Your phone’s convenience could be its weakest link — and hackers know it. Credit: Canva
If you thought your TV or car’s wireless system was safe, think again. New issues in Apple’s AirPlay system could potentially leave millions of devices open to attacks. When people think about AirPlay, their first thought is convenience, like streaming a video, mirroring your screen, and connecting your phone to your car—– No wires, No fuss.
Cybersecurity researchers at Oligo Security found a serious problem. A new set of problems, now known as Airborne, can possibly allow hackers to hijack AirPlay devices, without you needing to interact at all. All that would be required is to be on the same Wi-Fi network.
How They Target You
The vulnerabilities in AirPlay allow hackers to target you:
- Zero-click attack: They would not need to interact with you to be able to hack you. They use malicious code remotely on these devices.
- Third-Party: Although Apple patched these issues internally, the problem is that third-party brands are still exposed. Tens of millions can be affected globally.
Since third-party manufacturers like LG, Samsung, Sony, and others rarely update their firmware, these issues can persist for years.
What You Can Do About It
Start by updating everything, check for firmware updates on any TV, smart speakers, and car systems you currently use. Secondly, secure your Wi-FI with stronger, unique passwords, because a hacker would need access to your network in order to get those flaws. Finally, be cautious of public Wi-Fi, where hackers can hunt for easy-to-access devices in open networks like cafes or hotels.
As tech gets smarter, attacks get easier. The Airborne flaws serve as a reminder that convenience without security is a term, “Digital landmine”. Protect your network, update your devices, and stay ahead of the silent next threat.
