Smartwatch security flaws: Parents warned to ‘destroy’ dangerous smartwatches for children

AUSSIE parents are being warned to ban children’s smartwatches from their homes after the devices were found to be littered with security flaws.

PARENTS are warned to ban children’s smartwatches from their homes after devices on sale in Australia were found to be littered with security flaws, exposing information including children’s names, locations, phone numbers, messages, and even recordings of their conversations to anyone with basic technical knowledge.

The warning came as German regulators issued a ban on all the sale of all smartwatches designed for children, and ordered parents to destroy existing models, and as a host of wearable devices for kids were advertised as Christmas gifts in Australia.

Smartwatches designed for children aged between five and 12 years of age have been banned in Germany for serious security vulnerabilities.

But parenting experts say many buyers are still unaware of serious dangers posed by the devices, and Australian regulatory bodies needed to take similar action to prevent their sale and educate parents.

Warnings about smartwatches designed for children aged between five and 12-years-old followed a report by the Norwegian Consumer Council that found three out of four smartwatches failed to work as advertised, and featured “disconcerting and potentially critical technical flaws”.

The Gator smartwatch, one of four investigated by Norwegian authorities, is available for sale in Australia

A lack of encryption meant the devices could expose children’s personal information, including their location, messages exchanged with parents, and recordings of their conversations and surroundings.

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“Any consumer looking for ways to keep their children safe and secure might want to think twice before purchasing a smartwatch,” the report concluded.

App developer Roy Solberg also discovered his child’s smartwatch, the Gator 2, was vulnerable to data theft, and even managed to download a private message from another child’s smartwatch in Sweden.

“If you ask me, this is as bad as it can get. When you buy a product like this, you expect to make them more safe but what happens is you put your child at risk,” he wrote.

“Any predator can track your kid, and even start to see patterns in when a child usually goes to school or after-school activities.”

The same smartwatch is currently on sale in Australia for $210 plus ongoing mobile phone subscription fees.

Boy touching smartwatch on the move Child wearing a smart watch Picture: istock

Leading cyber safety consultant Leonie Smith, who hosts seminars on how to keep children safe online as the Cyber Safety Lady, said Australian parents did not understand the risks involved in giving their child a smartwatch, and more regulation was needed to ensure the devices didn’t put their personal information at risk.

“If you’re going to buy one of these devices off the internet, you need to be aware that there haven’t been enough checks and balances on many of these products,” Ms Smith said.

“Manufacturers are developing these toys without thinking about encryption of the data and you’ve got other issues with it recording conversations.”

Smartwatches have been banned in Germany.

German authorities banned children’s smartwatches last week, with the Federal Network Agency even recommending parents destroy the “unauthorised transmitting equipment” with a hammer.

The European Consumer Organisation also issued a public service announcement slamming the devices for making children “more vulnerable,” and calling for mandatory security standards for internet-connected products.

Ms Smith said in addition to privacy concerns, parents should not rely on GPS-tracking smartwatches to enhance their children’s safety.

“If a child takes the watch off, or someone takes the watch off them, things can happen in the blink of an eye and you can’t rely on the watch to supervise your child,” she said. “It’s never going to be as good as you personally watching them.”