It is my intention to buy a new television since my current one is getting rather old. It predates the LCD/LED age. To be specific, I have my eye on the Panasonic TX-49FXW784. I don´t need all that new stuff like 4K, smart tv, voice activation (!) but we have to deal with what´s currently available. And I am looking for something that emulates the original high quality CRT television. This one seems like a reasonable candidate, but obviously I would have to test it. Here is one, https://www.panasonic.com/de/consumer/flachbildfernseher/4k-pro-ultra-hd-tv/fxw784-serie/tx-49fxw784.html Not exactly the local shop, but whatever. A couple of points: I want to preserve my privacy (and anonymity and security) as much as possible. I don´t need smart tv. The tv will be connected to a settop box that can record anyway, cable tv. I don´t like the voice activation. That can be disabled, but how secure is that really ? The OS is Firefox, quad core processor. I need to be able to update the software, but for that no permanent connection to the internet is necessary. Aside from disabling ´smart´ features on a software level as much as possible, any pointers ? I don´t like having to ´trust´ a tv (company) not to record or transmit anything. I guess it doesn´t have a camera ... (yet ...)
Just access your router's admin menu and block Internet access. Then you won't have to worry about privacy. That said, I think you are being overly paranoid about that. As for voice, I didn't think I would ever go for that either. But now that I use it, I really like it.
@Bill_Bright , Router ? Is there a router in the tv ? Maybe there is a misunderstanding. The access point (correct phrase?) of the cable company (ISP) has three cables that provide a signal. One is for internet, and goes to a modem. One is for television, that signal goes to my settop box (provided by ISP), the third likely is for radio. I do have a router, but I use that one for internet/between modem and computer.
No, there is no router in the TV. But as you noted, your network has a router. A TV is "smart" because it uses the Internet for those smart features. It does NOT connect to the Internet through the TV/settop box. The TV will use either an Ethernet connection to your router or via wireless to the wireless side of your router. So you can disable access to the Internet by your TV (or any other device) through the router's admin menu. But again, what's the worry? Your TV does not know anything about you that would be a security or a privacy concern.
ESET has just posted a blog today: "Top tips for protecting your Smart TV". https://www.welivesecurity.com/2018/10/01/protecting-your-smart-tv/ (I'm just posting it in general; maybe it could help).
I don't worry about my TV being smart. I like being able to press one button on my remote to instantly get my local weather, for example, or to see how the stock market is doing. And of course, if you want to view Netflix or some other streaming service via your TV, you need Internet access. Smart TVs are not spying on us. If you are worried about your privacy, destroy your smart phone.
Thanks for that. I still don't like the voice activation. Whenever I update, I connect to the internet and presumable any recorded conversations could be transmitted. Any way to disable that microphone without using a hammer or similar ... ? Basically, at a hardware level. Updates could enable voice control, or the software could be glitchy. @Bill_Bright , They could. Although it's limited without a camera ... Anyway, I don't even own a smartphone. Just a GSM.
That's just silly. "What if" statements don't make the case. Frankly, I don't know of any smart TV that has an integrated camera. Even most computer monitors (except with notebooks) don't have a camera. And I don't know of any smart TV that has a microphone. And those that accept voice commands require someone to press a button on and then speak into a remote. And then there are prompts that appear on the screen - so it still would not be spying. So let's keep it in the realm of reality, okay?
Smart TV's generally don't have long and fast software support, so often your stuck with a vulnerable OS. Combine that with a microphone and often a camera as well and there are enough parties that would find access to the TV interesting. There already has been a case of a couple having sex in front of the TV and being spied upon. Depending on how you assess the risks and how interested you are in the smart features, and if your TV still gets software updates and is equipped with a camera and mic, decide for yourself if you want to connect it to the internet. Personally, if I would own a smart TV with a camera and mic, I would not connect it to the internet unless I could physically detach the cam and mic cables. However that would require expertise or risk damaging the TV, and most likely void the warranty as well. As for Netflix and other streaming services, you could use them through a connected notebook, HTPC, chromecast, apple TV etc.
Sure, lets have a look at https://www.welivesecurity.com/2018/02/14/safe-around-smart-tv/ Just one quote:
Well, not really arguing the point too much, and I don't want to increase paranoia levels... but it depends upon whether you think potentially tracking viewing habits is a privacy concern or not. Two Senators Call for Investigation of Smart TV Industry, The New York Times, July 12, 2018
Except that is not happening today. And exceptions don't make the rule. If a consumer buys a smart TV with a camera and microphone (which the vast majority do NOT have) and fails to read the manual or properly set them up, then who's fault is that? The title of this thread is "Smart TV security". People need to start understanding that security and privacy are NOT the same thing. If your TV reports back that "Doctor Who" is being watched on that TV, you might - if you want to stretch the fact - consider that a privacy issue. But that information is NOT tied to security as your real name, street address, date of birth, Social Security Number, or your billing information are NOT being sent back too. And speaking of security, TV makers have never been accused of intentionally violating that. There have been cases where it was demonstrated hackers could exploit flaws, and that IS bad! I am NOT denying that. But it is the bad guys being bad in those cases, not the TV makers. For those worried about your privacy and your smart TV, here you go: https://www.consumerreports.org/privacy/how-to-turn-off-smart-tv-snooping-features/ OR, you could just do as I suggested in the first reply in this thread - block access in your router.
I don't see the problem, if you simply do not connect your smart TV to a modem/router, you have already solved the problem. And nowadays a lot of ISP's offer Netflix via the DVR, this means that your TV doesn't have to be connected.
Many Blu-Ray players, and of course, separate streamers (Roku, for example) offer Netflix. But of course, if you have a Netflix account, Netflix already knows much more about you than any smart TV will. Netflix knows your true name and billing information, as well as your Netflix viewing habits. Again, privacy with a smart TV is not a problem.
To clarify, the only reason for me to connect my smart TV to the web are apps like Netflix, but luckily it's not necessary anymore because DVR takes care of this. The new generation cloud based DVR's don't even have an HDD and modem, they record programs on the cloud and Netflix is delivered via IPTV, which means it doesn't need to be connected to the internet, if I understood correctly.
Yeah, but Netflix is still not free. So you still need an account. That means Netflix, along with your ISP already know WAY MORE about you than your Smart TV ever will.
That wasn't the point. I don't care about my ISP and Netflix knowing stuff about me. But I like to avoid having to connect appliances like TV and Blu Ray player to the web. The only things that I connect are desktop, laptop and smartphone. I'm not into this "Internet of Things" nonsense.
That's exactly what I said to topic starter, but let's say you do need apps like YouTube and Netflix, then you can always buy Apple TV or Roku in case your DVR doesn't offer it. This way you can avoid having to connect your TV, and don't have to worry about your TV spying on you, or your TV getting hacked.
Yes exactly, but I guess topic-starter wants to limit the amount of devices and companies that are spying on you.
