7 ms·

Stopping the smart TV from being used against you

205 points by speckx 2mo ago

roscas 2mo ago
Wise words "Never give ANY smart device internet.". That is just stupid to give internet access to a "smart" tv or a "smart" phone. You have zero control over it.
- ____tom____ 2mo ago
  They are likely going to have access. Lots of things have built in cellular modems these days, and your cable provider already uses your cable modem as a hotspot for other people. You can do things like physically modifying your TV, or seeing if there are undocumented settings to disable things.
  - margalabargala 2mo ago
    It's also usually not that hard to open the case and remove the physical antennas.
  - Ancalagon 2mo ago
    Is that why the cable companies are always trying to get me to use their equipment now?? God I hate this.
    - Barbing 2mo ago
      Plus the DNS spying even after disabling their safety stuff (impossible to change DNS on Comcast Xfinity-provided gateway). Still trying to get as good speeds with my own equipment.
      - DANmode 2mo ago
        What’s your equipment and what software does it run? If it’s something on the shelf at Target, Walmart, you may remain disappointed.
        Barbing 2mo ago
        Modem: Definitely closed-source junk. (Suppose all the cable modems will be closed.[1]) Ubiquiti UCI just a little spendy for current setup. [1] thanks CableLabs https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10597927 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10597927 Router: Something I have to upgrade, though trying for approx a full gig speeds at the modem first. Eying an OpenWrt-compatible one. Looks like the GL.iNet GL-MT6000 (Flint 2) comes with it preinstalled! ( https://www.gl-inet.com/en-us/products/gl-mt6000?country=US https://www.gl-inet.com/en-us/products/gl-mt6000?country=US ) Edit: I see I'd have to flash the real Open-Wrt on the Flint 2: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42285923 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42285923
        DANmode 2mo ago
        I’ve heard great things about that model. Buy with confidence.
  - drnick1 2mo ago
    > your cable provider already uses your cable modem as a hotspot for other people. Is this for real? This does not affect me as I use my own equipment, but I still find it hard to believe.
    - akiselev 2mo ago
      Major ISPs in the US have been doing it for at least a decade. Xfinity Wifi [1] claims over 20 million wifi hotspots provided through customer routers. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xfinity#Xfinity_WiFi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xfinity#Xfinity_WiFi
    - WalterGR 2mo ago
      Yes. Xfinity is the big one. Their devices create two hotspots: one for the customer and one to power their Xfinity WiFi service and for bandwidth offloading for their cellular service. Instructions for disabling it: https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/disable-xfinity-wifi-home-hotspot https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/disable-xfinity-wif...
      - jedbrooke 2mo ago
        I have to say though as a xfinity customer, being able to get wifi basically anywhere urban is pretty nice
        ozlikethewizard 2mo ago
        Yea this almosts sounds like it could be a great idea with proper execution, nothing like this in the UK. Imagine if they were upfront and said "well knock a tenner (or whatever is reasonable in the US) if you allow your access point to be used as a hotspot"
        lozf 2mo ago
        > nothing like this in the UK. It turns out there are several similar services offered in the UK by ISP's like O2, Sky, and BT¹ (recently rebranded as EE-WiFi²) who claim to be the UK's largest WiFi Hotspot Network. Perhaps that's due to it being opt-out on their routers since it was first introduced over a decade ago. [¹]: https://info.btwifi.com/help/ https://info.btwifi.com/help/ [²]: https://ee-wifi.ee.co.uk/public/ee/index.htm https://ee-wifi.ee.co.uk/public/ee/index.htm
  - deleted 2mo ago
    [deleted]
  - majorchord 2mo ago
    > hotspot for other people. How does this work legally when you get in trouble for someone else's activity?
    - ozlikethewizard 2mo ago
      If its a hotspot you'll have to login to authenticate, so presumably the traffic is uniquely identifiable. I'd hope when LE contact ISP for details theyd be able to go oh that ip address is here but it was actually this persons traffic.
      - ranger_danger 2mo ago
        I'm fairly confident that ISPs do not log all customer traffic, especially for an indeterminate amount of time. There would not be enough storage on the planet available.
  - alexfoo 2mo ago
    It works both ways though. The traffic was separated so that anything on the public hotspot was not attributed to the private subscriber network. Secondly for years I lived somewhere very remote so that meant that hardly anyone ever got to use my broadband connection via such a hotspot, but I got to use hundreds of other peoples hotspots when I was somewhere less isolated. I was quite happy to opt in to this system as I benefitted hugely from it.
- skizm 2mo ago
  It sucks being in an apartment complex because there are always a bunch of unsecured networks floating around that the TV, or whatever, can connect to even if you don't manually do it.
  - drnick1 2mo ago
    One option is to physically remove the WiFi card. I saw an article about this a while back, and it was a surprisingly simple mod. On a related note, you should absolutely remove the cellular modem from your car as well.
    - eldaisfish 2mo ago
      removing the cellular modem from a car can have several unintended consequences. The geniuses at hyundai refuse to let you operate the heating in some of their electric cars without an internet connection. Yes, you read that right - the only way to operate the HVAC compressor in several hyundai EVs is via their stupid app and the internet. I found out the hard way when i kept noticing that my hyundai EV was not heating the cabin in winter even though i turned the HAVC on. Turns out, as soon as you plug into the wall outlet, the compressor stops. There is no technical reason for this, other than enshittification.
      - drnick1 2mo ago
        > Yes, you read that right - the only way to operate the HVAC compressor in several hyundai EVs is via their stupid app and the internet. Noted. Thank you for reminding us not to buy a Hyundai EV.
      - DANmode 2mo ago
        Wall outlets are usually in garages, which are indoor/outdoor areas, kept with lots of microbial growth. Maybe the engineers wanted to ensure your cabin wouldn’t induce health risks.
        DANmode 2mo ago
- blitzar 2mo ago
  "Never give ANY dumb device internet" The smart here really isnt the issue.
- groby_b 2mo ago
  Except... some of us like to stream content on TVs. And some of us really don't like the idea of maintaining yet another extra piece of hardware for that. And so your TV does need Internet access. The same holds for many other devices, in different shapes. Sure, you can opt out of civilization completely to avoid all the side effects of late stage capitalism, but maybe it's worth applying a bit more nuanced thinking to find a balance that doesn't throw you back to the 1800s. (Unless you like the 1800s, in which case, enjoy)
  - drnick1 2mo ago
    > Except... some of us like to stream content on TVs. Linux mini-PC running Bigscreen Plasma. No, it can't be used to stream Netflix at native resolution because of DRM. But if you can't live without Netflix content, you can use alternative sources and save money in the process. VacuumTube for YT instead of the official app. Yes, this is an additional device, but it is not unlike a streaming stick or Android shitbox.
    - epiccoleman 2mo ago
      classic linux advice lol. disable the smart features on your TV and then buy a whole computer so you can ... not be able to watch netflix and youtube on your TV disclaimer: i run a whole variety of home media stuff, so i am one of you - but it's just a funny example of exactly the kind of thing that makes people not do this stuff
    - krupan 2mo ago
      I self host a lot, including jellyfin, but I've never tried to do the Linux HTPC. Whenever I look into it everything has changed from a few years ago, it all sounds difficult to get working and keep working, and I give up. I didn't know we had a whole new set of software. It was once MythTV, then XBMC, then something else I can't remember, and now I've lost track.
      - drnick1 2mo ago
