cross-posted from : https://lemmy.zip/post/71045682
An investigation by Gamers Nexus found LG smart TVs sweep local networks to map phones and nearby devices. Tests also showed the sets can capture microphone audio with the screen off — they then upload data once reconnected to the internet.
They said these devices were the future but omitted they meant a dystopian one.
It is amazing how almost all modern tech means a shittier experience for the consumer with very few benefits which doesn’t outweight the negatives. The only ones benefiting from modern tech are oligarchs and people who want to spy on people. And oh yeah the job of your average scammer has also been made much easier.
Hey, didn’t 1984 have those 2 way TV’s too?
Yup, they were called Telescreens
Spoilers!
Also, for anybody who’s never read it, here you go: https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks01/0100021h.html
Highly recommend people read it
I keep my LG TV permanently disconnected from the internet, but there’s no good option for a smart TV interface. I use a Fire TV stick and use Pi Hole to sanitise it to some extent. My home server sits behind my TV cabinet and I eagerly watch the progress of Plasma Bigscreen. Kodi interface is ass. We badly need a good option for a privacy friendly Smart TV interface.
Can it be trusted to not connect to unsecured nearby WiFi network if such shows up?
No, but you can disable WiFi and use a network scanner to check for devices looking for WiFi. My (not LG) Samsung doesn’t, but that I’d not in any way a guarantee other Samsung devices won’t, just this particular one.
Stop. Buying. Bugs.
They’re just working as advertized.
Never connect your tv to the internet
But also never assume that’s a foolproof roadblock to exfiltrating data.
Just a few weeks ago, there was that story of a TV that managed to use an HDMI connection to a Windows PC to trigger automatic download and installation of third-party drivers on the PC, which could then definitely facilitate data exfiltration.
There are ways for devices to connect to wifi without you knowing.
“No it’s not actively listening to you, that’s impossible”
Yeah where the fuck y’all at now? Still think your shit isn’t actively listening now?
“They’d be caught.”
Yeah, like this.
To what goal?
Data. The data feeds AI. AI has scraped the Internet, now it needs to scrape reality.
Outlet switches. Nothing works without power.
Except batteries
