216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video] • Hacker News Board

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

#781

Post by jeffybefffy519 » Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 2:16 AM UTC

Animats wrote: post #572

Here are LG's contract terms for appliances.[1] They are awful. Not only can they listen in. You have a contractual requirement to tell everyone in range of an appliance that they may be eavesdropped upon. CONSENT REQUIREMENT: You acknowledge and agree that it is your sole responsibility to obtain all necessary consents from any third parties whose voices may be captured by the Product and to notify household members…

I wonder how much money LG makes from all of these practices, and if they stopped doing it what impact to cost of a TV would be?

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

#782

Post by culi » Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 2:18 AM UTC

soared wrote: post #769

lrvick wrote: post #764

It is a screen. You plug an HDMI cable into your source device and another into the TV. Job done. Are there really that many people technical enough to know what an HDMI cable is without also knowing all TVs are subsidized by spyware with no security protections? Why would anyone connect a screen to the internet in the first place? Like, if suddenly computer monitors started asking for wifi credentials would everyone…

TVs have streaming services, those need internet to function. What else does anyone (average consumer) use their TV for? I don’t want a separate device to plug in and remote just to stream things.

They shouldn't though honestly. TVs should go back to basically being dumb monitors and the smart features should just come with a box. They can even sell the box as a bundle

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

#783

Post by gruez » Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 2:18 AM UTC

mitxela wrote: post #762

Disconnecting it from the internet isn't enough, because it will store spying data forever until it gets a connection, and it will connect to any open WiFi. You have to disconnect it from the power, and then use a sledgehammer on the remains.

>and it will connect to any open WiFi

I've seen this claim made over and over again for various smart TVs, but so far I haven't seen any concrete evidence of this, only random speculation.

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

#784

Post by add-sub-mul-div » Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 2:19 AM UTC

mitxela wrote: post #762

Disconnecting it from the internet isn't enough, because it will store spying data forever until it gets a connection, and it will connect to any open WiFi. You have to disconnect it from the power, and then use a sledgehammer on the remains.

If that happened would any of that data get tied back to you? If you haven't created any accounts or signed into anything.

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

#785

Post by lokar » Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 2:19 AM UTC

mitxela wrote: post #762

Disconnecting it from the internet isn't enough, because it will store spying data forever until it gets a connection, and it will connect to any open WiFi. You have to disconnect it from the power, and then use a sledgehammer on the remains.

Block it on your router.

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

#786

Post by gruez » Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 2:20 AM UTC

WhyNotHugo wrote: post #779

dabinat wrote: post #751

My TVs (Samsung) are the only devices on my network that are locked down and quarantined. But I wonder if there will come a day when TVs contain cellular or satellite modems so you can’t block the telemetry.

Some brands have TVs share Wi-Fi with each other, so even if you don't connect it to Wi-Fi, your neighbour's TV will silently share with yours.

Which? All I've seen over the years is people repeating the same rumor.

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

#787

Post by dfxm12 » Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 2:20 AM UTC

colechristensen wrote: post #650

empyrrhicist wrote: post #607

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can that kind of clause really be enforceable? It really doesn't seem legal in any jurisdiction I'm aware of. (not a lawyer)

are state's attourney's general going to go after them? eh. you ask if they're enforceable but that's the wrong question, the real question is will anyone do anything to stop them? This is the kind of thing that states need to make explicitly illegal.

Would be even better if the federal government made it illegal.

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

#788

Post by drfloyd51 » Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 2:20 AM UTC

freediddy wrote: post #763

How is this legal? Can't we sue them or get the FTC against them? This seems like a ridiculous amount of spying, even if their TOS says so. That seems like exploiting complexity of TOS to let them spy on everyone. I'm pretty sure that these TVs won't respect WIFI passwords and if you enter a wifi password in once, it will just remember it even when you clear it, and it will try to connect to the internet that way.

FTC? They might be doing it FOR the FTC.

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

#789

Post by lokar » Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 2:21 AM UTC

add-sub-mul-div wrote: post #784

mitxela wrote: post #762

Disconnecting it from the internet isn't enough, because it will store spying data forever until it gets a connection, and it will connect to any open WiFi. You have to disconnect it from the power, and then use a sledgehammer on the remains.

If that happened would any of that data get tied back to you? If you haven't created any accounts or signed into anything.

They can use data gathered from your network. Perhaps you have some other connected device with an account they can match to. Or a phone.

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

#790

Post by lrvick » Tue, Sep 08, 2026, 2:21 AM UTC

soared wrote: post #769

lrvick wrote: post #764

It is a screen. You plug an HDMI cable into your source device and another into the TV. Job done. Are there really that many people technical enough to know what an HDMI cable is without also knowing all TVs are subsidized by spyware with no security protections? Why would anyone connect a screen to the internet in the first place? Like, if suddenly computer monitors started asking for wifi credentials would everyone…

TVs have streaming services, those need internet to function. What else does anyone (average consumer) use their TV for? I don’t want a separate device to plug in and remote just to stream things.

But surely you know the TV will have ads, and spyware and screenshots you every few seconds to send to manufactures, and in some cases even has microphones involved?

The apps built into the screen literally meet the definition of trojans which any casual search on most brands would tell you.

All avoidable by plugging in an $20 dedicated source device for streaming or whatever.

Is saving the $20 really worth it?