Earlier quoted context omitted.
Did you disable WiFi in the menu, or physically remove the WiFi card/chip?
Physically removed the Wi-Fi module.
I see a niche value-added service business here
Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook
61–70 of 524 posts
Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook
#62When 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 yo…
Marketing opportunity! Sell “Privacy TVs”
Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook
#63I disabled WiFi on my Samsung TV after they were injecting ads into the home screen. Spend $800 to get ads served in their shitty/slow UI.
Things like this are why I never will buy a so-called smart tv, the only exception being is that it is better/cheaper than alternative and in that case will keep connectivity disabled like you did.
Good luck in 5 years, there will likely only be an option or two left and they will be as shitty as today's flip-phones. A few years ago I was in the market for a TV and was flabbergasted as to why I couldn't get a nice, big, 'dumb' TV.
Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook
#64Earlier quoted context omitted.
What is the point of doing this as opposed to just skipping that step? Does it keep nagging you? Or are certain features disabled if you don't connect?
I don't own a Smart TV, but without this step I'd be very suspicious that the TV would silently try to connect to open wifi networks, or perhaps some kind of hotspot like xfinity or AT&T that the manufacturer made an agreement with.
Won't they just use Ethernet over HDMI?
Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook
#65You can make a Smart TV into a dumb TV by simply not allowing it to connect to the Internet, ever.
In a hn thread the other day, someone told me their TV will simply connect to any open wifi networks it comes across, just to phone home. I couldn't get the brand or model out of them, though.
That’s awful. We need to find out that brand.
Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook
#66I disabled WiFi on my Samsung TV after they were injecting ads into the home screen. Spend $800 to get ads served in their shitty/slow UI.
My Samsung SmartTV randomly turns on itself. Sometimes, we can't turn it on and I have to remove the batteris from the remote, plug them back then it works. The UI is sooo sluggish. I just wish they make a dump TV with superior image quality and let the other streaming devices handling the "smart" features. I will not buy another Samsung electronic product.
Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook
#67I disabled WiFi on my Samsung TV after they were injecting ads into the home screen. Spend $800 to get ads served in their shitty/slow UI.
An acquaintance attempted that with Kindle, by keeping it in flight mode. After some days it popped up a message kindly asking to give it some network access. After a few more days it simply ignored the flight mode and connected to get fresh ads. Edit: I've checked with my wife who has an ad supported Kindle for over a year and keeps it in flight mode for months at a time. It never did that to her. So either Amazon c…
Do you have a real source for this? That’s a pretty serious accusation.
Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook
#68[deleted]
Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook
#69Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
> Can you be sure it is not connected to the Internet? Yes, you can be sure. The network capabilities aren't hidden spy equipment. You can disable WiFi and simply not connect Ethernet. The market for your data is relying on the indifference of 99% of TV buyers to data collection. Manufacturers and advertisers -- at least those not too far down the grey market rabbit hole -- don't care enough about the tiny fraction o…
> and simply not connect Ethernet
Ethernet over HDMI is a thing, isn't it?
Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook
#70I disabled WiFi on my Samsung TV after they were injecting ads into the home screen. Spend $800 to get ads served in their shitty/slow UI.
An acquaintance attempted that with Kindle, by keeping it in flight mode. After some days it popped up a message kindly asking to give it some network access. After a few more days it simply ignored the flight mode and connected to get fresh ads. Edit: I've checked with my wife who has an ad supported Kindle for over a year and keeps it in flight mode for months at a time. It never did that to her. So either Amazon c…
> ignored the flight mode and connected to get fresh ads.
What's the worst that could happen? It's not like a plane's gonna fall out of the sky - Exhibit A.