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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

#511

Post by conradfr »

phreack wrote: post #115
paxys wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not even a secret. A TV manufacturer publicly said a while ago that a TV without "smart" features is more expensive for the company (even if sold at the same retail price) because they cannot make any money from selling usage data.

It was the Vizio CTO, while trying to spin it positively it came out a bit too honest. https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20190114/08084341384/vizio...

That assumes that developing the smart system (and supporting the infrastructure) does cost the same as for the dumb one, which seems wrong to me.

Or maybe at high volume it becomes negligible anyway.

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

#513

Post by xxs »

mkl wrote: post #418
xxs wrote: post #303

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you can block any device by their mac on your router

Some TVs will connect to your neighbours' open wifi, so no, you can't, unfortunately.

an interesting take - it has been a while to see a non-password, no sign up network around.

But I can imagine it popular in apartment buildings. To be fair, if my TV connects to a network on its right own, I'd return it.

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

#514

Post by rhinoceraptor »

wodenokoto wrote: post #358
freeone3000 wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because it interferes with the idea of a TV being a display. A TV should not have apps. If it does have apps, these apps should not communicate data to the manufacturer. It shouldn't send back data about the operating system because a TV shouldn't have an operating system.

Of course a TV should have an operating system. It needs menu's and options, video and audio codecs, up and downscaling algorithms and many many other things, just to be a dumb TV.

All of those codecs and video processing are probably done in hardware regardless of whether it has a real OS or just a microcontroller.

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

#515

Post by tlavoie »

TremendousJudge wrote: post #470
sjwright wrote: post #350

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A pi-hole only works against adversaries that rely upon DNS, or haven't been coded to connect directly to "trusted" public DNS servers. (I'm almost astonished that advertising networks haven't switched to using raw IP addresses everywhere.)

You could probably very easily make a list of the "evil" IP addresses if that happened

You can combine approaches of course. My main in-home DNS, per the DHCP settings on the wi-fi, is a Pi-Hole. Secondary DNS is the pfSense firewall, so nothing's dead in the water if the Raspberry Pi falls over for some reason.

The firewall has the same DNS block-lists as the Pi-Hole, but also has subscription lists of IPs to avoid. Most of those are spammers or malware, but can include whatever other category of malfeasance you desire.

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

#516

Post by downtide »

tjoff wrote: post #421
downtide wrote: post #403

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We have a house without any Internet connection - that would require at least a mobile link.

Don't worry, in a few years they will have their own sim card and network. This behavior is despicable and we must not accept it just because "I wouldn't connect the network cable/wifi anyway". Because one day that isn't an option and by then it is already too late.

They are missing a trick with peer to peer piggy backs.

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

#517

Post by taurath »

I wonder - how prevalent is this in vehicles now? My car probably knows where I am, what podcasts I listen to, my daily routine, all sorts of things. It can connect via 3g without me knowing it and send all sorts of usage data.

This is why regulation is IMPORTANT. A whole industry can decide this is their business model, an industry where competitors can't really get in, and consumers are screwed. Well just don't drive a car, just don't use a tv is not a valid argument.

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

#519

Post by 21717117 »

ecmascript wrote: post #319
ghostpepper wrote: post #312

I would love to update my 10 year old 1080p Philips non-smart TV to a 55" or so 4K HDR screen but I don't want any of the smart features. Does anyone know of any manufacturers selling high end "dumb" TVs? For now I'm comfortable using my appleTV but I like the fact that I can disconnect it at any time. I want a TV that will simply display whatever signal it receives without any connectivity required.

I would recommend getting a projector if you have the space!

Some projectors are "smart" too.

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

#520

Post by tekknik »

everdrive wrote: post #448
ses1984 wrote: post #436

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No open wifi networks nearby.

Which could be impossible in a dense city with Xfinity access points.

Aren’t Xfinity APs only for Xfinity subscribers? I doubt they’re just wide open. Now if a TV manufacturer struck a deal with an ISP and gave it its own access point to join...
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