        > I self host a lot, including jellyfin, but I've never tried to do the Linux HTPC. I think now is the right time to revisit the Linux HTPC, mostly because Plasma 6.7 integrated the new Bigscreen interface. This is a genuine 10-foot desktop environment optimized for TV remotes and controllers. Previously, most Linux HTPCs simply used GNOME/KDE, with the scaling cranked up to 200 or 300%. In terms of apps, I suggest Kodi for local files, VacuumTube as a Youtube TV/Leanback substitute, and Steam or SteamLink for gaming, depending on hardware. With an airmouse remote you can also simply use Firefox or Chromium and stream from pretty much anywhere, subject to resolution restrictions for Netflix and some other services.
- fusslo 2mo ago
  Back when I first started my career, I generally disagreed. My first job was at a connected device startup in the IoT space. The whole ethos around data was pretty good. Maybe it was because the tech side of the company I worked for was 99% ex-gov contractors (aerospace, low level routers, submarines...). We collected such minimal information. Basically only enough to allow for OTAs, functionality, and debugging. Thinking back, we could've collected so much more. I remember when Alexa hit the market and we (as a company) thought there's NO WAY amazon was making any money on them. Today... NO WAY. Along the way the value stopped being "This product is priced so we can make a profit" and became "The data we collect is more valuable than the sale".
- afarah1 2mo ago
  Well, nowadays the purpose of a TV is usually to watch content over the internet, so I wouldn't call it "stupid" to connect the TV to the internet. You might say it's naive, but is it really naive to buy a TV and expect it to be a device to display audiovisual content and not a spyware/adware machine? I feel like it's not the user's behavior that should be put into question here, but the borderline criminal behavior of the manufacturer.
dpark 2mo ago
This is an exhausting read. From the diminishing use of the word “rape” to the steam of conscious delivery to the blogspam cliches of hyperbole and exclamation. The malware installed by LG on Microsoft PCs and the spying by smart TVs are both despicable. But I couldn’t get through this article.
- spockz 2mo ago
  I find it so incredibly short sighted to implement such shenanigans. I was set to buy a LG 39GX950B as an upgrade to my current ultrawide until I read that they will automatically install an installer that will ask whether you want to install additional tools every freaking time you plug in the monitor. Absurd.
  - Terr_ 2mo ago
    > short sighted to implement such shenanigans Even if they were convenient shenanigans, in the longer term: Political action > Purchasing Choices > Individual modifications
    - left-struck 2mo ago
      I disagree, clearly purchasing choices only hurt you and doesn’t help the situation. Instead we should embrace hacker culture and take by force that which won’t be given to us. By force I mean the gentle kind of force of forcibly owning the stuff you already legally own. There’s never been a better time, we’re in this sweet spot where we have LLM agents that can help normal people do this stuff, but not yet at the point where a significant amount of the consumer technology we use has been hardened.
      - spockz 2mo ago
        Yes, okay. If I’m fatalistic then this is the best time to buy something like the monitor because I now still could flash the firmware to rip out the auto install. Presumably. But isn’t it way better to get legislation in place to prevent this? And how can it technically even do this? Isn’t it a huge security risk if just plugging in something on USB-C can execute a binary?? Update: reread the news item on ars at the time: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/07/microsoft-responds-to-lg-monitors-installing-mcafee-ads-on-windows/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/07/microsoft-responds-t... So apparently it is a windows feature to be able to automatically install software belonging to a device fingerprint. It isn’t something the firmware or monitor is doing over USB-C but rather a function of windows that can (and should) be disabled.
Arubis 2mo ago
A periodic reminder that you can buy a TV that's not smart. It won't be the fancy Samsung wall-art one and it won't be the absolute shiniest display tech out there, but it will be good enough, it'll be dirt cheap, and it won't have a network port or an 802.11 radio. [Sceptre](https://www.sceptre.com/TV/4K-UHD-TV-category1category73.html https://www.sceptre.com/TV/4K-UHD-TV-category1category73.htm...)'s 4K series is sold at Wal-Mart, often for under half the web-listed prices. I’ve bought a few at the 42” scale for like $180 shipped. They’re fine and they’re incapable of all the spyware bullshit.
- AvAn12 2mo ago
  Yep! Our family is on our second one. First was 42” and lasted five years. Current one is 55” and is going on seven years. Both were around $200-250. Picture quality is great for us. Apple TV takes care of streaming. And easy connection to our stereo gives great audio. Cheers!
- gigel82 2mo ago
  Let me know when they (or anyone else) comes out with an oled model.
  - reaperducer 2mo ago
    I did a quick search on my local electronics store's web site, and there are several options. I don't know where you are, so I can't say what availability is like there. But it's worth doing a basic search.
    - gigel82 2mo ago
      What search terms did you use? I'm in the US, can't find anything with an oled panel that's not a smart tv or a computer monitor.
- alexfoo 2mo ago
  A bit into tinfoilhat territory but just because they don't advertise that they have an 802.11 radio doesn't mean the devices can't have one. Or an LTE/4G/5G radio. If the user data is worth that much then I wouldn't be surprised if some manufacturers put such radios in their non-smart TVs in order to try and gather such data. I live in a densely populated part of a large UK city and (checks `nmcli dev wifi list`) there are 14 distinct wireless networks near me that aren't mine. There's a good chance that any IOT device could find something nearby, and there's even a whole load of LoRa nodes that it could use for a very slow uplink.
VoodooJuJu 2mo ago
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fg137 2mo ago
> Amid the overall electronics boom thanks to A.I. What is it talking about? What boom?
- tripleee 2mo ago
  maybe they mean the price inflation
  - gruez 2mo ago
    AFAIK TVs and monitors were relatively unaffected.
    - tripleee 2mo ago
      yeah I'm just attempting an interpretation, not fact checking haha
      - madibo3156 2mo ago
        > Amid the overall electronics boom thanks to A.I., … one piece of electronics is almost unchanged financially. That is the digital display or flat-panel monitor. …is the full quote. Come on, guys.
    - monocasa 2mo ago
      If anything, they've seemed to have gotten cheaper.
- deleted 2mo ago
  [deleted]
- Terr_ 2mo ago
  Moreover, how could any past and positive "electronics boom" be attributed to "AI"? If anything it's the opposite, as memory components become obscenely expensive.
- Dfiesl 2mo ago
  I guess theyre talking about all the electronics being used to populate the various data centre's popping up about the place. The GPUs, RAM and what not
a1o 2mo ago
Interesting, I knew about these EDID devices to use to pair with KVM for a slightly better experience, but never thought about their use on this perspective!
radicaldreamer 2mo ago
It's not a matter of "cheap", even the high end Sony TVs have spyware on them by default. The best thing you can do is get Claude or Codex to adb into your TV and uninstall all the malware, then keep it disconnected from Wifi and use an external box like Apple TV to watch. Just disconnecting from Wifi often doesn't work because the TV will connect to insecure wifi to upload data and fingerprint what you're watching and who you are.
- qlte 2mo ago
  > Just disconnecting from Wifi often doesn't work because the TV will connect to insecure wifi to upload data Is there any evidence of this actually happening? It's oft stated yet I've never seen any proof or specific models where this has been observed. It made more sense when I first heard this theorized back in the early 2010s when smart TVs were becoming more common and unsecured WiFi hadn't vanished completely yet. Now it would be way more logical to include a cheap 5g radio, which has also been alleged but I haven't seen any model shown to include one.
  - robotnikman 2mo ago
    IIRC a decade ago Samsung smart TV's were found doing this.
- left-struck 2mo ago
  I don’t think that will help with the TV installing malware on your pc. Though to your point, Claude or codex could probably help with that too.
katzgrau 2mo ago
> crackhead@blorb.localhost Checks out, and I mean that in the kindest way possible
derf_ 2mo ago
