Privacy invasions and ad bombardments give some idea of where the smart TV market is going. But worse yet, cybersecurity experts are worried that the devices are increasingly hijacked for use in DDoS attacks and distributing illegal content.

So, what should we do to maintain convenience and security? Well, for starters, leaving your smart TV connected to the internet is asking for trouble.

Experts from cybersecurity firm Qrator Labs told Cybernews that the devices have already been observed participating in distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. This is because modern TVs are powerful computing devices capable of running games, apps, and other software, some of it malicious.

As such, TVs pose multiple cybersecurity risks, as their software support usually ends after three or four years – even though the devices typically hang on your wall for a much longer time. They receive less frequent updates compared to mobile phones, and the ones you do get are usually focused on improving user experience, not security.

“It’s not common for someone to have a phone that is five to seven years old, with all the vulnerabilities and potential issues,” said Qrator Labs. “But the TV set is often mounted to the wall and typically stays with people for five to ten years. You don’t just replace it. Sometimes, it’s a part of your renovation project in your living room.”

Cybernews has reported that cybercriminals are targeting TVs with malware, spreading it via apps for pirated movies and firmware. Infected TVs and set-top boxes participate in DDoS attacks and the spread of illicit content. Even some new Android streaming boxes from unknown vendors, usually in China, have been known to be shipped with malware.

Taimur Aslam, co-founder and CTO of Cytex, a SaaS-based cybersecurity platform technology company, noted that DDoS attacks using connected and IoT devices have increased steadily, with a 500% rise in the last 12 months, as shown by Nokia Cyber Security Research.

“Since the smart TVs have an operating system, in theory, they may be compromised and used in a DDoS attack. Most vendors stop patching older devices, so in theory, these older TVs pose a cybersecurity…