The researchers have discovered that automatic content recognition (ACR) tracking is active most of the time, even when TVs are used as “dumb” HDMI devices. In other words, the TV manufacturers are monitoring your private moments as well. There’s apparently no monitoring of streaming content in the UK, but there is in the US.
The only good news is that these TVs can seemingly be configured to disable ACR, provided the owners know this activity is taking place and are able to find the right settings. (I recently looked at the configuration of our TVs again, and understanding the various settings was far from easy.)
What if I just never connected it to the internet?
If it is a Samsung tv, they have been automatically connecting to any open wifi, maybe your neighbor has one. And there goes the data.
Avoid Samsung.
Where is the info about this?
A random hacker news comment. I’m in EU, where this kind of tracking is not legal, so I cannot validate…
I can’t find anything about it. Claim seems sus tbh
Ha, the nearest house to mine is a quarter mile away, good luck Samsung.
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Does it apply to Samsung PC monitors as well? Any way to check?
You have wifi / ethernet in your PC monitor?
Samsung in particular has “smart” monitors, so for some of them the answer is unironically yes
Dear god, I do vaguely remember their launch (not my portfolio while working in PC component procurement) but had completely pushed that from my head.
Looks like LG have the same thing going on too, what a waste of silicon.
You’ll have to desolder the WiFi card inside. Check teardowns of TVs from now when deciding to buy a new one