7 ms·

What do the smart ones in possession of a smart TV do? Because I constantly bleed time fine tuning pi-hole to limit telemetry and retain functionality…

hackerfromthefu 5y ago
Don't give it network, and use it as a dumb terminal connected via hdmi to a secure pc
- loonster 5y ago
  Eventually they will all likely have cellular modems.
  - TedDoesntTalk 5y ago
    But if you are using an external video source and the tv as a dumb display via hdmi, what is that cellular modem going to transmit? Screenshots?
    - vages 5y ago
      The TVs track the content you’re watching by sampling a subset of the pixels. So yes.
      - donmcronald 5y ago
        Wow. I never knew about that. It’s called ACR (automatic content recognition).
- IG_Semmelweiss 5y ago
  I remember reading some tvs will actively search (open?) networks to connect on their own.
dnissley 5y ago
This might be unpopular in these parts, but... just don't do anything and actively choose not to care about things like telemetry which have no tangible effect on my experience.
throaway46546 5y ago
I removed the WiFi card from mine.
- touisteur 5y ago
  Do you remember which model it was and the format of the card? M.2? Card-express?
  - robotnikman 5y ago
    Probably M.2 since its the most common form factor for them
  - throaway46546 5y ago
    Sorry for the late response. I don't check this account every day. It isn't my main TV it is a TCL 49S405. It wasn't any form factor I recognize. I looked up the replacement part and found an image. https://i.imgur.com/FlbKQEu.jpg https://i.imgur.com/FlbKQEu.jpg It was super trivial to remove. There is actually a removable panel on the back of the TV that lets you access it. Once I saw the antenna connector I knew what it was.
    - touisteur 5y ago
      Hey, no big deal. Thanks a lot for coming back and even posting a picture. Now I know what to look for. Didn't even think they'd have the wifi as an separate module, what with integration these days.
zimpenfish 5y ago
Turn off the WIFI, unplug the ethernet, ban the MAC from DHCP, and then plug in an Apple TV 4K. (I trust Apple more than Samsung. Except when it comes to remote control design.)

hackerfromthefu 5y ago

Don't give it network, and use it as a dumb terminal connected via hdmi to a secure pc

loonster 5y ago
Eventually they will all likely have cellular modems.
- TedDoesntTalk 5y ago
  But if you are using an external video source and the tv as a dumb display via hdmi, what is that cellular modem going to transmit? Screenshots?
  - vages 5y ago
    The TVs track the content you’re watching by sampling a subset of the pixels. So yes.
    - donmcronald 5y ago
      Wow. I never knew about that. It’s called ACR (automatic content recognition).
IG_Semmelweiss 5y ago
I remember reading some tvs will actively search (open?) networks to connect on their own.

dnissley 5y ago

This might be unpopular in these parts, but... just don't do anything and actively choose not to care about things like telemetry which have no tangible effect on my experience.

throaway46546 5y ago

I removed the WiFi card from mine.

touisteur 5y ago
Do you remember which model it was and the format of the card? M.2? Card-express?
- robotnikman 5y ago
  Probably M.2 since its the most common form factor for them
- throaway46546 5y ago
  Sorry for the late response. I don't check this account every day. It isn't my main TV it is a TCL 49S405. It wasn't any form factor I recognize. I looked up the replacement part and found an image. https://i.imgur.com/FlbKQEu.jpg https://i.imgur.com/FlbKQEu.jpg It was super trivial to remove. There is actually a removable panel on the back of the TV that lets you access it. Once I saw the antenna connector I knew what it was.
  - touisteur 5y ago
    Hey, no big deal. Thanks a lot for coming back and even posting a picture. Now I know what to look for. Didn't even think they'd have the wifi as an separate module, what with integration these days.

zimpenfish 5y ago

Turn off the WIFI, unplug the ethernet, ban the MAC from DHCP, and then plug in an Apple TV 4K. (I trust Apple more than Samsung. Except when it comes to remote control design.)