Is your Smart TV Spying on you?

[lovbyts]

Wow!!! More conspiracy theories coming true.

LG Smart TVs May Spy on Users, Blogger Says
Just how smart is an LG Smart TV ? Smart enough to spy on you, according to one user's findings.


A blogger who goes by the name DoctorBeet wrote that he had performed a traffic analysis on his home router and found that every time he changed the channel, his LG Smart TV would ping LG's servers with the name of the channel and his identification number.


In the TV's system settings, DoctorBeet found an option called "Collection of watching info" that was set to "on" by default.


MORE: TV Buying Guide 2013
But even after he switched this option to "off," more traffic analysis revealed that his TV continued to send the same information to LG's servers.
DoctorBeet said he also discovered that the LG Smart TV would sometimes upload the names of personal files stored on an external USB drive plugged into the TV.


Only the files' names were collected, not the files themselves. However, file names can contain potentially sensitive information.


For example, DoctorBeet said he saw his Smart TV had uploaded a file name of a Christmas video that contained his children's names.


As bait, DoctorBeet created another file and called it "midget porn," just to see if the TV would upload that file name. The TV did.


LG didn't appear to be actually receiving those file names — at least not at that moment. The URL to which the file names were being posted returned a 404 "Not Found" error, indicating that the URL did not exist, even if the receiving server did.


"However, despite being missing at the moment, this collection URL could be implemented by LG on their server tomorrow, enabling them to start transparently collecting detailed information on what media files you have stored," DoctorBeet wrote on his blog.


DoctorBeet said he sent an email message to LG's U.K. subsidiary. He received a response that he should have read the Terms and Conditions of his user agreement before switching on the TV, and that any fault was with the retailer that sold him the TV.


LG's privacy policy doesn't appear to contradict any of DoctorBeet's findings. The policy states that LG collects "personally identifiable information" — names, emails, physical addresses and company names — and "non-personally identifiable information," such as IP addresses and product information.
Furthermore, LG shares this information with "strategic partners, agents, third-party marketers or information providers, or other unaffiliated parties, who are offering products or services that we believe may be of interest to you."


A video that LG created for prospective advertisers touts the wealth of information the company collects about users of its TVs and smartphones.
The privacy policy doesn't give LG customers any way to opt out of this data collection, stating, "If you do not want us to share your personally identifiable information in this manner, please do not provide us with this information."


Tom's Guide has reached out to LG for comment, which said it was investigating the situation. "Customer privacy is a top priority at LG Electronics and as such, we take the issue very seriously. We are looking into the reports that certain viewing information on LG Smart TVs was shared without consent," the company said in a statement. We will update this story as more information becomes available.

[tarmyg]

I do not understand the upheaval about this stuff? It is simple, do the utility someone purchased have a need to an Internet connection? If Yes, assume data is being sent from that device to whatever servers the manufacturer have. Even if it does not send something, assume it can be hacked.

Thanks
~T

---

"I stay mostly by myself, but it's OK, they know me here"
Follow my personal story here: Anabolic Steroids - Steroid.com Forums - An honest journey - Blogs

[lovbyts]

Because most people dont know, dont understand and it's not right.

[kronik420]

DoctorBeet likes midget porn.. weird..

[Honkey_Kong]

I do not understand the upheaval about this stuff? It is simple, do the utility someone purchased have a need to an Internet connection? If Yes, assume data is being sent from that device to whatever servers the manufacturer have. Even if it does not send something, assume it can be hacked.

Thanks
~T

---

"I stay mostly by myself, but it's OK, they know me here"
Follow my personal story here: Anabolic Steroids - Steroid.com Forums - An honest journey - Blogs

If the people were aware of the fact that LG was collecting data about their customers, they most likely would not use their product.

It's sad when corporations take every opportunity now to violate their customer's privacy. And I'm sure LG isn't the only ones doing that. I'm pretty positive that the entire industry as a whole is doing the same thing regardless of smart TV bought. So we're now at the point where we can't even watch TV anymore without some Big Brother watching us. It's outrageous and wrong.

[lovbyts]

DoctorBeet likes midget porn.. weird..

Don't be prejudiced. Vertically challenged people need lovin also.

[Times Roman]

what is a smart TV?

[DSM4Life]

The last thing people want to see is what I do behind closed doors.

[lovbyts]

what is a smart TV?

A smart TV is connected to the internet and has certain things built in for web browsing and skype. It does more online interactive TV stuff like streaming were before it was done through your computer or DVD player.

Supposedly it you can upgrade it via online or plugging in a new module although if you want a good picture it's better to just get a good quality 1080p, 240 mhz or higher TV

[MuscleInk]

A smart TV is connected to the internet and has certain things built in for web browsing and skype. It does more online interactive TV stuff like streaming were before it was done through your computer or DVD player.

Supposedly it you can upgrade it via online or plugging in a new module although if you want a good picture it's better to just get a good quality 1080p, 240 mhz or higher TV

My new 4k has a camera on top for video conferencing and all controls can be handled by hand motion (without the remote - think of touch screen technology but from a distance).

Guess HAW and I shouldn't be doing the nasty in front of the tv any more huh? Lol

[Honkey_Kong]

My new 4k has a camera on top for video conferencing and all controls can be handled by hand motion (without the remote - think of touch screen technology but from a distance).

