Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook

ft.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

141–150 of 524 posts

Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook

#141

Post by mrep »

cactus2093 wrote: post #6
kminehart wrote: post #3

When 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?

> Is everyone just putting up with the shitty built-in smart interface, but then switching inputs to their separate unit of choice?

I frequently use hdmi but I still use the my tvs smart functions as it has dedicated amazon and netflix buttons and other buttons to control those apps. Works 99% of the time perfectly and than I'm not at risk of hdmi cable connections to my laptop so i use it all the time. Oh, and mine was a pretty good deal at the time (65 inch with 4k and smart functions for $1,000 3.5 years ago). What is so shitty about the smart tv functions you use?

Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook

#142

Post by Marsymars »

lrem wrote: post #78
AnssiH wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> for a while you couldn't find a tv with decent features that wasn't 3d. happy to see that trend be over. Huh, why would one avoid TVs that have 3D?

About a third of the population, myself included, can't really watch 3d movies on flat screens (hardwired focus to crossing in the brain). Having all the marketing try very hard to shove into my face a feature that literally gives me a headache was a nuisance.

Not saying your experience isn't valid, but it's actually the too-tight glasses for my big head that give me headaches for 3D movies, not the actual 3D feature.

Don't care enough about 3D to buy my own 3D glasses though, so solution (don't watch 3D movies) is the same.

Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook

#143

Post by pdkl95 »

isostatic wrote: post #35

Just wait for TVs and other gadgets with built in 5g and iot sim cards that you can’t simply “skip network” on.

Various system-on-a-chip devices with built-in TLS/CDMA support have been available for years. The only reason TVs/etc still ask for local WiFi access is using the cellular networks requires negotiating some sort of contract. Left unregulated, they will eventually move to cellular. we already see this happening with cars; cheaper devices are only a matter of time.

Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook

#144

Post by cortesoft »

LynxInLA wrote: post #77
lrem wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

That is surprising. I've had my Kindles on airplane mode for up to a year and haven't received any notices like that.

Do you have the ad supported version?

Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook

#145

Post by mullen »

SiVal wrote: post #95

(I'm asking because I don't know. It's not advocacy. I have NONE of this equipment currently.) So, if I get gigabit cable internet and want to buy a 4K tv and plug it in for streaming Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, etc. (no broadcast, no WiFi to reduce bandwidth), is the solution to leave the WiFi off on TV setup (or give it a bad password to avoid opportunistic connection) and to plug the ethernet cable coming out…

Or just configure your WiFi to use something like AdGuard (https://adguard.com/en/adguard-dns/overview.html) and then every device that connects to your WiFi will block ads.

I have a Sony TV that I absolutely love but the built in Android TV will have a row of ads on the main screen. I configured my WiFi to use AdGuard DNS and now they have just disappeared. The Android TV is bit faster too.

Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook

#146

Post by bentpins »

paggle wrote: post #128
obmelvin wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Roku enabled TVs very clearly send back frames of what you are watching. I've been watching YouTube casted via chromecast plugged into HDMI (NOT the built in chromecast, I have verified multiple times) and the Roku will give me a full width toast saying to press `*` to watch the full movie or some similar contextual option I was pretty put off the first time this happened. That said, I don't even know if I looked thr…

It may be sending video or audio frames but it’s also possible without it. The Chromecast can send side channel data to the TV.

That or it could be sending only a fingerprint (still a privacy issue, but less severe)

Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook

#148

Post by sha666sum »

the_svd_doctor wrote: post #33

I tried to never connect my Smart TV to anything, but I realized one day (when someone's stuff was playing on it without me accepting any request...) it connected an open network in my residence. The only trick that worked to prevent it from connecting was putting the wrong password, and let it loop forever, trying to connect. Ugly.

I've heard about this before. Which manufacturer? Although I'm never buying a smart TV, it's interesting to maintain a mental blacklist of vendors.

Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook

#149

Post by scarejunba »

pkaye wrote: post #98
carterehsmith wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> 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. Yeah that's gross. Btw, Amazon does sell some cheaper ebook readers on the understanding that they will show ads. Was that the case here?

Yes they do sell some ad supported ebook readers. And the price difference is not a lot. $20 savings for months of ads is not worth it.

Honestly, I wish I could switch my non-ad-supported Kindle Oasis to a mode where the lock screen would cycle book recommendations. The normal cover is a bit boring.

Re: Smart TVs sending sensitive user data to Netflix and Facebook

#150

Post by flukus »

lrem wrote: post #64
boring_twenties wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

Oh FFS I just learned this was a thing, I can't even trust my cables anymore.
Post reply on HN