Warren Buffett has often said, "In looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if you don't have the first, the other two will kill you." The exact same logic applies to devices you buy. These companies have shown they do not have any integrity. So why would you want buy something from them that is "smart" and never sleeps?
- malfist 2mo ago
  Because our government has failed to protect us from monopolies or duopolies. How many things can you buy with modern technology that you'd say the brand had integrity?
  - krupan 2mo ago
    Competition enforces integrity? I can see how it might help, but I'm afraid it's a deeper moral problem
    - ozlikethewizard 2mo ago
      Yea competition only enforces integrity if consumers are selecting for integrity. Without getting into a nitty grityy morality debate, you've got an obvious first issue here that many if not most people dont know what they are buying when it comes to tech, so we cant expect a market to correct for our perceived morality if the consumers havent even got a clue they're being slighted in the first place.
    - m463 2mo ago
      Integrity can be bought and compromised. In fact it seems like many (most?) decent startup products end up rugpulls.
pico303 2mo ago
The solution for smart TVs is to not connect it to the Internet and attach an Apple TV. Sure they’ve gotten expensive, but how much is your privacy worth?
- KerrAvon 2mo ago
  100%. LGs work perfectly well in this role.
  - xbar 2mo ago
    Yup. Samsung & Sonys too. Dumb mode, no internet, Apple TV. Doesn't solve the malware on Windows PCs installed by LG monitors problem. My only solution to that remains to not buy Lucky Goldstar ever since their 14" 640x480 VGA monitor died inside of warranty but they refused to fix it.
- Larrikin 2mo ago
  Shield TV using Android means you can install any apps on it you want. I would never want to go back to watching YouTube without Sponsor block
  - switchbak 2mo ago
    The Shield sucks too, unless you go super nerd and fix all its problems. They treat your home screen like a billboard, and I have no faith that they're not stealing all my data either.
    - Larrikin 2mo ago
      Android lets you put on your own launcher. There are many options to choose from in the store and online. It is one the main selling point of Android, you have options and aren't limited to their marketplace.
      - switchbak 2mo ago
        That’s what I meant by go all super nerd. I don’t want to fight with: my phone, my car, my router, my desktop/laptop, dishwasher, home automation system - just to pull out the surveillance and adware they’ve jammed in there. Life is too short for all that, and I’ve wasted enough time on that as is. Literally just now it went jamming some Ford 150 ad on me, auto repeating. On the f’ing Home Screen!! I don’t know what I’ll replace it with, but it sure AF won’t be some corporate owned ad riddled POS like this.
VCFundedGenYer 2mo ago
This is a solved problem and this article completely missed the forest for the trees. Smart TVs are to be plugged in to be updated, and that's it. Their default state is to be permanently offline. Hook up an Apple TV if you want apps.
- Carrok 2mo ago
  Why would you even update? HDMI cables aren't really changing. No internet, ever.
  - VCFundedGenYer 2mo ago
    The TV I had got updates for ARC, frame gen, brightness adjustment, etc. Your statement is false. There are reasons to update.
    - KerrAvon 2mo ago
      FWIW, I'd bet you'd never have noticed the difference.
    - xp84 2mo ago
      You've got to be careful, though. Consider that they have non-deletable apps, tiny amounts of onboard storage, and that every "app" WILL bloat over time. So, with those updates installing the latest version of Netflix, Prime, HBO Max, Paramount, Tubi, LG Channels™ etc... it means it's filling your 4GB or whatever storage fuller and fuller. Eventually the storage will be nearly full, which shouldn't matter, except that it's a computer, and having storage nearly full makes it slow as shit to do everything, even "boot up" and "change inputs".
    - uncletammy 2mo ago
      The TV I had got updates for new ads and reduced speed
  - joshheitzman 2mo ago
    Exactly this. I've had ones for 10+ years that were never connected to the internet and they functioned perfectly well as dumb TVs.
hackernudes 2mo ago
I don't actually believe the claims of this blog. A driver for a monitor from Windows update allowing mcafee antivirus and/or other programs to be installed automatically? I think more details should be shared. Also contains a long rant about EDID which I think is unwarranted.
- cobbal 2mo ago
  It does sound totally ridiculous. Sadly it may not be. Previously discussed: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48956688 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48956688 "LG monitors silently install software through Windows Update without consent". You can argue if it actually installs the software or just nags the user to install it, but neither are things microsoft would allow a monitor "driver" to do if they had any integrity.
- EvanAnderson 2mo ago
  An install of Windows 11 from MSFT-provided media on an HP desktop PC earlier this year resulted in a ton of HP driver-related crapware on the PC. Windows Update will happily download drivers and user-mode software the driver manufacturer flags as being related. There is a Group Policy setting under Computer Configuration / Administrative Templates / System / Device Installation / "Prevent automatic download of applications associated with device metadata" that seems to curb most of it, thought I still ended up with a user mode app related to the audio driver.
jqpabc123 2mo ago
Setup the TV up in "store" or "demo" mode and use it as a simple display without internet access. Connect a mini-PC to provide any "smarts" required.
- hoppyhoppy2 2mo ago
  You might consider reading the article. It's not about connecting the TV to the internet
like_any_other 2mo ago
The reason this keeps happening btw is because we haven't sent anyone to jail over it. Not even when it's clearly criminal, like when Google tracked location data despite opt-out [1], or when LG did what they're doing now but forgot to bury something about it deep in the EULA [2] (we're all totally on board with click-through EULAs having such power, right?) The 2nd story is crazy - I wonder if I hack LG and start downloading all their trade secrets, when caught, the government would just let me stop the download and face no punishment, if I say I just forgot to ask them for consent. Or maybe it's different if I do the hacking through a backdoored cable I sell them, like they hack us through backdoored TVs. [1] https://inews.co.uk/news/technology/how-to-stop-google-from-tracking-your-every-move-186342 https://inews.co.uk/news/technology/how-to-stop-google-from-... [2] https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/smart-tvs-that-send-data-without-consent-will-be-fixed-lg-1.2434710 https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/smart-tvs-that-send-data-wit...
hahajk 2mo ago
> Oh, there's a driver update for the LG television. Makes sense, right? It's a fairly recent television, and the drivers will help us take advantage of all of the TV's features. Of course, I'd like Microsoft to download it. At this point I assume the author was making intentionally bad choices out of morbid curiosity. I can't imagine anyone technical thinking drivers should be required to connect to a TV via HDMI. (or maybe I'm not technical enough)
- BobbyTables2 2mo ago
  Windows does similar normal monitors. Often just a color profile, sometimes more…
- kccqzy 2mo ago
  A technical person might think this TV uses HDMI vendor extensions and so a driver would help.
- kulahan 2mo ago
  Windows used to always give a little popup saying it was installing drivers when you plugged shit into it. Now, apparently, TVs are for some reason trojan horsing this. There's no reason to expect a normal user to think "Yes, this port is the USB port and thus commonly needs driver updates, but that HDMI port does not ever need driver updates." Most people don't even know it's called a USB port, let alone whether it should host driver updates. Besides, I could imagine a scenario where there's some outdated HDMI decoding thing on it. Or maybe just some tech for home theater stuff I'm not aware of.
fckgw 2mo ago
It's shocking how many comments here didn't bother to read the article. At all. They're not talking about putting the TV online. The TV is completely offline. They're talking about plugging the TV into a PC or laptop via HDMI or Displayport (like if you're running an HTPC), which then triggers a companion app update on the PC via Windows Update. This was a news item a few weeks ago with their monitors. They then also discuss a hardware blocker for HDMI or DP to prevent this. Again, this has nothing to do about the TV's smart apps.
