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Samsung TVs May Upload Screenshots for Automatic Content Recognition

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Re: Samsung TVs May Upload Screenshots for Automatic Content Recognition

#451
post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There’s been plenty of discussions on HN about the possibilities of SmartTVs doing nefarious stuff but not a lot stuff in the wild. Last time this came up someone was telling me the TV could get Ethernet from an HDMI cable via an AppleTV or Xbox etc. Stackexchange said the tech was dead and no one really adopted it. You can’t find a TV or even a cable that supports it. Any source about the auto connect to open WiFi?

Where do the discussions on HN, and Reddit [0], come from if it's not a thing in the wild? Granted: It's hard to search for because Google will bury any relevant results between a ton of support requests about people not being able to get their Samsung TV online. [0] https://www.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/bpr6xs/if_you_choo...

Your link is just as much hearsay as HN posts. TVs are connecting to WiFi yet no one provides any evidence.

Re: Samsung TVs May Upload Screenshots for Automatic Content Recognition

#452
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Blocking unwanted egress is already accepted as possibly part of the functionality of a firewall (see, e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egress_filtering ); there's nothing inherently 'reverse' about it. Indeed, note the symmetry in Wikipedia's definition of a firewall ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewall_(computing) ): > In computing, a firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming…

I was trying to joke here. The untrusted network in our case is the internal network. In that sense.

> I was trying to joke here. The untrusted network in our case is the internal network. In that sense.

Sure, and I'm sorry to miss the joke; but I think that it's nothing new that the internal network is untrusted. Before one ever had connected and untrusted smart appliances, one still had untrusted software running on one's general-purpose computer, and it was (and remains) often desireable to fence off that software from the outside world. Little Snitch (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Snitch), for example, was designed around exactly that idea.

Re: Samsung TVs May Upload Screenshots for Automatic Content Recognition

#453
post #329

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was talking to a few people in a slack channel the other day about the potential market for a whole set of "dumb" appliances. At the end of the day, we came to the conclusion that it wouldn't be a able to reach mass market because the mass consumers seem to care more about price than security.

I'm not sure this is a counterargument, but if a company did this in an open way I could trust, I would buy EVERYTHING from them. Fridge, washer, dryer, dishwasher, televisions, small electronics, cars, whatever. You name it I'd buy it. I don't have enough information to determine how many people are like me, but the profit you could make on me as a customer would be ridiculous. You'd get the kind of platform loyalty…

As of now, in the UK, LG’s TVs are fairly up front about automatic content recognition, and it’s off by default.

But I agree, we need a consumer-electronics company that uses privacy as a competitive advantage the way Apple does for phones.

Re: Samsung TVs May Upload Screenshots for Automatic Content Recognition

#454
post #295

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry should be more clear. I mean how to physically remove such capabilities.

I interpreted as: we have no guarantee that they won't need an internet connection to operate.

Ahh, I misunderstood! I would say that is when it gets returned if I need internet to operate my TV.

Re: Samsung TVs May Upload Screenshots for Automatic Content Recognition

#455

I'm getting ready to go full Battlestar Galactica in all of my appliances. It's now difficult to find high end washers and ovens without these features. At least right now we can choose not to connect the devices, but what happens if iot LTE connections get cheap enough that the choice is removed altogether, like with Tesla and other high end modern cars? I don't think I'm just being a Luddite. This really seems like…

> full Battlestar Galactica This is a truly marvellous turn of phrase.

So say we all!

Re: Samsung TVs May Upload Screenshots for Automatic Content Recognition

#456
Good thing large computer monitors are still a thing, and seem to do well.

I don't have a single proper TV in my house, because nobody needs them. We can consume whatever video streams we care about via the internet, using computers that I reasonably control.

Not an option for non-IT people, though, alas.

Re: Samsung TVs May Upload Screenshots for Automatic Content Recognition

#457
post #281
post #237

> Your Smart TV transfers video snippets or TV tuner information in order to determine the programs watched. Can this upload screenshots even if you use the TV as a mere monitor?

The wording of the privacy policy does not preclude getting video snippets from the PC input. Unless the wording changes, it can be assummed that it can be affected as well.

I suppose if I film a sex tape and watch it on a Samsung TV, it will upload images from that as well.

Re: Samsung TVs May Upload Screenshots for Automatic Content Recognition

#458
Is it possible to open the TVs and snip snip the wifi/LTE/5G module/antenna?

I guess the antenna is hard to snip in 5G since it’s probably part of the circuit board.

Are the modules entirely on the cpu chip?

Is it possible to screw up the timing (say replacing the crystals) w/out breaking something else?

Re: Samsung TVs May Upload Screenshots for Automatic Content Recognition

#459

Few reasons why I prefer dumb TVs, just a flat LED panel: 1. You have control over bullshit like this 2. You can make them smart by attaching the external box 3. You don't have to throw the TV because your Software is now old, just change the box. 4. There's new format which requires hardware support (av1 is coming), change the box. 5. Want to add new hardware? Upgrade the box.

[deleted]

Re: Samsung TVs May Upload Screenshots for Automatic Content Recognition

#460

Samsung Smart TVs do not take screenshots as far as I know. They do audio and video fingerprinting. It would be way too costly and inificient to upload screenshots for content recognition ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_content_recognitio... ). Disclaimer: I work for Samsung, but not directly in the TV software.

It could be great if you can get clarification from your colleagues
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