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In April 2025, digital menu boards at nearly 300 Mary Brown's quick-service chicken restaurants in Canada were hacked, displaying unauthorized pro-Palestine messages. News of the breach went viral, causing considerable embarrassment for the company, which acknowledged its security had been compromised. The incident—neither the first security breach of a major company nor the last—highlighted the importance of digital signage security.

Any screen connected to a network is a target. Without robust layers of protection, even the most impressive display can quickly become a security and PR headache.

This guide examines the importance of digital signage security, the top threats to be aware of, and provides guidance on how integrators, end-users, and IT teams can protect their networks and reputations.

Why Digital Signage Security Matters 

Digital signage is an ecosystem comprising media players, content management systems (CMS), networks, and cloud connections, with each layer potentially vulnerable to hackers. If attackers exploit these vulnerabilities, the consequences can ripple far beyond the display.

• Reputational damage: One hacked screen displaying offensive or false information can quickly go viral, eroding trust and credibility.
• Financial loss: Breaches often result in downtime, replacement costs, and even legal action. For retailers, this means lost sales during outages. For transit hubs such as airports, it may mean costly delays.
• Data breaches: Many signage networks integrate with customer databases, including those containing credit card information, loyalty programs, or corporate systems. A compromised CMS could expose sensitive data.
• Malicious or inappropriate content: From propaganda to prank videos to adult content, whatever appears on company screens reflects the brand.

In short, securing your digital signage is about more than protecting hardware. It’s about protecting your brand, your data, and your audience’s trust.

Recommended Reading 📖: What is Cybersecurity and Why Is it Important?

Top Digital Signage Security Threats to Watch For 

Since digital signage systems are often used in public, semi-public, or lightly monitored environments, they’re tempting targets. Below are some of the most common threats:

Physical Tampering 

Media players tucked behind displays or mounted under counters are vulnerable. A USB drive can introduce malicious code, while unsecured cabling makes it easy to hijack inputs. Even a brief window of access—such as a screen in a lobby without camera coverage—can give an attacker enough time to plant a device or compromise the system.

Network Vulnerabilities 

Unsecured Wi-Fi, weak firewalls, or open ports are invitations to hackers. If the signage network isn’t isolated, attackers can pivot from a compromised player into the larger corporate environment. This is one of the most dangerous scenarios: what starts as a hacked display could end with access to sensitive business applications or customer databases.

Malware and Ransomware 

Just like corporate laptops, signage players and CMS servers can be infected with malware. Ransomware attacks can lock entire display networks, demanding payment to restore service. Some attackers don’t even care about ransom—sometimes the goal is simply to disrupt operations, which can be especially damaging in control rooms, government facilities, healthcare settings, or retail environments that rely on real-time communication.

Weak Credentials

Default usernames and simple passwords, such as sequential numbers or letters, are still common. Attackers use automated tools to test thousands of common password combinations in minutes, meaning even weak credentials can be quickly exploited.

Outdated Software and Firmware 

CMS platforms, player firmware, or unpatched operating systems often have known vulnerabilities. Attackers are constantly scanning systems for outdated software that can be compromised. Vendors regularly release patches to close these gaps, but if updates are delayed or overlooked, the signage system remains exposed long after a fix is available.

Social Engineering and Phishing 

Attackers may pose as IT support or send phishing emails to trick staff into revealing login details. Since signage is often managed by both IT and AV staff, it’s easy for a fake request to look legitimate. Training teams to verify unusual requests can go a long way toward shutting down these attacks.

Insecure Content Delivery 

If content travels from CMS to screen over unencrypted protocols, it can be intercepted and altered. Attackers can switch approved marketing materials with offensive or misleading messages in real time, creating a security and PR crisis.

Best Practices for Securing Your Digital Signage Network 

Reducing risk means applying best practices across four domains: network, devices, software, and content.

Network Security 

• Segment the network: Place digital signage on its own VLAN or subnet to contain breaches. Even if a player is compromised, attackers can’t move into point-of-sale systems, HR databases, or other sensitive areas of the corporate network.
• Harden firewalls: Use strict firewall rules to block unnecessary traffic and review them regularly. 
• Secure Wi-Fi: If wireless connectivity is unavoidable, use WPA2/WPA3 encryption and a strong passphrase. Rotate credentials periodically and limit their distribution to a select group of staff.
• Close unused ports: Disable inactive switch ports to reduce attack surfaces. A forgotten open port in a conference room or lobby can be enough for an attacker with physical access to plug in and cause trouble. 

Device & Player Hardening 

• Lock it down: House media players in tamper-resistant enclosures and limit access to authorized personnel.
• Disable ports: Shut down unused USB or HDMI inputs. Leaving them active is like leaving a valid credit card on a desk—someone will eventually take advantage of it.
• Invest in secure hardware: Select enterprise-grade devices with secure boot and hardware encryption. These built-in protections make it harder for attackers to install rogue firmware or bypass authentication.

Software & CMS Security 

• Change defaults immediately: Replace all factory usernames and passwords with new ones. Studies indicate that many breaches still originate from devices with default credentials, such as “admin/admin.”
• Strengthen authentication: Enforce strong, lengthy password policies that include a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, and change them regularly. Require multi-factor authentication (MFA). Even if credentials are stolen, MFA adds another barrier.
• Limit permissions: Implement role-based access control to ensure users have only the necessary privileges. For example, a content creator doesn’t need the ability to change system settings.
• Patch regularly: Keep the OS, CMS, and player firmware up to date with vendor security updates. Schedule maintenance times for updates rather than postponing them.

Content Management Protocols 

• Encrypt transfers: Use HTTPS, TLS, or SFTP when moving content between CMS and players.
• Standardize approval workflows: Ensure all content passes through review before it goes public. This reduces the risk of both accidental errors and malicious uploads slipping through.
• Audit regularly: Monitor logs for unusual activity, such as off-hours uploads or multiple failed login attempts. Catching suspicious behavior early can prevent an incident from escalating into a damaging media story.

Collectively, these practices create a strong defense system with multiple barriers an attacker must clear before reaching your screens.

Digital Signage Security: The Takeaway 

Digital signage security isn’t just an IT concern; it’s essential for the entire business. Breaches can damage reputations, disrupt operations, and expose sensitive data. By understanding the top threats and applying layered best practices, organizations can safeguard both their screens and their audiences.

For more information on this important subject, AVIXA is hosting an upcoming webinar: D-Sign Power Hour: Strengthening Cybersecurity in Digital Signage, where industry experts will explore strategies, case studies, and the latest technology for protecting your displays. In today’s connected world, where cybercrimes are on the rise, securing your screens means securing your brand.

 Photo credit: Getty Images/Asia-Pacific Images Studio