- beloch 2mo ago
  I was unaware of these side-loaded malicious apps until now. This is information consumers need to have. It's very reminiscent of Sony putting rootkits on CD's. Unwanted, dangerous software is being loaded onto your computer by people you paid money to. The companies involved, including MS, should face serious blowback over this, as Sony did.
  - spicyjpeg 2mo ago
    This isn't even the worst payload ever delivered through Windows Update. The prize for that should probably go to chip manufacturer FTDI, which once abused the system to publish a driver that would semi-permanently brick USB serial bridge parts the driver detected as counterfeit [1] by exploiting a command that the genuine parts did not implement correctly (how ironic) [2]. The backlash was large enough that Microsoft ended up pulling the update almost immediately, but that did not stop FTDI from trying again a few years later with another driver update that deliberately corrupted data sent through detected-counterfeit parts. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FTDI#Driver_controversy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FTDI#Driver_controversy [2] https://github.com/therealdreg/ftdibrick#diving-deep https://github.com/therealdreg/ftdibrick#diving-deep
    - Henchman21 2mo ago
      It’s almost like money gives some people the idea that being a cunt is 100% ok so long as you get your money.
kova12 2mo ago
One day someone would reverse engineer the data TV feeds back to mother ship, and makes a fake driver to feed it garbage. Or not garbage. I could see some fun and profit a crowdfunded poison data could generate
postpostpotst 2mo ago
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postpostpotst 2mo ago
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robotnikman 2mo ago
>You know what? There's really nothing good to watch on TV anyways. If Hollywood has to subsidize the television industry just to keep its base, it doesn't have any money to invest in anything new. Every channel just wants to brainwash you. So throwing the Flat Panel into the garbage might be a good idea anyways. Definitely have to agree with the author on that. Only use for a TV for me is for playing on the Steam Machine.
mtlynch 2mo ago
I couldn't understand what this article was saying. There's nothing nefarious about EDIDs. EDIDs are just a way of the monitor to announce its capabilities to the device so that the device and the display can agree on things like resolution, refresh rate, etc. EDIDs are just blobs of data without capability to execute logic, as far as I'm aware. It sounds like the author is claiming that Windows does some sort of driver update in response to EDID announcements, but OP doesn't explain it at all. If that's true, that would entirely be on the Windows end not on the EDID's end. It sounds like Windows is recognizing LG as the manufacturer declared in the EDID and then downloading a driver for LG. I don't think there's any way for the EDID to declare to the OS that it wants to perform a driver update.
- bigstrat2003 2mo ago
  In a nutshell, the article is saying that because you can't guarantee OS vendors won't go down the path Microsoft has (i.e. installing unwanted software as a "driver update" when you plug the display into your computer), it's therefore better to block the EDID just in case your Linux distro vendor goes rogue too. I don't agree with that argument, personally, but that's the argument he's making.
- spicyjpeg 2mo ago
  This is indeed what is happening behind the scenes. By default Windows Update will automatically download and install support packages for pretty much any device Windows can identify through manufacturer/device IDs, which includes PCIe and USB devices but also monitors. This is most commonly used to deliver drivers but Microsoft allows these packages to silently install any user-facing application as well, presumably due to peripherals such as GPUs or audio chipsets often requiring "control panels" or similar companion apps. Around a month ago LG took advantage of this feature by publishing a Windows "driver" for all their TVs and monitors that consisted entirely of payola bloatware, resulting in predictable backlash [1] and the obligatory subsequent HN discussion [2]. None of this has anything to do with the TVs themselves being connected to the internet or not. [1] https://youtube.com/watch?v=Q9uefFYe6bM https://youtube.com/watch?v=Q9uefFYe6bM [2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48956688 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48956688
dreamcompiler 2mo ago
Me to my normie friends and family: "Never connect your TV to the internet." Them: "But then how will I get Netflix?" Me: "Get an Apple TV and connect it to the internet. Then connect that to your TV with an HDMI cable." Them: "I don't need an Apple TV. I just bought a TV!" Me: "Apple TV is not a TV. It's a little box." Them: "Then why does Apple call it a TV?" Me (snarky): "I told Steve Jobs not to call it a TV but he did it anyway." Them: "This is all too confusing. Just buy the things and hook it up. Here's my credit card." Me: "OK" Them (one month later): "Hey our new TV is working great!" Me: "Good!" Them: "Except it shows us an unskippable ad whenever we turn it on, and the ad seems to know a lot about us." Me: "Um...that shouldn't be happening." <investigation begins> Me: "This TV knows your wifi password!" Them: "Oh yeah! After you left last month the TV asked us if we wanted to 'finish the setup process'. So we did what it told us and now it's happy. Aren't you proud of us for figuring that out all on our own?" Me (to myself): choose words carefully before speaking, self
- Telaneo 2mo ago
  > Me (to myself): choose words carefully before speaking, self 'Your TV is evil and has tricked you. I'm sorry I was unable to protect you.'
- blitzar 2mo ago
  Going to have to replace the router now
testing22321 2mo ago
> You know what? There's really nothing good to watch on TV anyways In Australia TV is colloquially called “the idiot box” A foreign friend asked, “is that because there are only idiots on there, or because you turn into one if you watch too much?” Yes.
CommanderData 2mo ago
Samba, a media intelligence company have several partnerships with manufacturers to take screenshots and collect metadata. Who the fuck invited them into the living room? They say it's optional and opt in but I really don't believe that. Edit: it's called ACR and a much bigger problem then I originally thought. Wow.
TacticalCoder 2mo ago
> https://www.s-config.com/microslop/ https://www.s-config.com/microslop/ For that link only TFA is worth it.
advael 2mo ago
It boggles the mind that there are still people out there using windows
- deleted 2mo ago
  [deleted]
- Ylpertnodi 2mo ago
  I use Windows 10. It's a great system...after you turn off not required services, some basic blocking of telemetry. And, linux doesn't have the software I've used since '85... Linux is still too much faff.
  - advael 2mo ago
    Takes all kinds I s'pose
briandw 2mo ago
I’ve wondering if there is a DD-WRT type firmware project out there for TV firmware. If not how difficult is it to root these? I can’t imagine that they are that secure.
tehnoslow 2mo ago
That's some crazy stuff. I knew LG and others liked to push ads on their smart TVs, but I didn't realize it was this bad...
nirui 2mo ago
Not sure if it's just me, but I started really dislike the "tech product" these days. You bought this TV and it might install malware on your computer, so to use it you also have to buy a blocker that might be a scam. Where is the joy in all of this? My X.com was shadowbanned, I got tired trying to resolve it, so I made the ban permanent with a simple element `.click` against the Like button of one of my post done inside a very quick `window.setInterval`. One of the best decision I ever made during the past few years. I'm also in the process of getting my Steam account deleted because my friend told me it has been flagged while all I did was just using it as I would normally, no hacking, no cheating etc, paying all with my own money instead of gift card. Maybe I'm old, I got really tired on performing maintenance on other people's bad intent or mistakes. But you know what, sometimes, cutting things off from your life can be beneficial, it makes you focus on things that truly matter to you, or at least it triggers the review process while you making the decisions. Do you really need a TV anyway? Just so you can then spend more on it to watch stuff that you'll probably forget within a week? Less stuff, less suffering.

