Smartwatches for children raise privacy concerns

A recent security study has raised concerns about the security of some smartwatches designed for children, after tests revealed vulnerabilities that could be exploited to access sensitive functions and data in GPS-enabled devices.

A report in WIRED magazine stated that security researchers tested a low-cost smartwatch running on the SETracker platform and found that its location could be tracked and some of its functions, such as the microphone and camera, could be remotely accessed without the user''s knowledge.

The findings weren''t limited to a single device; the researchers examined more than 70 GPS-enabled devices and found that many relied on a limited set of shared platforms and software architectures, which could broaden the scope of vulnerability if backend flaws exist.

The investigation indicated that the companies involved had been notified of the issues, and an entity associated with SETracker reported that security problems had been addressed, while the status of some other systems remained a concern. The findings underscore the importance of checking security updates and privacy policies before choosing connected devices for children