Vtech was hacked in December 2015 by a group claiming they wanted to teach the company a lesson.  The “data” gathered in the hack included photos and voice recordings from Vtech devices of 6.4 million children.  Rather than actually fixing the problem, Vtech decided it would be better to absolve themselves of any responsibility.  Below is a paragraph from the new Vtech Terms and Conditions:

7. Limitation of Liability

YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR USE OF THE SITE AND ANY SOFTWARE OR FIRMWARE DOWNLOADED THEREFROM. 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 UNAUTHORIZED PARTIES. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOUR USE OF THE SITE AND ANY SOFTWARE OR FIRMWARE DOWNLOADED THEREFROM IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. RECOGNIZING SUCH, YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, NEITHER VTECH NOR ITS SUPPLIERS, LICENSORS, PARENT, SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AGENTS, CO-BRANDERS, OTHER PARTNERS, OR EMPLOYEES WILL BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY OR OTHER DAMAGES OF ANY KIND.

The all caps “yelling” was not added; this is verbatim from the Vtech site.  I encourage you to go directly to the source and read it for yourself.  Vtech supposedly has hired FireEye, a well-known and reputable cyber security firm, to help clean up the mess.  This seems like too little, too late. 

No one reads the T&Cs when buying almost anything, let alone a toy.  We all need to start reading them, or at least research the companies we are buying from and make sure they will stand behind what they sell and the security of any data they collect from us.

Vote with your wallet.

Only when corporate leaders have to report to shareholders and their board that earnings have been affected, will they start taking cyber security seriously.  Vote with your wallet and only buy from companies that prove they are taking cyber security seriously.  Cyber security is not rocket science; it is actually pretty easy with the right tools in the right hands.

With WatchPoint's Security Solution you will:

        Know someone is securing your business.

        Have true visibility into your digital assets.

        Have a support staff dedicated to safeguarding your network.