205 points by speckx 2mo ago

Wise words "Never give ANY smart device internet.". That is just stupid to give internet access to a "smart" tv or a "smart" phone. You have zero control over it.

____tom____ 2mo ago
They are likely going to have access. Lots of things have built in cellular modems these days, and your cable provider already uses your cable modem as a hotspot for other people. You can do things like physically modifying your TV, or seeing if there are undocumented settings to disable things.
- margalabargala 2mo ago
  It's also usually not that hard to open the case and remove the physical antennas.
- Ancalagon 2mo ago
  Is that why the cable companies are always trying to get me to use their equipment now?? God I hate this.
  - Barbing 2mo ago
    Plus the DNS spying even after disabling their safety stuff (impossible to change DNS on Comcast Xfinity-provided gateway). Still trying to get as good speeds with my own equipment.
    - DANmode 2mo ago
      What’s your equipment and what software does it run? If it’s something on the shelf at Target, Walmart, you may remain disappointed.
      - Barbing 2mo ago
        Modem: Definitely closed-source junk. (Suppose all the cable modems will be closed.[1]) Ubiquiti UCI just a little spendy for current setup. [1] thanks CableLabs https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10597927 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10597927 Router: Something I have to upgrade, though trying for approx a full gig speeds at the modem first. Eying an OpenWrt-compatible one. Looks like the GL.iNet GL-MT6000 (Flint 2) comes with it preinstalled! ( https://www.gl-inet.com/en-us/products/gl-mt6000?country=US https://www.gl-inet.com/en-us/products/gl-mt6000?country=US ) Edit: I see I'd have to flash the real Open-Wrt on the Flint 2: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42285923 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42285923
        DANmode 2mo ago
        I’ve heard great things about that model. Buy with confidence.
- drnick1 2mo ago
  > your cable provider already uses your cable modem as a hotspot for other people. Is this for real? This does not affect me as I use my own equipment, but I still find it hard to believe.
  - akiselev 2mo ago
    Major ISPs in the US have been doing it for at least a decade. Xfinity Wifi [1] claims over 20 million wifi hotspots provided through customer routers. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xfinity#Xfinity_WiFi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xfinity#Xfinity_WiFi
  - WalterGR 2mo ago
    Yes. Xfinity is the big one. Their devices create two hotspots: one for the customer and one to power their Xfinity WiFi service and for bandwidth offloading for their cellular service. Instructions for disabling it: https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/disable-xfinity-wifi-home-hotspot https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/disable-xfinity-wif...
    - jedbrooke 2mo ago
      I have to say though as a xfinity customer, being able to get wifi basically anywhere urban is pretty nice
      - ozlikethewizard 2mo ago
        Yea this almosts sounds like it could be a great idea with proper execution, nothing like this in the UK. Imagine if they were upfront and said "well knock a tenner (or whatever is reasonable in the US) if you allow your access point to be used as a hotspot"
        lozf 2mo ago
        > nothing like this in the UK. It turns out there are several similar services offered in the UK by ISP's like O2, Sky, and BT¹ (recently rebranded as EE-WiFi²) who claim to be the UK's largest WiFi Hotspot Network. Perhaps that's due to it being opt-out on their routers since it was first introduced over a decade ago. [¹]: https://info.btwifi.com/help/ https://info.btwifi.com/help/ [²]: https://ee-wifi.ee.co.uk/public/ee/index.htm https://ee-wifi.ee.co.uk/public/ee/index.htm
- deleted 2mo ago
  [deleted]
- majorchord 2mo ago
  > hotspot for other people. How does this work legally when you get in trouble for someone else's activity?
  - ozlikethewizard 2mo ago
    If its a hotspot you'll have to login to authenticate, so presumably the traffic is uniquely identifiable. I'd hope when LE contact ISP for details theyd be able to go oh that ip address is here but it was actually this persons traffic.
    - ranger_danger 2mo ago
      I'm fairly confident that ISPs do not log all customer traffic, especially for an indeterminate amount of time. There would not be enough storage on the planet available.
- alexfoo 2mo ago
  It works both ways though. The traffic was separated so that anything on the public hotspot was not attributed to the private subscriber network. Secondly for years I lived somewhere very remote so that meant that hardly anyone ever got to use my broadband connection via such a hotspot, but I got to use hundreds of other peoples hotspots when I was somewhere less isolated. I was quite happy to opt in to this system as I benefitted hugely from it.
skizm 2mo ago
It sucks being in an apartment complex because there are always a bunch of unsecured networks floating around that the TV, or whatever, can connect to even if you don't manually do it.
- drnick1 2mo ago
  One option is to physically remove the WiFi card. I saw an article about this a while back, and it was a surprisingly simple mod. On a related note, you should absolutely remove the cellular modem from your car as well.
  - eldaisfish 2mo ago
    removing the cellular modem from a car can have several unintended consequences. The geniuses at hyundai refuse to let you operate the heating in some of their electric cars without an internet connection. Yes, you read that right - the only way to operate the HVAC compressor in several hyundai EVs is via their stupid app and the internet. I found out the hard way when i kept noticing that my hyundai EV was not heating the cabin in winter even though i turned the HAVC on. Turns out, as soon as you plug into the wall outlet, the compressor stops. There is no technical reason for this, other than enshittification.
    - drnick1 2mo ago
      > Yes, you read that right - the only way to operate the HVAC compressor in several hyundai EVs is via their stupid app and the internet. Noted. Thank you for reminding us not to buy a Hyundai EV.
    - DANmode 2mo ago
      Wall outlets are usually in garages, which are indoor/outdoor areas, kept with lots of microbial growth. Maybe the engineers wanted to ensure your cabin wouldn’t induce health risks.
      - DANmode 2mo ago
blitzar 2mo ago
"Never give ANY dumb device internet" The smart here really isnt the issue.
groby_b 2mo ago
Except... some of us like to stream content on TVs. And some of us really don't like the idea of maintaining yet another extra piece of hardware for that. And so your TV does need Internet access. The same holds for many other devices, in different shapes. Sure, you can opt out of civilization completely to avoid all the side effects of late stage capitalism, but maybe it's worth applying a bit more nuanced thinking to find a balance that doesn't throw you back to the 1800s. (Unless you like the 1800s, in which case, enjoy)
- drnick1 2mo ago
  > Except... some of us like to stream content on TVs. Linux mini-PC running Bigscreen Plasma. No, it can't be used to stream Netflix at native resolution because of DRM. But if you can't live without Netflix content, you can use alternative sources and save money in the process. VacuumTube for YT instead of the official app. Yes, this is an additional device, but it is not unlike a streaming stick or Android shitbox.
  - epiccoleman 2mo ago
    classic linux advice lol. disable the smart features on your TV and then buy a whole computer so you can ... not be able to watch netflix and youtube on your TV disclaimer: i run a whole variety of home media stuff, so i am one of you - but it's just a funny example of exactly the kind of thing that makes people not do this stuff
  - krupan 2mo ago
    I self host a lot, including jellyfin, but I've never tried to do the Linux HTPC. Whenever I look into it everything has changed from a few years ago, it all sounds difficult to get working and keep working, and I give up. I didn't know we had a whole new set of software. It was once MythTV, then XBMC, then something else I can't remember, and now I've lost track.
    - drnick1 2mo ago
      > I self host a lot, including jellyfin, but I've never tried to do the Linux HTPC. I think now is the right time to revisit the Linux HTPC, mostly because Plasma 6.7 integrated the new Bigscreen interface. This is a genuine 10-foot desktop environment optimized for TV remotes and controllers. Previously, most Linux HTPCs simply used GNOME/KDE, with the scaling cranked up to 200 or 300%. In terms of apps, I suggest Kodi for local files, VacuumTube as a Youtube TV/Leanback substitute, and Steam or SteamLink for gaming, depending on hardware. With an airmouse remote you can also simply use Firefox or Chromium and stream from pretty much anywhere, subject to resolution restrictions for Netflix and some other services.
fusslo 2mo ago
Back when I first started my career, I generally disagreed. My first job was at a connected device startup in the IoT space. The whole ethos around data was pretty good. Maybe it was because the tech side of the company I worked for was 99% ex-gov contractors (aerospace, low level routers, submarines...). We collected such minimal information. Basically only enough to allow for OTAs, functionality, and debugging. Thinking back, we could've collected so much more. I remember when Alexa hit the market and we (as a company) thought there's NO WAY amazon was making any money on them. Today... NO WAY. Along the way the value stopped being "This product is priced so we can make a profit" and became "The data we collect is more valuable than the sale".
afarah1 2mo ago
Well, nowadays the purpose of a TV is usually to watch content over the internet, so I wouldn't call it "stupid" to connect the TV to the internet. You might say it's naive, but is it really naive to buy a TV and expect it to be a device to display audiovisual content and not a spyware/adware machine? I feel like it's not the user's behavior that should be put into question here, but the borderline criminal behavior of the manufacturer.