Guess HAW and I shouldn't be doing the nasty in front of the tv any more huh? Lol

The virgin at the pentagon that's spying on you doesn't mind.

[MuscleInk]

The virgin at the pentagon that's spying on you doesn't mind.

Not sure who is creepier.....the pentagon person or the person on the other end of my in home video surveillance (oh ya my ass "the video footage can't be seen by ADT security people", said the sales rep).

[Honkey_Kong]

Not sure who is creepier.....the pentagon person or the person on the other end of my in home video surveillance (oh ya my ass "the video footage can't be seen by ADT security people", said the sales rep).

Yeah, well we all know how truthful sales reps are.

[lovbyts]

My new 4k has a camera on top for video conferencing and all controls can be handled by hand motion (without the remote - think of touch screen technology but from a distance).

Guess HAW and I shouldn't be doing the nasty in front of the tv any more huh? Lol

Hold on and let me sniff your IP...

[Megalodon6]

The last thing people want to see is what I do behind closed doors.

Haha first thing I thought of

[lovbyts]

The last thing people want to see is what I do behind closed doors.

Haha first thing I thought of

Hell I dont want to see what you do with the door open...

[Java Man]

I'm about sick of these companies collecting data for 'marketing purposes'. Who says I want more fvcking phone calls and junk mail? Then they always hide behind a 'user agreement' as if we just bought a subscription to WoW or something rather than a household appliance that we basically need now if we want to have a clue what's going on in the world. As if. 'well, you could just not buy the tv'. Right. And have no tv in the house because all manufacturers are doing the same thing.

If people did actually read the thing and choose not to buy the tv, the manufacturer would stop eavesdropping and selling our information to telemarketers because nobody is buying their products due to this practice. Frustrating. People are such sheep.

Argh. Repeat 3x.

I want to die!

[Java Man]

DoctorBeet created another file and called it "midget porn," just to see if the TV would upload that file name.

Lol. Riiiight. Just to see huh?

[Times Roman]

shit! i thought i was all high tech when i hooked up a HDMI cable from my laptop to the TV in my room......

[Java Man]

My new 4k has a camera on top for video conferencing and all controls can be handled by hand motion (without the remote - think of touch screen technology but from a distance).

WTF? Like in Minority Report?

[lovbyts]

shit! i thought i was all high tech when i hooked up a HDMI cable from my laptop to the TV in my room......

You were, 10 years ago. lol

[Honkey_Kong]

WTF? Like in Minority Report?

You can control your computer like they do in Minority Report with one of those Leap Motion devices.

And here's a video of the other awesome stuff you can do with it. I guess it's essentially a Theremin for your computer.

[MuscleInk]

WTF? Like in Minority Report?

Pretty much. There's a small camera mounted on the top of the tv. Sitting or standing in front of the screen, you use your hand to change sources, channels, volume, open and close apps - yes, very much like Minority Report. It's the newest toy in the house. It also responds to voice command like tv on, tv off, open "app", close "app" and others.

[MuscleInk]

Hold on and let me sniff your IP...

Damnit.....gonna have to set myself up a VPN!!! Lol

[lovbyts]

Damnit.....gonna have to set myself up a VPN!!! Lol

Just make sure your VPN is outside of the US and does not keep record.

[MuscleInk]

Just make sure your VPN is outside of the US and does not keep record.

Fuggit....I'll unplug the network when we're bumping uglies. Lol

[Rusty11]

A smart TV is connected to the internet and has certain things built in for web browsing and skype. It does more online interactive TV stuff like streaming were before it was done through your computer or DVD player.

Supposedly it you can upgrade it via online or plugging in a new module although if you want a good picture it's better to just get a good quality 1080p, 240 mhz or higher TV

My old tv was 60 Hz. The one I just got is 240. The difference is amazing. It's almost like I'm watching in 3d. It's hard to explain until you see the difference.

[JD250]

I knew it!!!! Those bastards are watching me through that built in camera too..... now I'm gonna have to put tape over it before I watch midget porn!! Who would they sell that information to?.... Jergens perhaps? What would happen if I had one of those cool leap motion devices turned on during a midget porn session?

[lovbyts]

Fuggit....I'll unplug the network when we're bumping uglies. Lol

Damn... I guess Ill have to send one of my drones with HD cameras. lol

My old tv was 60 Hz. The one I just got is 240. The difference is amazing. It's almost like I'm watching in 3d. It's hard to explain until you see the difference.

Yeah I know but for now I couldnt pass up the $399 and didnt have $799 for a 120 or 240 hz and really I dont watch much TV in the bedroom.

I figure my next TV will be a 80"+ 240Hz+ since my current one is 72" 3D and projection is 1080P and 1080i 101" screen.

[Flagg]

What happens if you have a smart t.v. and a XBone?

[lovbyts]

What happens if you have a smart t.v. and a XBone?

Maybe they will fight over who gets to spy on you and when? They might conspire and attack you while your asleep on the couch?

[DSM4Life]

I do have a popup camera on my TV and always felt a little funny leaving it open (pointing at us on the sofa). I leave it pulled in (closed) now.

[Juced_porkchop]

This stuff makes me sick! hate that, its wrong!