netflix.com is in the top5 domains on the entire network, and i have a Raspberry Pi running 24/7 (with AdGuard Home), most queries are from TV.
Why the hell would you connect that to a network?
A smart tv is primarily a surveillance device that also happens to display video.
Got mine connected to the network so I can take advantage of a local install of Emby, but blocked from Internet access, and every time it makes a DNS request (still blocked, but logged), it’s added to a personal hosts file for the entire network just in case the kill switch doesn’t work for some anomalous reason
Pro tip: Do the same for your printer.
Super pro tip: Do the same for any device that does not absolutely need internet access. Don’t buy IoT garbage that needs to connect to some cloud server. Use local solutions like Jellyfin for media streaming, Navidrome for music, Home Assistant for home automation, etc.
There are so many other things you can self host, Nextcloud for your files, calendars, notes and other stuff, Immich or PhotoPrism for your photos, FreshRSS for news articles and other sources that support RSS feeds, Pi-Hole or AdGuard Home for DNS. Definitely check out [email protected].
This ^ I start by blocking any new device to the network, even if it needs internet access (e.g. a new mini PC or something) and monitor for odd activity. If the device needs internet activity and has shown no signs of trying to phone going to something suspicious, I grant it from there (note my devices are under constant monitoring though). If it doesn’t need access (tv, home automation, printer, vacuum, etc) it stays where it’s at.
But yeah agreed completely. I avoid all IoT that won’t work without a third party cloud or internet access. Using Nextcloud (which does my rss feeds too), HA, pihole, and Emby (also blocked from internet access via firewall rules) for me. Also a few apps I created for myself for things where there weren’t any useful or good FOSS alternatives for.
That’s great. It’s nice to see that there are other people who care about self-hosting. Any particular reason why you are still using Emby instead of Jellyfin?
I tried Jellyfin so that I could move away from Emby, but the deal breakers for me were:
- No way to view my music library in folders (I organize all my music by genres)
- Terrible performance on Samsung Tizen (my primary tv)
- Can’t stream custom music radio stations by their m3u files
Other things that I didn’t like:
- Doesn’t save the filters I selected when viewing the library previously
- Doesn’t have as much working plugins on home assistant (this may have changed by now?)
I truly do want to go to Jellyfin, but the biggest deal breaker of them all is the lack of support getting it to work on the Samsung TVs efficiently. Perhaps someday it’ll change, but at the moment, I’ll probably stick to Emby but keep an eye out on updates :)
That probably won’t solve your issues, but I can tell you a little about my setup:
- I use Navidrome for local Music streaming, it supports the Subsonic API so you will find a compatible client for it on every platform
- I have an LG OLED “Smart” TV, but I never connect it to the network, instead I have an HTPC running Linux and Kodi that I use to access Jellyfin (that would solve your performance issue with the Jellyfin app on your “Smart” TV)
I really hope that your issues get solved soon, I wish you good guck
It’s not going to be long until we have always online DRM TVs. Where the TV will prompt you to reconnect to the internet before continues to function.
If you can remove the app from the TV, that may work. It’s probably polling for updates or trying to cache a picture or something for the login screen.
Just like every other app on your TV, Netflix probably has a running service that is collecting all of your viewing habits and piping it to Nexflix whether or not you have an account. (Smart TVs come with extensive terms and conditions that you probably agreed to.)
Smart TVs are cheaper these days mostly because the hardware costs are subsidized by having pre-installed apps like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, etc. And yeah, they all want your data and they all want to participate in the advertising racket.
True. Would really help to get any form of storage medium of that into a real OS. But its probably built in, so removing might not work. This is the case for windows even
do. not. connect. your. TV. to. the. internet.
i would recommend using an SBC as a video input device (single board computer) and using whatever service through that. (ideally under linux)
Maybe overkill, but I had an unused dell optiplex usff, KDE plasma with connect, and chromium web apps for the streaming 🏴☠️ services I use
Why, exactly? Honest question
Disconnect that piece of shit from the internet and use a streaming box/stick or an HTPC.
Detach/Desolder the WiFi card from the back of the TV. Connect a device to it and install Kodi.
Desolder? Just remove the network setting 🤷♀️
No that’s not enough. You should burry your TV in at least 1000lbs of concrete
On my TCL TV, it’s impossible to disconnect the wifi after you connect it. The button just doesn’t exist. I had to make a new network, connect to that, and shut down the new network.
What is “setting”?
Your wifi ssid and password.
It can connect to any open WiFi in that case. I don’t take such risks.
Just make it a little faraday cage in the shape of a tin foil hat
I do not understand the downvotes. I mentioned desolder in case some TVs have wiring that cannot be detached easily. People seem to have taken me to be a paranoid agent of sorts (my working assumption) just because of one word. Is this really the privacy community, or a place to discourage people from taking privacy into their own by (sometimes) doing the slightly difficult-to-do work?
Is it a samsung? And is there an netflix app on the tv? Just having the app on the tv even without login inor account will, at least on one of my tvs, make those requests.
Delete the app from the tv should stop those requests.
Edit: sorry i see its lg. same thing tho :)
Ah yes Netflix. I was going through the apps on my phone to delete things that I don’t need, there’s a bunch of shit on there I never installed and can’t be uninstalled. like Netflix.
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