dpark 2mo ago

This is an exhausting read. From the diminishing use of the word “rape” to the steam of conscious delivery to the blogspam cliches of hyperbole and exclamation. The malware installed by LG on Microsoft PCs and the spying by smart TVs are both despicable. But I couldn’t get through this article.

spockz 2mo ago
I find it so incredibly short sighted to implement such shenanigans. I was set to buy a LG 39GX950B as an upgrade to my current ultrawide until I read that they will automatically install an installer that will ask whether you want to install additional tools every freaking time you plug in the monitor. Absurd.
- Terr_ 2mo ago
  > short sighted to implement such shenanigans Even if they were convenient shenanigans, in the longer term: Political action > Purchasing Choices > Individual modifications
  - left-struck 2mo ago
    I disagree, clearly purchasing choices only hurt you and doesn’t help the situation. Instead we should embrace hacker culture and take by force that which won’t be given to us. By force I mean the gentle kind of force of forcibly owning the stuff you already legally own. There’s never been a better time, we’re in this sweet spot where we have LLM agents that can help normal people do this stuff, but not yet at the point where a significant amount of the consumer technology we use has been hardened.
    - spockz 2mo ago
      Yes, okay. If I’m fatalistic then this is the best time to buy something like the monitor because I now still could flash the firmware to rip out the auto install. Presumably. But isn’t it way better to get legislation in place to prevent this? And how can it technically even do this? Isn’t it a huge security risk if just plugging in something on USB-C can execute a binary?? Update: reread the news item on ars at the time: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/07/microsoft-responds-to-lg-monitors-installing-mcafee-ads-on-windows/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/07/microsoft-responds-t... So apparently it is a windows feature to be able to automatically install software belonging to a device fingerprint. It isn’t something the firmware or monitor is doing over USB-C but rather a function of windows that can (and should) be disabled.

Arubis 2mo ago

A periodic reminder that you can buy a TV that's not smart. It won't be the fancy Samsung wall-art one and it won't be the absolute shiniest display tech out there, but it will be good enough, it'll be dirt cheap, and it won't have a network port or an 802.11 radio. [Sceptre](https://www.sceptre.com/TV/4K-UHD-TV-category1category73.html https://www.sceptre.com/TV/4K-UHD-TV-category1category73.htm...)'s 4K series is sold at Wal-Mart, often for under half the web-listed prices. I’ve bought a few at the 42” scale for like $180 shipped. They’re fine and they’re incapable of all the spyware bullshit.

AvAn12 2mo ago
Yep! Our family is on our second one. First was 42” and lasted five years. Current one is 55” and is going on seven years. Both were around $200-250. Picture quality is great for us. Apple TV takes care of streaming. And easy connection to our stereo gives great audio. Cheers!
gigel82 2mo ago
Let me know when they (or anyone else) comes out with an oled model.
- reaperducer 2mo ago
  I did a quick search on my local electronics store's web site, and there are several options. I don't know where you are, so I can't say what availability is like there. But it's worth doing a basic search.
  - gigel82 2mo ago
    What search terms did you use? I'm in the US, can't find anything with an oled panel that's not a smart tv or a computer monitor.
alexfoo 2mo ago
A bit into tinfoilhat territory but just because they don't advertise that they have an 802.11 radio doesn't mean the devices can't have one. Or an LTE/4G/5G radio. If the user data is worth that much then I wouldn't be surprised if some manufacturers put such radios in their non-smart TVs in order to try and gather such data. I live in a densely populated part of a large UK city and (checks `nmcli dev wifi list`) there are 14 distinct wireless networks near me that aren't mine. There's a good chance that any IOT device could find something nearby, and there's even a whole load of LoRa nodes that it could use for a very slow uplink.

VoodooJuJu 2mo ago

[dead]

fg137 2mo ago

> Amid the overall electronics boom thanks to A.I. What is it talking about? What boom?

tripleee 2mo ago
maybe they mean the price inflation
- gruez 2mo ago
  AFAIK TVs and monitors were relatively unaffected.
  - tripleee 2mo ago
    yeah I'm just attempting an interpretation, not fact checking haha
    - madibo3156 2mo ago
      > Amid the overall electronics boom thanks to A.I., … one piece of electronics is almost unchanged financially. That is the digital display or flat-panel monitor. …is the full quote. Come on, guys.
  - monocasa 2mo ago
    If anything, they've seemed to have gotten cheaper.
deleted 2mo ago
[deleted]
Terr_ 2mo ago
Moreover, how could any past and positive "electronics boom" be attributed to "AI"? If anything it's the opposite, as memory components become obscenely expensive.
Dfiesl 2mo ago
I guess theyre talking about all the electronics being used to populate the various data centre's popping up about the place. The GPUs, RAM and what not

a1o 2mo ago

Interesting, I knew about these EDID devices to use to pair with KVM for a slightly better experience, but never thought about their use on this perspective!

radicaldreamer 2mo ago

It's not a matter of "cheap", even the high end Sony TVs have spyware on them by default. The best thing you can do is get Claude or Codex to adb into your TV and uninstall all the malware, then keep it disconnected from Wifi and use an external box like Apple TV to watch. Just disconnecting from Wifi often doesn't work because the TV will connect to insecure wifi to upload data and fingerprint what you're watching and who you are.

qlte 2mo ago
> Just disconnecting from Wifi often doesn't work because the TV will connect to insecure wifi to upload data Is there any evidence of this actually happening? It's oft stated yet I've never seen any proof or specific models where this has been observed. It made more sense when I first heard this theorized back in the early 2010s when smart TVs were becoming more common and unsecured WiFi hadn't vanished completely yet. Now it would be way more logical to include a cheap 5g radio, which has also been alleged but I haven't seen any model shown to include one.
- robotnikman 2mo ago
  IIRC a decade ago Samsung smart TV's were found doing this.
left-struck 2mo ago
I don’t think that will help with the TV installing malware on your pc. Though to your point, Claude or codex could probably help with that too.

