I'm just glad that I have never connected my smart TV to the internet... and never will. I just want it to be a TV
No they aren't. They can be used to watch TV. I use my computer for different things, then I go and watch some TV. We all live life differently.
TVs "are" big monitors. Even a basic TV (not a "smart" TV) is just a monitor with a dedicated computer sharing the case. What makes it a "TV" instead of just a monitor is the inclusion of a "tuner", as well as other input options (cable box, DVD/Blue-ray, etc.). What makes a TV a "smart" TV is Internet connectivity. So technically, you can make any TV a smart TV by connecting a computer that has Internet access to the TV.
Same here. I even bought "dumb" TV. Already have desktop, netbook, tablet and mobile connected to net so I don't see a need to connect TV also.
Exactly, I don't know what's wrong with the new generation, they have no problem watching movies and series on smartphones, laptops and tablets, while I hate that! And yes, I don't connect my TV to the web either, it's better to use a streaming device like Roku or Apple TV.
I think there is too much paranoia fueled by the uninformed. Years ago when smart TVs first started hitting the store shelves, privacy was an issue - no doubt. But with today's TV's not only can you disable these things (thanks to the FTC and a few States Attorneys suing Vizio and others), but the way they collected the data has changed. FTR, Roku and Apple TV know exactly what you watch, and they can easily tie that information to your real name and billing information too! I have a smart LG OLED TV I got last year. The first thing I did - as prompted by the on-screen setup guide - was visit the privacy settings page and disable everything I didn't want them knowing, which was everything - but not the point. The point is, I could easily disable them. If this TV had a microphone (for voice recognition commands) and a camera, I would have disabled them. Note the remote control accepts voice commands, but you have to press a button first. This means it is not going to overhear private conversations as an "always enabled" mic inside the TV might. I have this smart TV connected to the Internet via the "Guest" side of my router - a feature most routers provide. But even if I connected it to my main network, each of my computers have the firewall enabled and if sharing is enabled, it only allows specific users access from specific computers. The TV is NOT going to hack my computers. I use the smart features to, with one click on the remote, check the current weather forecast and the stock market. I can also use the connection to check for firmware upgrades - and if there is one, upgrade my TV. It is wise to be concerned about privacy and security when dealing with "smart", "connected" and "IoT" devices. But I say get smart. Learn how to take control and assume mastery over them and take advantage of they have to offer - don't simply disable those features you paid for.
To me it's not about this, of course they can monitor everything you watch. But I just don't like the idea of my TV being directly connected. It might introduce security and performance problems. That's why I rather let a tool like Roku or a DVR do all of the heavy work.
A little story. I used to fix a lot of laptops. Some fresh W7 installs on new just formatted SSDs. No open wifi networks anywhere. But upon install magically the correct time, date & year is displayed. Happened more than a few times over hundreds of installs. I don't trust switching off permissions. Heck I don't even trust that dumb TVs are really dumb.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/wi...me-service/how-the-windows-time-service-works Now I haven't looked it in-depth, but when you install windows, depending on the language, a time zone is also used by default relative to the language (I think so at least, haven't looked it like I said, this is just speculation) before being synced or manually replaced by the correct time zone. But since most people use English, chances are the language installed was the same (there's en-us, en-gb etc. not just English btw), thus the time zone was the same (since you live in the US, altho states have different time zones don't they? But chances are you didn't go into another state with a different time zone to repair someone's pc, you repaired it in the same state thus in the same time zone it was, altho there can only be 1 default time zone?), thus the time simply resumed ticking from where it was last. Just like when you plug your cable or wifi or whatever off, turn the pc off, wait 2 hours, turn it on, and now the time is SUDDENLY 2 hours forward, magic right? Also, if there was literally no way for the pc (laptop) to connect to the internet, like it doesn't know the wi-fi passwords / the cable is not connected etc., then how would it connect? You're implying it connected without asking you secretly to sync the time zone and do other bad stuff? How?
I'm implying there's networks available that aren't discoverable by common folk that are nefariously used.
It might also introduce enhanced security and improved performance updates too. In fact, keeping the firmware current is one of the advantages. If we don't do anything, or block everything just because something "might" happen, we might as well stop breathing. Because you cannot just sit in your recliner all day and avoid everything because you "might" then have a heart attack from lack of exercise. And that really makes absolutely no sense based on your first complaint. The Roku is connected to your network. It might introduce security and performance problems too. Same with DVR. As for fresh installs learning the date and time, even if you connect via Ethernet, Windows can learn this information by your PoP (point of presence) where your ISP connects you to the Internet backbone. And in recent years, every motherboard I have seen, the date and time were already set in the BIOS - just typically to some Chinese or Taiwan time zone.
New smart TVs are pre-set to look and connect to free wifi, for user's convenience of course. Google and others plan to provide free wifi service everywhere, for goodwill. How well puzzle pieces fit together.
But that, in no way, means bad guys can access your network - which they would have to do to exploit any vulnerabilities in your smart devices.
The "Free" wifi is just being made public. Not usable for good, it's been there. Billion dollar companies are bad guys.
Huh? Not true at all. It's been available to the public in coffee shops, libraries, Panera Bread and other places for years. And of course it is usable for good. Yes, bad guys can use it too but that's another issue. Where's my tin foil hat?
We were not talking about that implementation of the internet. We were talking about the everywhere "Free" internet by Google & others. That's not open nor discoverable by the public now but will be in the future.
