AndroidTV & Google Account Safety?

by ObiYawn

I have deployed a few Walmart Onn Android TV pucks in a vacation home that is shared with other family members. I signed into those devices using my primary Google Account, as I had purchased a few apps under that account that I wanted to use on those devices.

What level of security risk does that pose? Can a "malicious family member" figure out a way to get to any of my sensitive data that is stored in my Google account, such as Gmail, Google Drive etc. etc.?

Of course I could create a dummy Google account for that purpose, but as I mentioned, I wanted to have access to some of my purchased apps.

Thanks!

rooser1111

Yea install gmail and read your emails.

pawdog

Maybe the Gmail thing but that's a reach. Your family members would have to be savvy to get that done. At the same time I would only use a dummy account if I weren't physically in charge of the device. Let them add their own accounts.

NedSc

I make a Google account just for shared devices like TV boxes and such, and then I use family sharing and add the TV account to my "family", so that it has access to my purchases.

doczenith1

I've heard that on the CCwGTV you can use the voice function and say something to the effect of "show me my pictures" and it will bring up your Google Photos. I suspect the Onn device might be similar.

While the Onn and other Android TV devices are nice for single person use if I were deploying a device for shared use such as you are I would use the older non Android TV Chromecast. This way whomever is casting will be using their own device and Google account. I know you can cast to an Android TV device but if I remember correctly it will try and use the on device app and account vs the app and account of the casting device. I. E. If I want to play Netflix using my account I'll run into issues trying to cast to an Android TV device because it will want to use the on device Netflix app and the on device account.