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The CIA Spied on People Through Their Smart TVs, Leaked Documents Reveal (2017)

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Re: The CIA Spied on People Through Their Smart TVs, Leaked Documents Reveal (2017)

#121

Post by mlang23 »

mulmen wrote: post #104

I have not been excited about the release of a new consumer product in well over 5 years. The last real improvement in a consumer device for me was the iPhone 6s and even then I preferred the older form factor. I no longer look forward to the release of any new device or expect it to make my life better in any way. I just assume it will spy on me and/or exploit some weakness in my subconscious. When my current TV die…

I terminated all my TV related subscriptions over the past two years and now also finally sold my TV. One of my best moves ever. I am not missing anything, have a lot more useful spare time, and save around 1k a year.

Re: The CIA Spied on People Through Their Smart TVs, Leaked Documents Reveal (2017)

#122

Post by jonathanstrange »

ei8htyfi5e wrote: post #45

I gave a talk in China 5 years warning about this. http://tech.qq.com/a/20140527/035512.htm I asked vendors to make changes to their products, such as planned obsolescence so if the manufacturer goes out of business and a device doesn't hear from the mother ship for awhile, all internet connections are killed for good. Also, to set smart defaults so that even when not configured, it won't allow this behavior. There s…

I think you forgot the most important feature: Physical on/off switches for cameras and microphones. These should be mandated by law in any device, even smartphones.

Re: The CIA Spied on People Through Their Smart TVs, Leaked Documents Reveal (2017)

#125

Post by ElFitz »

pm90 wrote: post #90
tptacek wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You could see "abolishing" the CIA by name and replacing it with a new agency over the Bush torture program, and the failure to cut through the legal morass erected to protect the authors of the torture program --- a lasting shame for the CIA and the nation --- would certainly justify that. But there's no possibility of abolishing the function of intelligence analysis and clandestine service, nor should you want ther…

> But there's no possibility of abolishing the function of intelligence analysis and clandestine service, nor should you want there to be: net-net, the CIA might in fact prevent more armed conflicts than it contributes to, and in any case no major power will ever unilaterally disarm. This is a very interesting perspective. Using this kind of perspective, you can argue for any bad thing, can't you? How can you possibl…

To protect one's interests around the world. To create and maintain an international order conducive to one's interests, and to quash any possibility of any threat to said interests from rising.

Doesn't it also perfectly sum up the purpose of most (if not all) actions led by a state actor that can afford such policies? (quite a few companies may also fit the bill)

Re: The CIA Spied on People Through Their Smart TVs, Leaked Documents Reveal (2017)

#126

Post by Jonnax »

IntelMiner wrote: post #110
elvecinodeabajo wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are LED 'dumb' TV's.

Where? Are they cost and quality competitive with "Smart" TV's?

Nvidia has an initiative to get manufacturers to make G-Sync capable large displays.

Some of these are non smart but large.

https://www.nvidia.com/en-gb/geforce/products/big-format-gam...

Re: The CIA Spied on People Through Their Smart TVs, Leaked Documents Reveal (2017)

#128

Post by datenhorst »

jmalkin wrote: post #73

I've gotten nothing out of my Smart TV that I couldn't have gotten from a Chromecast, or preferably, a laptop hooked up to a TV. And I've lost a lot. My TV is slow. When I try to control the volume, sometimes I have to wait multiple seconds. And things stop working all the time and require a reboot. I hate the damn thing. It even comes with bloatware for some reason, games I'll never play that it insists on updating…

In Europe, people have started purchasing so-called public displays instead of Smart TVs and just hook up a Chromecast/Pi/Fire TV Stick to it. This is especially common in countries where one can avoid public broadcasting fees by doing so.

Re: The CIA Spied on People Through Their Smart TVs, Leaked Documents Reveal (2017)

#129

Post by navaati »

IntelMiner wrote: post #110
elvecinodeabajo wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are LED 'dumb' TV's.

Where? Are they cost and quality competitive with "Smart" TV's?

https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/dell-43-ultra-hd-4k-multi-cl...

Yes, that's a computer screen. But it's 43". That's what you want. (I have it in my living room and you couldn't tell the difference).

Re: The CIA Spied on People Through Their Smart TVs, Leaked Documents Reveal (2017)

#130

Post by Theodores »

jmalkin wrote: post #73

I've gotten nothing out of my Smart TV that I couldn't have gotten from a Chromecast, or preferably, a laptop hooked up to a TV. And I've lost a lot. My TV is slow. When I try to control the volume, sometimes I have to wait multiple seconds. And things stop working all the time and require a reboot. I hate the damn thing. It even comes with bloatware for some reason, games I'll never play that it insists on updating…

Remember hi-fi separates? The true music audiophiles would have half a dozen boxes for their hifi. Kind of need the same where everything just does one job well. So the screen is a screen, not some screen with built in set top box. Ideally it doesn't even have speakers built in, again separates for that. It should also not have a remote but just wake up to a signal and play it.

Is this a monitor? Maybe. Monitors are not designed to show the football. You turn your computer on and they turn on. You can plug a Chromecast in and get whatever you want beamed to them.

There has to be a market for a generic display panel that doesn't do much apart from show the picture. But when a SoC costs little and might as well have the wifi then it isn't going to happen.

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