From Barbies to bears, interactive 'smart toys' could be a hacker's plaything
Parents are being warned about the rise of "smart toys" that are interactive and web-connected – but also easily hacked.
The sophisticated high-tech toys might be cute and cuddly, but they might also be the conduits for hackers eavesdropping into private family conversations.
They could also be potentially used to spy on a child's every word and move.
"You don't think of them as being a 'screen' which is recording data and then transmitting it to the internet," Professor Lelia Green from Edith Cowan University says.
An 11-year-old boy recently shocked an audience of security experts by hacking into their bluetooth devices to "weaponise" his robotic teddy bear.
"It showed how easy it is that somebody could stand outside your home and then connect to the bear and record everything you say", said 11-year-old security expert Reuben Paul.
At least 40,000 Australian parents and children had their data compromised by the VTech hack just over a year ago.
But it's not just hacking and surveillance that has experts worried.
The toys also have the potential to harm the relationship between parents and their children.
"It could actually be promoting ideas that are not necessarily in sync with parents cultural norms or their beliefs or ideals," Dr Christine Peterson from University of Sydney says.
Toy stores argue that smart toys are good for your child's development.
"If anything it's creating more bonding time with kids and parents," says Alex Anderkirk from Toys 'R' Us.
"Parent are helping their kids set up their toys and letting them play with them, and then coming back with responses as to what the toys really do."
Experts suggest that parents should supervise use, and purchase with caution.
