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I purchased a Samsung tv, I connected it to Wifi one time to download any 'updates' then I disabled WIFI and all of the smart features via the menu and went the

I purchased a Samsung tv, I connected it to Wifi one time to download any 'updates' then I disabled WIFI and all of the smart features via the menu and went the extra mile to block its MAC Address on the router. I never once touched any of the smart features and it has been fine so far. This has been my rule for any devices that requires WIFI. I should really setup a special guest network for them and disable WAN access but I haven't gotten that far yet.

skyboy101 5y ago
If I'm not mistaken, smart TVs can still communicate by via inaudible sound signals directly to other devices. Spooky.
- kossTKR 5y ago
  Really? That's dystopian, but in a cool way. A little like Amazons own internet sharing network or what it was. It's terrible though. We really live in a panopticon now. Any links?
  - foepys 5y ago
    https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/05/theres-a-spike-in-android-apps-that-covertly-listen-for-inaudible-sounds-in-ads/ https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/05/there... Be careful which apps you allow to use your phone's microphone.
  - r3trohack3r 5y ago
    https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/11/beware-of-ads-that-use-inaudible-sound-to-link-your-phone-tv-tablet-and-pc/ https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/11/beware-of-ads-th... Not exactly the TV manufacturer doing it, but there have been reports of advertisers using ultrasonic pitches to do cross-device tracking.
  - crysin 5y ago
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinavia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinavia Slightly different than what gp was talking about but also deals with using invisible audio for DRM
    - benttoothpaste 5y ago
      Audio is usually invisible
saiya-jin 5y ago
If you don't want it constantly connected ie to use built-in apps, the step with allowing it out once is needless or even potentially harmful. Of course I don't know your usage of it, but generally there is nothing worth downloading in those firmwares, only potentially new ways to serve ads and be obtrusive if facing issues with that. You don't want your previously-OK TV to start showing you some warnings after updating it.

skyboy101 5y ago

If I'm not mistaken, smart TVs can still communicate by via inaudible sound signals directly to other devices. Spooky.

kossTKR 5y ago
Really? That's dystopian, but in a cool way. A little like Amazons own internet sharing network or what it was. It's terrible though. We really live in a panopticon now. Any links?
- foepys 5y ago
  https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/05/theres-a-spike-in-android-apps-that-covertly-listen-for-inaudible-sounds-in-ads/ https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/05/there... Be careful which apps you allow to use your phone's microphone.
- r3trohack3r 5y ago
  https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/11/beware-of-ads-that-use-inaudible-sound-to-link-your-phone-tv-tablet-and-pc/ https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/11/beware-of-ads-th... Not exactly the TV manufacturer doing it, but there have been reports of advertisers using ultrasonic pitches to do cross-device tracking.
- crysin 5y ago
  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinavia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinavia Slightly different than what gp was talking about but also deals with using invisible audio for DRM
  - benttoothpaste 5y ago
    Audio is usually invisible

saiya-jin 5y ago

If you don't want it constantly connected ie to use built-in apps, the step with allowing it out once is needless or even potentially harmful. Of course I don't know your usage of it, but generally there is nothing worth downloading in those firmwares, only potentially new ways to serve ads and be obtrusive if facing issues with that. You don't want your previously-OK TV to start showing you some warnings after updating it.