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Chromecast security

mkn1632
Community Member

I purchased a Google Chromecast with Google TV, and an Ethernet power adapter, from the Google Store.

I was intending to replace an original Chromecast. My original Chromecast has the bad habit of sometimes going all staticy at the transitions between commercials and programs when streaming from PlutoTV. Stopping and restarting casting from my phone fixes the problem each time it occurs. This gets tedious after the dozenth time in a night.

There were problems getting the new Chromecast set up. I spent nearly half an hour with phone support. We were unable to pair the Chromecast with the Google Home app on my Android phone using the QR code.

The support person wanted to guide me through logging in to my Google account on the Chromecast.

I am uncomfortable with an appliance that anyone could use having access to my Google account. The support person pretty much said there was no alternative. I'm about to return the Chromecast and maybe consider Roku or something else.

All I want to do is use my phone to control the streaming of television programming and video content to my TV.

Am I being prudent or irrational?

2 Recommended AnswerS

kiltguy2112
Silver Product Expert
Silver Product Expert

A bit irrational. All they are doing is telling the device to join the house that is connected to your Google account and here is the password to verify that it's authorized. There are privacy options that can be setup once you have the device working. Most people in this community are comfortable with it. We have device that read us our Google calendars every morning, or recognize our voices and faces. 

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djtetei
Bronze
Bronze

Chromecast with Google TV remote uses Bluetooth technology and, therefore, in order for it to work, it must be paired with the Chromecast device.

Only you can decide which accessory devices can be paired with the Chromecast device.

For the software remote, the only way to ensure privacy and security is to setup your WiFi router very well and to keep your WiFi login credentials secret.

If you want to offer WiFi acces to your guests, use a secondary router specifically for guests.

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8 REPLIES 8

kiltguy2112
Silver Product Expert
Silver Product Expert

A bit irrational. All they are doing is telling the device to join the house that is connected to your Google account and here is the password to verify that it's authorized. There are privacy options that can be setup once you have the device working. Most people in this community are comfortable with it. We have device that read us our Google calendars every morning, or recognize our voices and faces. 

mkn1632
Community Member

Thanks for your quick response.

I guess that my reservations are based on the device having a remote control that is unsecured and can cause the device to act in my name.  I have no idea of the scope and limits on those actions.  My old Chromecast could only be controlled from my phone, and then only after my phone had authenticated me.

 

I expect that most of the people on this forum are comfortable with the Nest ecosystem.

 

Though I depend on various Google cloud services to preserve and secure my documents, I do not trust a cloud service to control my home.  I bought a Raspberry Pi, and an Insteon power line modem, and write my own software to control my lights, because I was not willing to expose my home to Insteon's cloud service.

I relate this as a way of describing my boundaries.  Perhaps I'd be more comfortable if I saw a clear description of what the Chromecast would use, and what it was guaranteed not to use, my Google credentials for.

 

 

djtetei
Bronze
Bronze

If you are uncomfortable with the phisical remote, put it in a safe place and use the Google Home built-in software remote to control your Chromecast device.

mkn1632
Community Member

@djtetei wrote:

If you are uncomfortable with the phisical remote, put it in a safe place and use the Google Home built-in software remote to control your Chromecast device.


I considered that.  I don't see how anyone with another remote control, or with a cell phone, for that matter could access the Chromecast and exploit my ID.

 

I don't think that anything less than a public statement from Google about the Chromecast's storage and use of my Google credentials would satisfy me.

 

I could create a new Google account to be used only for Chromecast, but last I knew, Google actively discouraged that.

djtetei
Bronze
Bronze

Chromecast with Google TV remote uses Bluetooth technology and, therefore, in order for it to work, it must be paired with the Chromecast device.

Only you can decide which accessory devices can be paired with the Chromecast device.

For the software remote, the only way to ensure privacy and security is to setup your WiFi router very well and to keep your WiFi login credentials secret.

If you want to offer WiFi acces to your guests, use a secondary router specifically for guests.

Jeran
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hey there,

Did you have any more questions or need any additional help?

Thank you,
Jeran
 

mkn1632
Community Member

Thanks Jersn.

 

I think I've pretty much decided not to use it because if security concerns.

Jeran
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

No problem at all! In that case, I'll go ahead and lock up the thread for now. If you do have any more questions or concerns in the future, feel free to make a new thread.

 

Thank you for helping out, kiltguy2112 and djtetei!

 

Best regards,

Jeran