Warning issued over remote-controlled sex toys that can be hacked to harm users

The toys have a 'capacity to inflict physical and psychological harm'

Technology is everywhere in our day-to-day lives, and an increasing number of gadgets now have Bluetooth, meaning they can be controlled remotely and are able to interact with other devices.

Whilst you're likely aware of the risks of being hacked on devices such as laptops and phones, you might not know other devices are at risk of this as well.

This includes sex toys, with some products able to be controlled remotely from another device using Wi-Fi.

But it's this connectivity that could prove to be a risk to owners.

According to new research from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, these toys could be attacked or hijacked by third parties.

The research into 'sexnologies' found that some toys have vulnerabilities which show a "clear capacity to inflict physical and psychological harm on to unknowing consumers."

The research says: "Sex toys or ‘sexnologies’, the combination of sex and technologies, have multiple vulnerabilities and attack surfaces, demonstrating clear capacity to inflict physical and psychological harm on to unknowing consumers.

"Key technical vulnerabilities include their BLE (Bluetooth low energy) connectivity that links a companion app with the smart device.

"Often these connections are not encrypted, thereby rendering them more vulnerable to attack and/or interceptions from malicious third parties."

Hackers could also get access to personal information linked to the sex toys, such as names, sexual or gender orientation, lists of sexual partners, and intimate photos or videos.

Physical harm could be inflicted by causing the devices to overheat, the research warned.

It explained: "Future concerns about sexnology increasingly revolve around the capabilities of VR and AI powered sex robots that come with cameras, microphones, and AI voice analysis, all of which will need to be safeguarded against both physical and potential psychological harms."

A report from Which? last year found that devices such as smart watches, smart speakers, smart TVs and even air fryers could all be 'spying' on users.