Your TV Is Spying On You

[Chonebox]

Your TV Is Spying On You

How to Turn Off Smart TV Snooping Features - Consumer Reports

 

[Masked Man]

Correct, I recently bought a new TV and spent the extra cash for one that is "dumb."

The reason some of those televisions are so cheap is because they are subsidized by ads and streaming services.

 

[Judge]

Yes, I keep them all turned off on my television, ultimately using it as a monitor without a tuner. However the HDMI port still connects to my Roku device which has its issues when it comes to harvesting user data.

Though there are a few things you can do to mitigate such data collection:

Is Your Roku Watching You? Uncovering the Truth Behind Roku's Data Collection - SoftHandTech

 

[Jumpinbare]

I'm not worried about my TV knowing what I'm watching. And I learned to ignore ads decades ago. If my TV sees me naked -- oh well.

 

[Chonebox]

I don't own a tv it gives me headaches.

 

[Metalhead]

There should be laws against this kind of thing.

 

[Chonebox]

Yes, I keep them all turned off on my television, ultimately using it as a monitor without a tuner. However the HDMI port still connects to my Roku device which has its issues when it comes to harvesting user data.

Though there are a few things you can do to mitigate such data collection:

Is Your Roku Watching You? Uncovering the Truth Behind Roku's Data Collection - SoftHandTech

Can you show a picture of that?
This might do the trick HDMI splitter and it has a switch.
https://www.amazon.com/Splitter-GAN...i+switch+4k+hdmi+splitter+,aps,75&sr=8-3&th=1

 

[Misery]

So much of this just seems so strange to me.

Like... first of all, why in the world would you want to use a "smart" device at all? I can understand a phone, sort of. The thing's entire purpose is remote connection.

But a lot of other things... like, a "smart lightbulb"? What? Smart thermostat? The heck is that for? It's a freaking thermostat! Turn it up or down, it's not hard.

The smart TV is confusing to me too. Though, I'm also VERY out of touch with that. I dont understand and cannot really use modern TVs. It's been like, multiple decades since I watched TV (I stopped when Youtube showed up). Modern TVs are this labyrinthine tangle of arcane features that need like 5 freaking remotes to control, and every remote has like 200 buttons on it. I have a hard time just turning the stupid things off. The remotes never seem to do quite what I think they do.

Granted I also dont have any use for them, but still.

The fact that they do all this shady stuff doesnt surprise me though. Not after so many years on the internet. I use multiple layers of adblockers and other things all at once on this PC for good reason.

Gotta say, I find myself missing a lot of my older devices more and more often these days. Not that I dont appreciate my PC. Though even with that, I miss my ancient DOS computers too.

Maybe I should get one at some point, just for fun.

 

[Dagan]

If my TV has been spying on me, it should have long already realized that I think half of what's on is stupid....and therefore, they should have done better by now.

 

[Judge]

Can you show a picture of that?
This might do the trick HDMI splitter and it has a switch.

I 'd think a splitter would do nothing to stop Roku's data harvesting. Probably my cable provider as well. After all, both are independently connected to the Internet directly through Ethernet ports. -Separate hardware devices from my television.

The HDMI for my Roku device then passes through my tv's primary HDMI, while my cable box (also using Ethernet) passes through my tv's secondary HDMI port. (I don't even use the cable box any more because it's redundant as my provider can be accessed through Roku.)

As far as I know, neither makes any connection to the smart devices on my television which I never use. My DVD player uses my tv's component video ports. It is old and has zero "smart" capabilities.

 

[Jumpinbare]

I'm just dreading the introduction of smart toilet paper.

 

[SusanLR]

Modern TVs are this labyrinthine tangle of arcane features that need like 5 freaking remotes to control, and every remote has like 200 buttons on it. I have a hard time just turning the stupid things off. The remotes never seem to do quite what I think they do.

I quite agree.
Never wanted one, but when I needed a new and cheap TV last year, that's all that was to be found. Smart TVs. I dreaded getting the darn thing.
It is used in my bedroom, and I just leave it on 4 preset streaming channels.
They are constant nature scenes, animals or one called Zen Life. Relaxing and nice calm music in background.

If my house companion wants to watch some TV movie or series at night, I will let him handle the remote, even though I have learned how to use it even better than he does and watch a while in the living area with him.

 

[Chonebox]

I quite agree.
Never wanted one, but when I needed a new and cheap TV last year, that's all that was to be found. Smart TVs. I dreaded getting the darn thing.
It is used in my bedroom, and I just leave it on 4 preset streaming channels.
They are constant nature scenes, animals or one called Zen Life. Relaxing and nice calm music in background.

If my house companion wants to watch some TV movie or series at night, I will let him handle the remote, even though I have learned how to use it even better than he does and watch a while in the living area with him.

A long time ago my father told me his friend told him TV is a dumb box it makes people stupid. I think he's right all of my father's children has done well in school.

 

[Ken]

I don't own a tv it gives me headaches.

Me too. But TV upsets me more that just a headache. TV is some kind of trauma trigger for me. Simply can't stand it, even just hearing it from another room.

 

[Mary Terry]

Me too. But TV upsets me more that just a headache. TV is some kind of trauma trigger for me. Simply can't

Happy Birthday, Ken!

 

[Ken]

Happy Birthday, Ken!

Thank YOU!!

 

[Judge]

That's one thing that makes my cable provider show up in Roku be so valuable. That I really only need one remote (Roku) to work with for 95% of what I watch.

Before that it was getting to be a nightmare having to use multiple remotes, or using alternate buttons on my cable remote to switch between the tv and cable options. And at times if I hit the wrong combinations of buttons it would literally lock up the whole thing. Maddening....

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

My brother when raising his kids would not buy a T.V. , thought it was too simple a device not worth purchasing

 

[Mary Terry]

I did not grow up watching TV. We had a TV but it was kept in a closet unless something educational like a National Geographic special or a Jacque Cousteau special was on. Our parents always said television would make us stupid. Instead, our house was full of books, we went to library frequently, in the summer the book mobile came to our house, and if we complained about being bored, my mother always told us to go read a book.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I very seldom watched what I consider juvenile American comedies , rather watch science documentaries nature and history shows Some of my positions had long hours started a 4:00 in morning at Ford plan as treatment system kicked ked off process. then stuck around if issues on 2nd shift, Too me 18 months to completely fix process then I left. Next position did not work Fixed their biggest issue on first day really pissed off production manager as he though he was the guy. So when owner went on vacation he got me dumped without authority I just left unemployed for two years, found out later other guy got fired. Owner did not like losing me. I had no interest in going back. Spent time going to night school taking quality courses learned the hard way NT's do not like us Aspies seeing what the cannot. So good luck T,V. figuring who I am. not predictable no pattern they can take advantage of.