Consumers are being urged to stop buying VTech toys that are sold at Australian retailers including KMart, Target, ToysRus.
The product range that is distributed in Australia by Modern brands is manufactured by VTech Electronics who have an office in Melbourne.
Cybersecurity experts claim that consumers should boycott or at least be cautious of VTech’s electronic toys because of how it has handled a recent hack attack which exposed the product range.
It’s now emerged that VTech’s new terms and conditions state that parents must assume responsibility for future breaches and not the European Company.
The new terms were flagged by a blog by the Australian security specialist Troy Hunt.
Last year thousands of VTech accounts of Australian children and over 6 million worldwide were exposed when hackers got access to photos and chat logs.
VTech says it stands by the new terms.
“Since learning about the hack of its databases, VTech has worked hard to enhance the security of its websites and services and to safeguard customer information,” said a spokeswoman.
It appears that the Company is runnning away from taking responsibility for the security of their own network claims experts.
“The Learning Lodge terms and conditions, like the T&Cs for many online sites and services, simply recognise that fact by limiting the company’s liability for the acts of third parties such as hackers.
VTech has said 6.3 million children’s accounts and 4.9 million parents’ accounts were affected by the hack attack.
The Company has also disclosed that the company had issued new terms and conditions on 24 December for the software that lets parents add apps to its devices and copy off photos and other saved files.
The new conditions tell parents that they have to “Aacknowledge and agree that you assume full responsibility for your use of the site and any software or firmware downloaded.
“You acknowledge and agree that any information you send or receive during your use of the site may not be secure and may be intercepted or later acquired by unauthorised parties.
“You acknowledge and agree that your use of the site and any software or firmware downloaded there from is at your own risk.”
Cyber experts said that the easiest way to avoid being hacked is simply to stop buying VTech products in Australia.
