I wouldn’t put it past them to start trying to mesh network their way out of local network jail. Are your neighbors as diligent as you are about privacy and security?
I’m pretty sure at least a few of them do that already. I’ve seen too many reports of tech savvy people not knowing why they got updates when the TV has never been connected.
Very possible. Or maybe “just” connecting to any open wifi networks that might be available…
OTOH, I take “non-tech-savvy” reports with a healthy grain of salt. “Never been connected” could simply mean “I didn’t plug it in to the Comcast box”. Or “I connected Netflix, I didn’t connect the TV”.
Nothing a little bit of electronics surgery can’t fix, clip the antenna or put a 50 ohm resistor in it’s place. Better yet pull out the power amplifier or cut any power traces.
If they stop selling dumb TVs, I won’t own another TV in my life. Not even being funny right now.
No need, just leave any smart TVs disconnected from your network and they’re harmless
Yep. I never use the smart TV features. I’ve a fire stick and yes I see the irony but the firesick is almost used exclusively for Kodi.
For now …
I wouldn’t put it past them to start trying to mesh network their way out of local network jail. Are your neighbors as diligent as you are about privacy and security?
I’m pretty sure at least a few of them do that already. I’ve seen too many reports of tech savvy people not knowing why they got updates when the TV has never been connected.
Very possible. Or maybe “just” connecting to any open wifi networks that might be available…
OTOH, I take “non-tech-savvy” reports with a healthy grain of salt. “Never been connected” could simply mean “I didn’t plug it in to the Comcast box”. Or “I connected Netflix, I didn’t connect the TV”.
These were tech savvy people who I generally trust, plus a few Internet reports of dubious trustworthiness (like everything else on the internet).
I wish I could remember the brand.
Smart TVs are cheaper than dumb TVs because smart TVs can send your watching habit data to be sold. I wish I was joking.
That’s why you buy the cheaper smart one and just leave it air gapped
Until they reach a deal with mobile carriers and start shipping with SIM cards…
Nothing a little bit of electronics surgery can’t fix, clip the antenna or put a 50 ohm resistor in it’s place. Better yet pull out the power amplifier or cut any power traces.
With e-sim, this is getting more likely all the time
You can always buy a digital signage display and use it as a tv.
Those are usually more expensive and don’t do HDR.
That’s good. My fallback plan was to get one of those school style overhead protectors and just do pantomime shows with coloured paper and wires
My current TV is an old one I got from a friend of my dad when he got a bigger one. It’s a bit glitchy, but it’s not smart, and that’s what matters.