The Federal
Network Agency, an official watchdog that oversees telecommunication in Germany
has urged parents to destroy and boycott a talking doll called 'Cayla' over
hacking fear. The warning by Germany's Federal Network Agency came after Stefan
Hessel, a student from the University of Saarland, raised legal concerns about
the doll 'My Friend Cayla.'
Researchers
say hackers can use an insecure Bluetooth device embedded in the toy to listen
and say offensive things to the child playing with it.
According to a
BBC report, Vivid Toy group, which distributes 'My Friend Cayla', had
previously said that examples of hacking were isolated and carried out by
specialists. However, it said the company would take the information on board
as it was able to upgrade the app used with the doll.
But experts
have revealed that the problem has not been fixed.
Mr. Hessel, an
expert quoted by the German website Netzpolitik.org, said a Bluetooth-enabled
device could connect to Cayla's speaker and microphone system within a radius
of 10m (33ft). He said an eavesdropper could even spy on someone playing with
the doll 'through several walls'.
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