LG Spyware TVs

#1

Post by rythmshifter » Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 4:03 AM UTC

Re: LG Spyware TVs

#2

Post by garciansmith » Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 5:07 AM UTC

Tired of adware and spyware on TVs? Get a monitor that doesn't connect to the internet... and Windows will happily install spyware for you.

N.B., the title here is wrong, this is about computer monitors, not TVs.

Re: LG Spyware TVs

#3

Post by Jazgot » Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 7:09 AM UTC

garciansmith wrote: post #2

Tired of adware and spyware on TVs? Get a monitor that doesn't connect to the internet... and Windows will happily install spyware for you. N.B., the title here is wrong, this is about computer monitors, not TVs.

It is also about TVs. But anyway, title should not be redacted and should indicate that this is video.

Re: LG Spyware TVs

#4

Post by mkayokay » Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 7:22 AM UTC

TL;DW: Some LG PC monitors (increasing models - also older models) auto install adware via Windows Update as soon as they are connected. Additionally, LG TVs secretly listen in and send pretty much all data back home.

Thanks for the link. I will make sure never to buy any LG product ever again.

Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to buy a TV (65"+) that isn't a "smart" TV (where smart == exfiltrating data and/or showing ads). If anyone has any recommendations, I would be grateful.

Re: LG Spyware TVs

#5

Post by nubinetwork » Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 8:56 AM UTC

garciansmith wrote: post #2

Tired of adware and spyware on TVs? Get a monitor that doesn't connect to the internet... and Windows will happily install spyware for you. N.B., the title here is wrong, this is about computer monitors, not TVs.

Technically the only difference between a tv and a monitor is an rf demodulator, and maybe speakers... and modern tv's can have neither (rf mostly died when tv went digital unless you're an OTA diehard), so there really isn't much of a reason for the split.

Re: LG Spyware TVs

#6

Post by cassianoleal » Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 9:16 AM UTC

garciansmith wrote: post #2

Tired of adware and spyware on TVs? Get a monitor that doesn't connect to the internet... and Windows will happily install spyware for you. N.B., the title here is wrong, this is about computer monitors, not TVs.

Is it possible to get a 65” OLED monitor with HDMI CEC?

Re: LG Spyware TVs

#7

Post by atmanactive » Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 10:10 AM UTC

mkayokay wrote: post #4

TL;DW: Some LG PC monitors (increasing models - also older models) auto install adware via Windows Update as soon as they are connected. Additionally, LG TVs secretly listen in and send pretty much all data back home. Thanks for the link. I will make sure never to buy any LG product ever again. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to buy a TV (65"+) that isn't a "smart" TV (where smart == exfiltrating data and/or s…

I believe the only way is to deny internet connection to the TV and add a HTPC via HDMI.

Re: LG Spyware TVs

#8

Post by atmanactive » Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 10:12 AM UTC

nubinetwork wrote: post #5

garciansmith wrote: post #2

Tired of adware and spyware on TVs? Get a monitor that doesn't connect to the internet... and Windows will happily install spyware for you. N.B., the title here is wrong, this is about computer monitors, not TVs.

Technically the only difference between a tv and a monitor is an rf demodulator, and maybe speakers... and modern tv's can have neither (rf mostly died when tv went digital unless you're an OTA diehard), so there really isn't much of a reason for the split.

Judging by the picture quality, i.e. small pixel font readability, there is a huge split.

Re: LG Spyware TVs

#9

Post by mDyJzDPmBdG » Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 11:42 AM UTC

mkayokay wrote: post #4

TL;DW: Some LG PC monitors (increasing models - also older models) auto install adware via Windows Update as soon as they are connected. Additionally, LG TVs secretly listen in and send pretty much all data back home. Thanks for the link. I will make sure never to buy any LG product ever again. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to buy a TV (65"+) that isn't a "smart" TV (where smart == exfiltrating data and/or s…

For few years the solution was to buy any TV you like, not connect it to internet and use some cheap streaming box. Nowadays even Roku added ads to its devices, so the question became: which streaming services are easy to whitelist on router, cause my consumer devices are too unsafe to allow them internet access.

Re: LG Spyware TVs

#10

Post by dnemmers » Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 12:09 PM UTC

atmanactive wrote: post #7

mkayokay wrote: post #4

TL;DW: Some LG PC monitors (increasing models - also older models) auto install adware via Windows Update as soon as they are connected. Additionally, LG TVs secretly listen in and send pretty much all data back home. Thanks for the link. I will make sure never to buy any LG product ever again. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to buy a TV (65"+) that isn't a "smart" TV (where smart == exfiltrating data and/or s…

I believe the only way is to deny internet connection to the TV and add a HTPC via HDMI.

I believe you can pass network traffic over the HDMI cable.

https://www.slashgear.com/2102867/why-do-some-hdmi-cables-ha...