Android phones talk to Facebook too even if you don't have an account or any of their apps.
Source?
Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook
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Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook
#12Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook
#13When can I buy a TV without smart features? I don't doubt that my smart TV is reporting some data about my usage, but I barely have a choice in the matter.
It's surprising to me that you can't find a single medium or high-ish end TV without smart features, but at the same time chromecast/firetv/apple tv units and sticks also seem to be selling very well. Is everyone just putting up with the shitty built-in smart interface, but then switching inputs to their separate unit of choice?
You can, they're just not marketed to consumers. Search electronics retailers like B&H, Newegg, etc for "commercial displays" or "digital signage" and you'll see a lot of familiar looking units that don't have all the consumer garbage built in. They tend to be more expensive but not prohibitively so.
Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook
#14When can I buy a TV without smart features? I don't doubt that my smart TV is reporting some data about my usage, but I barely have a choice in the matter.
It’s pretty simple: don’t connect it to the internet. Use something like AppleTV or your own box that you trust to show your streaming services.
Can you be sure it is not connected to the Internet? I thought previously someone gave example of a Chinese TV connecting to open hotspots, or perhaps that was just a thought experiment.
Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook
#15When can I buy a TV without smart features? I don't doubt that my smart TV is reporting some data about my usage, but I barely have a choice in the matter.
I got a Samsung "SmartTV", turned it on and the first thing I saw was advertisement and an insane amount of calls to Samsung servers on my Pi-hole. On the TV I just paid for.
Opened it up, disconnected the WiFi module, connected my Apple TV to it and am pretty happy.
Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook
#16When can I buy a TV without smart features? I don't doubt that my smart TV is reporting some data about my usage, but I barely have a choice in the matter.
PiHole.
Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's surprising to me that you can't find a single medium or high-ish end TV without smart features, but at the same time chromecast/firetv/apple tv units and sticks also seem to be selling very well. Is everyone just putting up with the shitty built-in smart interface, but then switching inputs to their separate unit of choice?
You can, they're just not marketed to consumers. Search electronics retailers like B&H, Newegg, etc for "commercial displays" or "digital signage" and you'll see a lot of familiar looking units that don't have all the consumer garbage built in. They tend to be more expensive but not prohibitively so.
Don't those units tend to have subpar picture quality though due to being optimized for reliability and minimal burn-in over refresh rate?
Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook
#18Earlier quoted context omitted.
Source?
If you run an app that uses Facebook libraries. This is true on iOS, the web, and any other platform as well.
This feels less like an Android issue than it is a Facebook issue (which I say without implicitly defending Google's privacy-breach record).
Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
It’s pretty simple: don’t connect it to the internet. Use something like AppleTV or your own box that you trust to show your streaming services.
Can you be sure it is not connected to the Internet? I thought previously someone gave example of a Chinese TV connecting to open hotspots, or perhaps that was just a thought experiment.
As long as every local connection is encrypted/password protected you should be fine.
Unfortunately, outside of rural areas that may not be under your control.
Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook
#20When can I buy a TV without smart features? I don't doubt that my smart TV is reporting some data about my usage, but I barely have a choice in the matter.
> When can I buy a TV without smart features?
There is a limited selection of 'dumb' TVs in the world. The 50-inch Sceptre E505BV-FMQK has no "smart" capabilities and lacks WiFi or Ethernet.
The usual advice is to simply not connect the internal "smart" capabilities to anything; disable WiFi and don't connect a Ethernet cable. The built-in host and all the nefarious crap it wants to run can't reach anything unless you somehow connect it. Just use the TV tuner and HDMI inputs. If you need a network connection for streaming from some local source then block the TV at your Internet router.
Like the adware you get with many laptops and other mobile devices there are 'financial incentives' to manufacturers to build this stuff in, so don't expect the practice to abate anytime soon.