Talking Doll Hacked To Spew Filthy Things

[Nebulous]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/09/my-friend-cayla-hacked_n_6647046.html

A talking doll designed to be a kid's best friend may actually be a parent's worst nightmare.

My Friend Cayla is an Internet-connected doll introduced in November that is supposed to be able to communicate with children via speech recognition software and Google Translate technology, Techworm.net reports.

British toymaker Vivid Toys promises that Cayla is equipped with software to block hundreds of words inappropriate for children.

However, security researcher Ken Munro says it's fairly easy to hack into the doll and program her to say words from the dreaded naughty list, according to the Mirror.

The Cayla website insists that "Cayla will simply not respond or answer any question with this type of input."

"For example if you don’t want Cayla to talk about oranges simply add the word to the app. Then, if asked about oranges, Cayla will say that she doesn’t want to talk about it," according to the website.

Nevertheless, Munro says it's fairly easy for anyone with the technical know-how to hack into the doll and program her to say words from the dreaded naughty list.

The Mirror even had Munro make Cayla quote Hannibal Lecter and lines from "50 Shades Of Grey."

Munro said the iPhone version of the app is more protected than the Android version.

Officials at Vivid Toys insisted to the BBC that the majority of Cayla dolls are safe and that the hacking was an isolated example carried out by a specialist team.

This isn't the first time a children's toy has been accused of having a potty mouth.

Last September, Talina Woods, 25, from Wales, claimed the "Life In The Dreamhouse Talking Barbie Doll" she purchased for her daughter blurted out an off-color, three-word phrase summarized by the letters W, T and F.

Mattel officials insisted that Barbie was actually saying "Off the hook."

Thoughts?

 

[Nebulous]

I don't think I'd give my kid a doll that can connect to the internet. Seems like an odd toy to me.

 

[MrDawn]

A lot of toys for kids these days are just junk. But nothing could be worse than a Furby....

 

[Nebulous]

I remember throwing a furby out a second story window just to watch it smash on the ground.