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216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]

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Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]

#461

Post by dillutedfixer »

para_parolu wrote: post #437
dillutedfixer wrote: post #392

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not connected to the internet. The AppleTV is.

My question was about why to go and unplug wifi internally

Well even if they don't do it now, these are just a forced update away from using WiFi to connect to an open AP to do whatever they want. I also really hated the fact that there was really no way to turn BT off. Anytime the TV was on it showed up as a BT device ready to connect, and I would get random neighbors trying to and having to say no to random pop ups approving connections. Now these things are sans any type of wireless, and when it comes time to sell them, it will take me 5 mins to reconnect the internal ribbon cable.

Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]

#462

Post by declan_roberts »

mancerayder wrote: post #453

After researching a new TV (where it only needs an Apple TV, no so-called smart features for spying purposes) the three contenders were Samsung, LG and Sony Bravia (the higher end models). Samsung was the least trustworthy, having played games with firmware updates and adding telemetry, LG was medium trustworthy, and Sony seemed the least likely. It looks like that heuristic was correct. For the Bravia, I put it on w…

Just keep the TV completely disconnected and use something like an Apple TV.

Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]

#464

Post by pennomi »

dillutedfixer wrote: post #383

As an owner of 2 LG OLEDs, I am not surprised at all. I neutered these things the first day I was past the return policy. Opened the back and unplugged the WiFi/BT chip, bought a cheap dumb universal remote with no mic in it, disagreed to all T&C in the TV, updated the firmware via USB and just use an AppleTV over HDMI for streaming. Kind of silly to have to go through all of this but hey thats where we are in 2026 i…

Whether or not you iPhone is also doing that is irrelevant. Two surveillance pathways is still inherently worse than one.

Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]

#465

Post by cogman10 »

para_parolu wrote: post #437
dillutedfixer wrote: post #392

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not connected to the internet. The AppleTV is.

My question was about why to go and unplug wifi internally

Probably worried about things like spectrum wifi. I don't know if others do it, but spectrum will sell access to a private WiFi network using their customers Internet as a backend.

LG could be using that sort of network.

Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]

#466

Post by [deleted] »

CGMthrowaway wrote: post #445
dillutedfixer wrote: post #383

As an owner of 2 LG OLEDs, I am not surprised at all. I neutered these things the first day I was past the return policy. Opened the back and unplugged the WiFi/BT chip, bought a cheap dumb universal remote with no mic in it, disagreed to all T&C in the TV, updated the firmware via USB and just use an AppleTV over HDMI for streaming. Kind of silly to have to go through all of this but hey thats where we are in 2026 i…

Why wait until after the return policy? Also what firmware did you update to? Also if you could point to a video where it shows how to do all these things that would be amazing

[deleted]

Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]

#467

Post by ck2 »

This is also why I won't buy any watch with a microphone

Even if the manufacturer doesn't do something evil, they may have an exploit or allow 3rd party apps that do whatever

Garmin literally keeps the microphone on 24/7 listening for "OKAY GARMIN"

There should be a consumer law that any device with a microphone must have an LED physically in series so that if the mic has power, the LED is lit, not software control of the LED which can be disabled. Europe might do that someday but unless California does it too it will never happen in USA

Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]

#468

Post by drnick1 »

mancerayder wrote: post #453

After researching a new TV (where it only needs an Apple TV, no so-called smart features for spying purposes) the three contenders were Samsung, LG and Sony Bravia (the higher end models). Samsung was the least trustworthy, having played games with firmware updates and adding telemetry, LG was medium trustworthy, and Sony seemed the least likely. It looks like that heuristic was correct. For the Bravia, I put it on w…

> Folks, never update a TV firmware unless it's necessary.

Why would a TV ever need a firmware update? Either it works out of the box or it doesn't and I return it. I never updated the firmware of my PC monitor either.

Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]

#470

Post by hatefulheart »

kolinko wrote: post #395
imglorp wrote: post #259

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is absolutely no reason to read those contracts any more. As Louis Rossman keeps pointing out, most of them now include the ability for them to change terms at any time. That's basically the null contract. Since the legal system has once again failed to protect users from corporations, it's up to users to use technical means for self defense.

Depends on jurisdiction, just because someone wrote something in a contract doesn’t mean it’s binding. In Poland/EU we have an (ever growing) list of forbidden clauses that even when written and signed by consumer are null and void. And I think these can be enacted retroactively - when corporations invent new shady clauses, government steps in and tells them these are invalid. This helps to even out the consumer-corp…

That’s great! Because then you’re left with the simple task of raising it up with the government.
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