katzgrau 2mo ago

> crackhead@blorb.localhost Checks out, and I mean that in the kindest way possible

derf_ 2mo ago

Warren Buffett has often said, "In looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if you don't have the first, the other two will kill you." The exact same logic applies to devices you buy. These companies have shown they do not have any integrity. So why would you want buy something from them that is "smart" and never sleeps?

malfist 2mo ago
Because our government has failed to protect us from monopolies or duopolies. How many things can you buy with modern technology that you'd say the brand had integrity?
- krupan 2mo ago
  Competition enforces integrity? I can see how it might help, but I'm afraid it's a deeper moral problem
  - ozlikethewizard 2mo ago
    Yea competition only enforces integrity if consumers are selecting for integrity. Without getting into a nitty grityy morality debate, you've got an obvious first issue here that many if not most people dont know what they are buying when it comes to tech, so we cant expect a market to correct for our perceived morality if the consumers havent even got a clue they're being slighted in the first place.
  - m463 2mo ago
    Integrity can be bought and compromised. In fact it seems like many (most?) decent startup products end up rugpulls.

pico303 2mo ago

The solution for smart TVs is to not connect it to the Internet and attach an Apple TV. Sure they’ve gotten expensive, but how much is your privacy worth?

KerrAvon 2mo ago
100%. LGs work perfectly well in this role.
- xbar 2mo ago
  Yup. Samsung & Sonys too. Dumb mode, no internet, Apple TV. Doesn't solve the malware on Windows PCs installed by LG monitors problem. My only solution to that remains to not buy Lucky Goldstar ever since their 14" 640x480 VGA monitor died inside of warranty but they refused to fix it.
Larrikin 2mo ago
Shield TV using Android means you can install any apps on it you want. I would never want to go back to watching YouTube without Sponsor block
- switchbak 2mo ago
  The Shield sucks too, unless you go super nerd and fix all its problems. They treat your home screen like a billboard, and I have no faith that they're not stealing all my data either.
  - Larrikin 2mo ago
    Android lets you put on your own launcher. There are many options to choose from in the store and online. It is one the main selling point of Android, you have options and aren't limited to their marketplace.
    - switchbak 2mo ago
      That’s what I meant by go all super nerd. I don’t want to fight with: my phone, my car, my router, my desktop/laptop, dishwasher, home automation system - just to pull out the surveillance and adware they’ve jammed in there. Life is too short for all that, and I’ve wasted enough time on that as is. Literally just now it went jamming some Ford 150 ad on me, auto repeating. On the f’ing Home Screen!! I don’t know what I’ll replace it with, but it sure AF won’t be some corporate owned ad riddled POS like this.

VCFundedGenYer 2mo ago

This is a solved problem and this article completely missed the forest for the trees. Smart TVs are to be plugged in to be updated, and that's it. Their default state is to be permanently offline. Hook up an Apple TV if you want apps.

Carrok 2mo ago
Why would you even update? HDMI cables aren't really changing. No internet, ever.
- VCFundedGenYer 2mo ago
  The TV I had got updates for ARC, frame gen, brightness adjustment, etc. Your statement is false. There are reasons to update.
  - KerrAvon 2mo ago
    FWIW, I'd bet you'd never have noticed the difference.
  - xp84 2mo ago
    You've got to be careful, though. Consider that they have non-deletable apps, tiny amounts of onboard storage, and that every "app" WILL bloat over time. So, with those updates installing the latest version of Netflix, Prime, HBO Max, Paramount, Tubi, LG Channels™ etc... it means it's filling your 4GB or whatever storage fuller and fuller. Eventually the storage will be nearly full, which shouldn't matter, except that it's a computer, and having storage nearly full makes it slow as shit to do everything, even "boot up" and "change inputs".
  - uncletammy 2mo ago
    The TV I had got updates for new ads and reduced speed
- joshheitzman 2mo ago
  Exactly this. I've had ones for 10+ years that were never connected to the internet and they functioned perfectly well as dumb TVs.

hackernudes 2mo ago

I don't actually believe the claims of this blog. A driver for a monitor from Windows update allowing mcafee antivirus and/or other programs to be installed automatically? I think more details should be shared. Also contains a long rant about EDID which I think is unwarranted.

cobbal 2mo ago
It does sound totally ridiculous. Sadly it may not be. Previously discussed: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48956688 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48956688 "LG monitors silently install software through Windows Update without consent". You can argue if it actually installs the software or just nags the user to install it, but neither are things microsoft would allow a monitor "driver" to do if they had any integrity.
EvanAnderson 2mo ago
An install of Windows 11 from MSFT-provided media on an HP desktop PC earlier this year resulted in a ton of HP driver-related crapware on the PC. Windows Update will happily download drivers and user-mode software the driver manufacturer flags as being related. There is a Group Policy setting under Computer Configuration / Administrative Templates / System / Device Installation / "Prevent automatic download of applications associated with device metadata" that seems to curb most of it, thought I still ended up with a user mode app related to the audio driver.

jqpabc123 2mo ago

Setup the TV up in "store" or "demo" mode and use it as a simple display without internet access. Connect a mini-PC to provide any "smarts" required.

hoppyhoppy2 2mo ago
You might consider reading the article. It's not about connecting the TV to the internet

like_any_other 2mo ago

The reason this keeps happening btw is because we haven't sent anyone to jail over it. Not even when it's clearly criminal, like when Google tracked location data despite opt-out [1], or when LG did what they're doing now but forgot to bury something about it deep in the EULA [2] (we're all totally on board with click-through EULAs having such power, right?) The 2nd story is crazy - I wonder if I hack LG and start downloading all their trade secrets, when caught, the government would just let me stop the download and face no punishment, if I say I just forgot to ask them for consent. Or maybe it's different if I do the hacking through a backdoored cable I sell them, like they hack us through backdoored TVs. [1] https://inews.co.uk/news/technology/how-to-stop-google-from-tracking-your-every-move-186342 https://inews.co.uk/news/technology/how-to-stop-google-from-... [2] https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/smart-tvs-that-send-data-without-consent-will-be-fixed-lg-1.2434710 https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/smart-tvs-that-send-data-wit...

hahajk 2mo ago

> Oh, there's a driver update for the LG television. Makes sense, right? It's a fairly recent television, and the drivers will help us take advantage of all of the TV's features. Of course, I'd like Microsoft to download it. At this point I assume the author was making intentionally bad choices out of morbid curiosity. I can't imagine anyone technical thinking drivers should be required to connect to a TV via HDMI. (or maybe I'm not technical enough)

BobbyTables2 2mo ago
Windows does similar normal monitors. Often just a color profile, sometimes more…
kccqzy 2mo ago
A technical person might think this TV uses HDMI vendor extensions and so a driver would help.
kulahan 2mo ago
Windows used to always give a little popup saying it was installing drivers when you plugged shit into it. Now, apparently, TVs are for some reason trojan horsing this. There's no reason to expect a normal user to think "Yes, this port is the USB port and thus commonly needs driver updates, but that HDMI port does not ever need driver updates." Most people don't even know it's called a USB port, let alone whether it should host driver updates. Besides, I could imagine a scenario where there's some outdated HDMI decoding thing on it. Or maybe just some tech for home theater stuff I'm not aware of.

