturer security settings: change the password if you can and know how to turn off any microphones, cameras and personal information if possible.

– If you can’t turn off a camera, place a simple piece of black tape over the camera lens to block it.

– Check the manufacturer’s ability to update your device with security patches.

– Check the privacy policy for the TV manufacturer and the streaming services you use; confirm what data they collect, how they store that data, and what they do with it.

"Beyond the risk that your TV manufacturer and app developers may be listening and watching you, that [unsecured] television can also be a gateway for hackers to come into your home," the FBI wrote in a press release. "They can change channels, play with the volume, and show your kids inappropriate videos...In a worst-case scenario, they can turn on your bedroom TV's camera and microphone and silently cyberstalk you."