Is your Christmas present spying on you? How to assess gifts’ privacy risks


The privacy issues raised by smart devices range from the annoyance of targeted ads shadowing you around the Web to the physical threat of someone stalking you with the help of a poorly designed Bluetooth tagger. — Mockup psd created by freepik - www.freepik.com

Buying a holiday gift is a bit of a gamble, and not just because it may be ill-fitting or unwanted. Thanks to the advent of interconnected, “smart” products and services, your gift may pose a threat to a friend or loved one’s privacy.

Interactive toys and gadgets often collect a boatload of data about their users and their surroundings. Device manufacturers may convert the information into dollars by selling it to advertisers or data brokers. And even manufacturers that pledge never to share what they collect can’t guarantee that hackers won’t grab the data anyway.

Unlock 30% Savings on Ad-Free Access Now!

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month
RM9.73 only

Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters.

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month
RM8.63/month

Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters.

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Tech News

X says Indian government ordered it to block Reuters News accounts in India
Rubio impersonator using AI contacted foreign ministers, cable says
Trump Media seeks SEC approval for blue-chip crypto ETF
IBM rolls out new chips and servers, aims for simplified AI
UK companies should have to disclose major cyberattacks, M&S says
Misinformation on cloud seeding swirls after deadly Texas floods
TNB cites technical issue for inaccurate July bill reading on app
Bridging the digital divide: A tiny village smarter than Hong Kong
China’s Li, Brazil’s Lula pledge joint effort to bring AI to farming
TikTok reportedly prepping new app in the US as potential sale looms

Others Also Read