fckgw 2mo ago

It's shocking how many comments here didn't bother to read the article. At all. They're not talking about putting the TV online. The TV is completely offline. They're talking about plugging the TV into a PC or laptop via HDMI or Displayport (like if you're running an HTPC), which then triggers a companion app update on the PC via Windows Update. This was a news item a few weeks ago with their monitors. They then also discuss a hardware blocker for HDMI or DP to prevent this. Again, this has nothing to do about the TV's smart apps.

beloch 2mo ago
I was unaware of these side-loaded malicious apps until now. This is information consumers need to have. It's very reminiscent of Sony putting rootkits on CD's. Unwanted, dangerous software is being loaded onto your computer by people you paid money to. The companies involved, including MS, should face serious blowback over this, as Sony did.
- spicyjpeg 2mo ago
  This isn't even the worst payload ever delivered through Windows Update. The prize for that should probably go to chip manufacturer FTDI, which once abused the system to publish a driver that would semi-permanently brick USB serial bridge parts the driver detected as counterfeit [1] by exploiting a command that the genuine parts did not implement correctly (how ironic) [2]. The backlash was large enough that Microsoft ended up pulling the update almost immediately, but that did not stop FTDI from trying again a few years later with another driver update that deliberately corrupted data sent through detected-counterfeit parts. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FTDI#Driver_controversy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FTDI#Driver_controversy [2] https://github.com/therealdreg/ftdibrick#diving-deep https://github.com/therealdreg/ftdibrick#diving-deep
  - Henchman21 2mo ago
    It’s almost like money gives some people the idea that being a cunt is 100% ok so long as you get your money.

kova12 2mo ago

One day someone would reverse engineer the data TV feeds back to mother ship, and makes a fake driver to feed it garbage. Or not garbage. I could see some fun and profit a crowdfunded poison data could generate

postpostpotst 2mo ago

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postpostpotst 2mo ago

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robotnikman 2mo ago

>You know what? There's really nothing good to watch on TV anyways. If Hollywood has to subsidize the television industry just to keep its base, it doesn't have any money to invest in anything new. Every channel just wants to brainwash you. So throwing the Flat Panel into the garbage might be a good idea anyways. Definitely have to agree with the author on that. Only use for a TV for me is for playing on the Steam Machine.

mtlynch 2mo ago

I couldn't understand what this article was saying. There's nothing nefarious about EDIDs. EDIDs are just a way of the monitor to announce its capabilities to the device so that the device and the display can agree on things like resolution, refresh rate, etc. EDIDs are just blobs of data without capability to execute logic, as far as I'm aware. It sounds like the author is claiming that Windows does some sort of driver update in response to EDID announcements, but OP doesn't explain it at all. If that's true, that would entirely be on the Windows end not on the EDID's end. It sounds like Windows is recognizing LG as the manufacturer declared in the EDID and then downloading a driver for LG. I don't think there's any way for the EDID to declare to the OS that it wants to perform a driver update.

bigstrat2003 2mo ago
In a nutshell, the article is saying that because you can't guarantee OS vendors won't go down the path Microsoft has (i.e. installing unwanted software as a "driver update" when you plug the display into your computer), it's therefore better to block the EDID just in case your Linux distro vendor goes rogue too. I don't agree with that argument, personally, but that's the argument he's making.
spicyjpeg 2mo ago
This is indeed what is happening behind the scenes. By default Windows Update will automatically download and install support packages for pretty much any device Windows can identify through manufacturer/device IDs, which includes PCIe and USB devices but also monitors. This is most commonly used to deliver drivers but Microsoft allows these packages to silently install any user-facing application as well, presumably due to peripherals such as GPUs or audio chipsets often requiring "control panels" or similar companion apps. Around a month ago LG took advantage of this feature by publishing a Windows "driver" for all their TVs and monitors that consisted entirely of payola bloatware, resulting in predictable backlash [1] and the obligatory subsequent HN discussion [2]. None of this has anything to do with the TVs themselves being connected to the internet or not. [1] https://youtube.com/watch?v=Q9uefFYe6bM https://youtube.com/watch?v=Q9uefFYe6bM [2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48956688 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48956688

dreamcompiler 2mo ago

Me to my normie friends and family: "Never connect your TV to the internet." Them: "But then how will I get Netflix?" Me: "Get an Apple TV and connect it to the internet. Then connect that to your TV with an HDMI cable." Them: "I don't need an Apple TV. I just bought a TV!" Me: "Apple TV is not a TV. It's a little box." Them: "Then why does Apple call it a TV?" Me (snarky): "I told Steve Jobs not to call it a TV but he did it anyway." Them: "This is all too confusing. Just buy the things and hook it up. Here's my credit card." Me: "OK" Them (one month later): "Hey our new TV is working great!" Me: "Good!" Them: "Except it shows us an unskippable ad whenever we turn it on, and the ad seems to know a lot about us." Me: "Um...that shouldn't be happening." <investigation begins> Me: "This TV knows your wifi password!" Them: "Oh yeah! After you left last month the TV asked us if we wanted to 'finish the setup process'. So we did what it told us and now it's happy. Aren't you proud of us for figuring that out all on our own?" Me (to myself): choose words carefully before speaking, self

Telaneo 2mo ago
> Me (to myself): choose words carefully before speaking, self 'Your TV is evil and has tricked you. I'm sorry I was unable to protect you.'
blitzar 2mo ago
Going to have to replace the router now

testing22321 2mo ago

> You know what? There's really nothing good to watch on TV anyways In Australia TV is colloquially called “the idiot box” A foreign friend asked, “is that because there are only idiots on there, or because you turn into one if you watch too much?” Yes.

CommanderData 2mo ago

Samba, a media intelligence company have several partnerships with manufacturers to take screenshots and collect metadata. Who the fuck invited them into the living room? They say it's optional and opt in but I really don't believe that. Edit: it's called ACR and a much bigger problem then I originally thought. Wow.

TacticalCoder 2mo ago

> https://www.s-config.com/microslop/ https://www.s-config.com/microslop/ For that link only TFA is worth it.

advael 2mo ago

It boggles the mind that there are still people out there using windows

deleted 2mo ago
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Ylpertnodi 2mo ago
I use Windows 10. It's a great system...after you turn off not required services, some basic blocking of telemetry. And, linux doesn't have the software I've used since '85... Linux is still too much faff.
- advael 2mo ago
  Takes all kinds I s'pose

briandw 2mo ago

I’ve wondering if there is a DD-WRT type firmware project out there for TV firmware. If not how difficult is it to root these? I can’t imagine that they are that secure.

tehnoslow 2mo ago

That's some crazy stuff. I knew LG and others liked to push ads on their smart TVs, but I didn't realize it was this bad...

nirui 2mo ago

Not sure if it's just me, but I started really dislike the "tech product" these days. You bought this TV and it might install malware on your computer, so to use it you also have to buy a blocker that might be a scam. Where is the joy in all of this? My X.com was shadowbanned, I got tired trying to resolve it, so I made the ban permanent with a simple element `.click` against the Like button of one of my post done inside a very quick `window.setInterval`. One of the best decision I ever made during the past few years. I'm also in the process of getting my Steam account deleted because my friend told me it has been flagged while all I did was just using it as I would normally, no hacking, no cheating etc, paying all with my own money instead of gift card. Maybe I'm old, I got really tired on performing maintenance on other people's bad intent or mistakes. But you know what, sometimes, cutting things off from your life can be beneficial, it makes you focus on things that truly matter to you, or at least it triggers the review process while you making the decisions. Do you really need a TV anyway? Just so you can then spend more on it to watch stuff that you'll probably forget within a week? Less stuff, less suffering.