Those methods include the official Fire TV Remote app, the Android Developer Bridge (ADB), and through a connected Echo device using Alexa. A completely open remote control API also encourages 3rd-party developers to support Roku devices, as is evident by the numerous Roku remote control apps available.įor comparison, there are three ways to control a Fire TV device over a network. Without authentication, users can immediately use the Roku remote app without needing to authorize access, like you have to do with the Fire TV Remote App. Roku likely chose to leave their remote control API unrestricted to make using their remote app an easy experience. Since Roku remote access is on by default, Consumer Reports considers it a vulnerability because an attacker can “pump the volume from a whisper to blaring levels, rapidly cycle through channels, open disturbing YouTube content, or kick the TV off the WiFi network.” This means that anyone with access to a Roku user’s home network is able to take control of the Roku device. Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV devices have the same functionality through their own remote control apps but a key difference that is unique to Roku’s implementation is that there is no authentication necessary to grant the remote access to the hardware. Roku streamers and TVs can be remotely controlled through a mobile app. Under scrutiny is Roku’s decision to provide a remote control API that does not require any kind of authentication before it can be used to control the streaming devices and TVs. Roku streaming devices and smart TVs running Roku’s OS have come under fire due to an article by Consumer Reports that says the devices are vulnerable to hacking.
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