Your TV Is Spying On You
Technology
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Does anyone know if there's a domain blocklist for smart TV telemetry? If so, I could easily put it into my DNS server, like I already do for ads.
I'd like to continue using my streaming apps without resorting to yet another device. I have an HTPC that runs KODI but I think it'd be a pain to replace all of my streaming apps.
A couple I'm aware of:
But like flightyhobler suggested, if you keep an eye on your DNS logs with Pi-hole or managed services like AdGuard DNS and NextDNS you'll get a better idea of what's still getting through.
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No, it's not. It has not connected to the internet.
Well, so, about that.
A lot of TV's will form mesh nets with same brand-or even across brands³-, until they find one that is connected. I've even heard reports of one with a sim card¹.
¹in a 'smoke filled room'²
²okay it was a van. A smoke filled van. And she was on some other stuff too.³OS based i think? So instead of Sony's seeking Sony's or samsungs seeking samsungs, its android tvs or roku's or whatever forming meshes. Don't quote me on that though
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I mean... Just don't hook the TV up to the internet. Don't join your WiFi network on the TV.
Kind of a simple solution.
Doesn't work anymore. They do dark mesh networks.
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You sit down to relax, put on your favorite show, and settle in for a night of binge-watching. But while you’re watching your TV… your TV is watching you.
Smart TVs take constant snapshots of everything you watch. Sometimes hundreds of snapshots a second.
Welcome to the future of "entertainment."
The built-in OS on smart TVs almost always sucks. The built-in OS on our LG is slower, has less apps, and has less support for HDR and higher resolutions than our Fire stick.
Just don't use it and instead plug in a Fire stick, turn off its tracking, then sideload apps like BeeTV and HDO Box.
I know Amazon has a bad rep from a privacy standpoint but the Fire stick is super cheap compared to its competition and lets you turn off the tracking in one page of the settings menu.
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What 4K TV can I buy that doesn’t do this guys help? Or should I stick to monitors???
You can buy any TV. Just turn off the tracking in the settings and plug in a streaming stick.
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Well, so, about that.
A lot of TV's will form mesh nets with same brand-or even across brands³-, until they find one that is connected. I've even heard reports of one with a sim card¹.
¹in a 'smoke filled room'²
²okay it was a van. A smoke filled van. And she was on some other stuff too.³OS based i think? So instead of Sony's seeking Sony's or samsungs seeking samsungs, its android tvs or roku's or whatever forming meshes. Don't quote me on that though
Where can I read about these mesh networks?
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Where can I read about these mesh networks?
Think there was an article in... I think wired a couple years back.
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A couple I'm aware of:
But like flightyhobler suggested, if you keep an eye on your DNS logs with Pi-hole or managed services like AdGuard DNS and NextDNS you'll get a better idea of what's still getting through.
Thank you for posting this! You saved me a search
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Some TVs will sneakily connect to open APs to try and phone home. It is nasty but it does happen. You can only be worry free if you yank out the radio module. Some TVs make it easier than others (My LG TV made it as easy as opening the back of the TV and disconnecting, YMMV)
My TV isn't a "smart" tv.
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What 4K TV can I buy that doesn’t do this guys help? Or should I stick to monitors???
Look for Signage Displays. They're basically TVs with different software.
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You sit down to relax, put on your favorite show, and settle in for a night of binge-watching. But while you’re watching your TV… your TV is watching you.
Smart TVs take constant snapshots of everything you watch. Sometimes hundreds of snapshots a second.
Welcome to the future of "entertainment."
I just don’t own a tv. Getting rid of my entertainment and gaming systems and most of social media was my answer to internal peace. I don’t have streaming either.
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You sit down to relax, put on your favorite show, and settle in for a night of binge-watching. But while you’re watching your TV… your TV is watching you.
Smart TVs take constant snapshots of everything you watch. Sometimes hundreds of snapshots a second.
Welcome to the future of "entertainment."
I guess I'll stick with my 2012 Toshiba 55" dumb TV.
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for streaming, yeah, for tracking its plenty
100Mbit/s is plenty for streaming even 8k
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You sit down to relax, put on your favorite show, and settle in for a night of binge-watching. But while you’re watching your TV… your TV is watching you.
Smart TVs take constant snapshots of everything you watch. Sometimes hundreds of snapshots a second.
Welcome to the future of "entertainment."
Sometimes hundreds of snapshots a second.
That's a pretty neat FPS for a tv.
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Look for Signage Displays. They're basically TVs with different software.
Never heard of those before. Thanks
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The built-in OS on smart TVs almost always sucks. The built-in OS on our LG is slower, has less apps, and has less support for HDR and higher resolutions than our Fire stick.
Just don't use it and instead plug in a Fire stick, turn off its tracking, then sideload apps like BeeTV and HDO Box.
I know Amazon has a bad rep from a privacy standpoint but the Fire stick is super cheap compared to its competition and lets you turn off the tracking in one page of the settings menu.
The article says the TVs still capture input and do recognition from external sources so using an external device is not helping.
Edit: Unless your tv is not connected to the internet.
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Sometimes hundreds of snapshots a second.
That's a pretty neat FPS for a tv.
Yeah I'm calling bullshit on that quote, I'd like to see proof of any smart TV having beefy enough hardware to record anything at 100fps+, and even then what would be the point? Nothing played back on the screen will even have a frame rate and 60fps... I'm sure this is a lazy article mistake
EDIT: I take it back, I talked it out with Gemini and understand the logic and realistic implementation now, it's a dedicated part of the SoC design. Still hate the fact that this is a thing, we just need to spread the word about not connecting your actual TV to the internet at all ever.
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The article says the TVs still capture input and do recognition from external sources so using an external device is not helping.
Edit: Unless your tv is not connected to the internet.
The TV can still connect via weave, Amazon sidewalk, or other mesh networks through your neighbors doorbell or thermostat or whatever... Even if you never connect it, it could still report. Have to open it up and destroy the antennas.
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You sit down to relax, put on your favorite show, and settle in for a night of binge-watching. But while you’re watching your TV… your TV is watching you.
Smart TVs take constant snapshots of everything you watch. Sometimes hundreds of snapshots a second.
Welcome to the future of "entertainment."
Mine ain't, I'm using an ancient dumb TV.
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How old is it ? Which one did you buy
2 1920x1080 LG ones probably over 10 years ago. If smart TVs can't get online they can't spy on you.
