4 ms·

Oh good lord, I hadn't even thought of that. Keep the ransomware sitting idle until 10 minutes before the Super Bowl - then turn it on asking for $1000 (or even

by eric_h 10y ago

Oh good lord, I hadn't even thought of that. Keep the ransomware sitting idle until 10 minutes before the Super Bowl - then turn it on asking for $1000 (or even less, if you've got it on enough TVs) to release the lock. I turned off the "smart" features on my smart tv the moment they showed me an ad. (no fucking way I'm paying $2k for a TV to show me ads, I barely tolerate the occasional Hulu programming that they were unable to get an ad-free license for).

voltagex_ 10y ago
How do you turn off the "smart" features on most TVs? I am hoping I can still get a "dumb" panel the next time I need a new TV (which is hopefully never). Many people on HN could set up bi-directional firewalls but what hope has the average person got?
- tracker1 10y ago
  Don't setup ethernet/wifi...
- NeutronBoy 10y ago
  > I am hoping I can still get a "dumb" panel the next time I need a new TV (which is hopefully never). Protip: when you go to buy one, don't go to consumer electronic retailers - if you find a commercial electronic wholesaler (e.g. one that sells equipment for businesses), you'll find heaps of dumb TVs that are basically giant computer monitors. Same panels, better warranty, and nothing in them except a panel and a bunch of input ports. Businesses often use these in reception areas, operations rooms, etc.
  - Scoundreller 10y ago
    What's the price difference? Sad to think I'll have to pay a premium for the basic model...
    - voltagex_ 10y ago
      https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-RM48D-48-Inch-1080p-Signage/dp/B00MTWTQL6 https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-RM48D-48-Inch-1080p-Signage/d... https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2/177-4673061-8413026?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=samsung+48%22 https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2/177-4673061-841302... Seems to be about $200 USD difference - and funnily enough the commercial version probably doesn't have HDMI-CEC.
    - turnip1979 10y ago
      Umm .. no. Typically, commercial TVs have features like volume/channel locking and magicinfo. These are extras.

by eric_h 10y ago

voltagex_ 10y ago

How do you turn off the "smart" features on most TVs? I am hoping I can still get a "dumb" panel the next time I need a new TV (which is hopefully never). Many people on HN could set up bi-directional firewalls but what hope has the average person got?

tracker1 10y ago
Don't setup ethernet/wifi...
NeutronBoy 10y ago
> I am hoping I can still get a "dumb" panel the next time I need a new TV (which is hopefully never). Protip: when you go to buy one, don't go to consumer electronic retailers - if you find a commercial electronic wholesaler (e.g. one that sells equipment for businesses), you'll find heaps of dumb TVs that are basically giant computer monitors. Same panels, better warranty, and nothing in them except a panel and a bunch of input ports. Businesses often use these in reception areas, operations rooms, etc.
- Scoundreller 10y ago
  What's the price difference? Sad to think I'll have to pay a premium for the basic model...
  - voltagex_ 10y ago
    https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-RM48D-48-Inch-1080p-Signage/dp/B00MTWTQL6 https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-RM48D-48-Inch-1080p-Signage/d... https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2/177-4673061-8413026?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=samsung+48%22 https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2/177-4673061-841302... Seems to be about $200 USD difference - and funnily enough the commercial version probably doesn't have HDMI-CEC.
  - turnip1979 10y ago
    Umm .. no. Typically, commercial TVs have features like volume/channel locking and magicinfo. These are extras.