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Just don't ever give it the wifi password. Drive the TV from a PS4/PS4, xbox series X or home theatre PC. Use the youtube/netflix/amazon video/whatever client s

Just don't ever give it the wifi password. Drive the TV from a PS4/PS4, xbox series X or home theatre PC. Use the youtube/netflix/amazon video/whatever client software on those platforms. I have a thousand times more confidence that microsoft or sony will keep their operating system patched and free from zero days than some random OS on a TV. And at least they're big enough that their telemetry and data collection practices are documented. Yes, it's true you can't get much use out of an xbox series x without an internet connection, but at least you know what you're getting yourself into in advance.

mattnewton 4y ago
You may need to explicitly opt out somehow or connect the tv to a dummy network that blocks all traffic. I am having trouble finding the source on google again but I remember reading about some tv manufacturers automatically scanning for and connecting to open internet connections to update and upload telemetry data even when no Wi-Fi network was provided.
- gruez 4y ago
  >I am having trouble finding the source on google again but I remember reading about some tv manufacturers automatically scanning for and connecting to open internet connections to update and upload telemetry data even when no Wi-Fi network was provided. To my knowledge I can't find any reliable first-hand accounts of this happening. It's all pseudonymous internet commenters claiming it's happening, or tech news websites reposting said claims. For a phenomena that should be so easy to reproduce (all you need is a smart TV plus a laptop with wireshark), the absence of reliable evidence should be used as evidence against its existence. It's in the same category as "facebook is secretly eavesdroping on your conversations".
GekkePrutser 4y ago
> Just don't ever give it the wifi password This works for now but Amazon is already working on a way to share messages from devices through echo dots etc in the area. Even your neighbors'. It's intended precisely for this purpose :( To capture days from those trying to stay under the radar. It's called sidewalk.
- Scoundreller 4y ago
  I wouldn’t be surprised if the next iteration of TVs will take ads over a data signal over OTA deals with TV stations and display localized ads in programming and in their apps.
  - GekkePrutser 4y ago
    It's possible but it would be one way in most locations. But yeah I'm sure it'll be possible. I have it on my list to look for ways to block Amazon sidewalk by the way. Personally I don't even have cable TV. I never watch live TV anymore. I get all my news from the web (I never liked watching TV for it) and shows I just download or stream.
  - vineyardmike 4y ago
    > take ads over a data signal over OTA deals with TV stations Isn't that just regular OTA linear tv? But really, I'm not sure how legal it would be for the stations to mess with what they use that band for and what is distributed.
- barrysteve 4y ago
  It's going to come to hardware hacks and Faraday caging our houses to maintain personal control over the devices we purchase. Houses will have to behave like firewalls and you whitelist the device types you want to communicate with by explicitly piping them in, rather than the poor attempt at managing networks in software we have at the moment.
  - lsaferite 4y ago
    Honestly, a Faraday caged house doesn't sound like a bad idea. Sure, you'll have to install a solution for mobile phone coverage (assuming you want it), but it would help solve a lot of issues like congestion and unwanted parties attacking to your wifi. Even if it's not a perfect cage, if it damped the majority of wireless signals it would probably be enough.
- bradknowles 4y ago
foresto 4y ago
> Just don't ever give it the wifi password. Unfortunately, that won't stop it from using (local or drive-by) open networks if it wants to, nor will it signal to manufacturers that some of us don't want internet-connected TVs. If stuck with a smart TV, I would remove or disable the radio module. If buying new, I would look at computer/gaming monitors, commercial displays, a few lesser-known models/brands (e.g. Sceptre), and projectors.
- gruez 4y ago
  >Unfortunately, that won't stop it from using (local or drive-by) open networks if it wants to, Unfortunately that's a rumor that can't be substantiated.
  - foresto 4y ago
    You seem to be confusing "what it can do" with "what it currently does". My comment contains no rumor or speculation.

mattnewton 4y ago

You may need to explicitly opt out somehow or connect the tv to a dummy network that blocks all traffic. I am having trouble finding the source on google again but I remember reading about some tv manufacturers automatically scanning for and connecting to open internet connections to update and upload telemetry data even when no Wi-Fi network was provided.

gruez 4y ago
>I am having trouble finding the source on google again but I remember reading about some tv manufacturers automatically scanning for and connecting to open internet connections to update and upload telemetry data even when no Wi-Fi network was provided. To my knowledge I can't find any reliable first-hand accounts of this happening. It's all pseudonymous internet commenters claiming it's happening, or tech news websites reposting said claims. For a phenomena that should be so easy to reproduce (all you need is a smart TV plus a laptop with wireshark), the absence of reliable evidence should be used as evidence against its existence. It's in the same category as "facebook is secretly eavesdroping on your conversations".

GekkePrutser 4y ago

> Just don't ever give it the wifi password This works for now but Amazon is already working on a way to share messages from devices through echo dots etc in the area. Even your neighbors'. It's intended precisely for this purpose :( To capture days from those trying to stay under the radar. It's called sidewalk.

Scoundreller 4y ago
I wouldn’t be surprised if the next iteration of TVs will take ads over a data signal over OTA deals with TV stations and display localized ads in programming and in their apps.
- GekkePrutser 4y ago
  It's possible but it would be one way in most locations. But yeah I'm sure it'll be possible. I have it on my list to look for ways to block Amazon sidewalk by the way. Personally I don't even have cable TV. I never watch live TV anymore. I get all my news from the web (I never liked watching TV for it) and shows I just download or stream.
- vineyardmike 4y ago
  > take ads over a data signal over OTA deals with TV stations Isn't that just regular OTA linear tv? But really, I'm not sure how legal it would be for the stations to mess with what they use that band for and what is distributed.
barrysteve 4y ago
It's going to come to hardware hacks and Faraday caging our houses to maintain personal control over the devices we purchase. Houses will have to behave like firewalls and you whitelist the device types you want to communicate with by explicitly piping them in, rather than the poor attempt at managing networks in software we have at the moment.
- lsaferite 4y ago
  Honestly, a Faraday caged house doesn't sound like a bad idea. Sure, you'll have to install a solution for mobile phone coverage (assuming you want it), but it would help solve a lot of issues like congestion and unwanted parties attacking to your wifi. Even if it's not a perfect cage, if it damped the majority of wireless signals it would probably be enough.
bradknowles 4y ago

foresto 4y ago

> Just don't ever give it the wifi password. Unfortunately, that won't stop it from using (local or drive-by) open networks if it wants to, nor will it signal to manufacturers that some of us don't want internet-connected TVs. If stuck with a smart TV, I would remove or disable the radio module. If buying new, I would look at computer/gaming monitors, commercial displays, a few lesser-known models/brands (e.g. Sceptre), and projectors.

gruez 4y ago
>Unfortunately, that won't stop it from using (local or drive-by) open networks if it wants to, Unfortunately that's a rumor that can't be substantiated.
- foresto 4y ago
  You seem to be confusing "what it can do" with "what it currently does". My comment contains no rumor or speculation.