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Ask Slashdot: Should I Allow A 'Smart TV' To Connect To The Internet?

Posted by EditorDavid on from the Internet-of-TVs dept.

Slashdot reader GovCheese has a question: I use Roku and also the client apps on my gaming consoles for Amazon and Netflix. But it seems less prudent to allow my television, a Samsung, to connect to the internet. My Phillips Blu-ray wants to connect also. But I'd rather not. Is it illogical to allow Roku and a console to connect to streaming services but prevent a "smart" television from doing so?
Slashdot reader gurps_npc argues there's a distinction between devices that need internet access and devices that want it, adding "Smart TVs overcharge in privacy invasion for the minimal advantages they offer."

Leave your own best answers in the comments. Should you let a smart TV connect to the internet?

10 of 299 comments (clear)

  1. Firmware updates by mdsharpe · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Pretty much the only reason I let my "smart" TV connect to the Internet is for firmware updates. Don't think I've had one in a while though now so assuming they've stopped being developed I may disconnect it soon.

    1. Re:Firmware updates by ReneR · · Score: 5, Interesting

      yeah, well, unless it is like a Samsung "smart" tv were they constantly break things with the updates. my farther's one now even reboots every 25 minutes since one of the last updates, and it does not look like there will be another update coming. 2017 - when firmware updates are part of planned obsolescence, on the iOS side, likewise,

    2. Re:Firmware updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      It is not so much whether to connect your tv or not. Sooner or later the answer to that is likely yes, as features get added, though if you don't need those features now, I'd temporarily connect via a wire during the initial setup for updates, that way it never had your wifi password.

      Long term I'd like to see consumer level gigabit switches/wifi with these options or similar.

      1. Is device an IoT device? (As opposed to a general purpose pc/tablet)
      2. Select device type from drop down. Allowed connections will be limited based on device types.
      3. Is device allowed to communicate with other devices on your network?
      4. Alert me when traffic exceeds X bytes per day.
      5. Alert me of suspicious usage patterns.
      6. Is the device connected to a compatible power monitoring outlet? Data will be used to analyze usage patterns.
      7. Are there any times when you expect the device to actually be fully powered down?

      Again, most of these you want auto selected from a device type. The idea is you have a hopefully trusted switch that helps to spy on your own devices to see if they are being bad...

      Of course you have to trust your switch, but at least it is one device rather than the whole set of them.

    3. Re:Firmware updates by DCFusor · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The last update my LG got was DRM that made it stop working with my Raspberry Pi and other computer inputs. Can't roll it back. Not quite as bad as Sony, but hey.

      --
      Why guess when you can know? Measure!
  2. Depends on which features you want by Epsillon · · Score: 5, Interesting

    My LG is hardwired. I use its DLNA features but I also block it by MAC from sending any traffic out of the local RFC1918. This obviously isn't going to work if you use the TV's streaming features but for locally hosted content it's ideal.

    As for firmware updates, Samsung's recent brick debacle where it took a technician physically opening the case to get them back pretty much answers that question. The general rule for stuff held in programmable ROM is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." I understand many will want KRACK fixes for WiFi as soon as they're available, yet I also wouldn't be holding my breath thinking this is a priority for vendors; they have your money, you're on your own. However, if there's a flaw in the monetisation of your viewing habits they'll be jamming those bytes down your digital throat before you can blink.

    --
    Resistance is futile. Reactance buggers it up.
  3. Software updates only by Drakonblayde · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I just recently bought a pair of 55in Samsung Smart TVs

    They each connected to the internet once for firmware updates, and were immediately disconnected afterwards. Unless there's a problem that requires me to update their firmware again, they won't ever be connected again.

    All of the apps that the TV offers are already present on my Roku's and quite franky, the Roku's do it better

  4. Have two networks at home. by upuv · · Score: 4, Interesting

    In my home I implement two different networks. Each with it's own gate way. Now this requires more than your average level of IT skills in the home.

    One network is for what I will call class one devices. These are devices that I specifically add to the it. These will be things like computers, tablets, gaming and phones. The second network and the default network is for every other device. Now this requires me actually promote devices the class one network. Typically be mac address.

    Thus all those pesky iot devices end up in the default network. The default network is blocked from the internet.

    Note a device that runs something like pfsense will do the job. There are lots of alternative setups.

    Now. I can also tailor each device in each network to have slightly different network privileges than the each networks default. Example would be a security camera uploading data to my private cloud storage. But I also block all DNS resolution of add servers and malware end points etc in my class one network.

    This is not something a regular I know how to turn on my laptop kinda person can do. This requires a reasonable amount of automated scripting, network monitoring and pro-active tuning as situations change. However it can all be done rather cheaply with couple hundred dollar pfsense box installed between the internet modem->pfsense->router(wifi).

    So yeah I block everything. I only enable access when required and even then I can make it temporary. The more IOT crap that ends up in the house the more this setup is saving my backside.

    ( Note: I don't use pfsense I implemented all the services I need from pfsense myself in VM's. But it's basically the same thing. )

  5. Get rid of your TV by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    We actually got rid of our TVs. All of them. We are now a TV-free household. It just got to be too much of a pain to watch what we wanted to watch.

    Our family life has gotten immeasurably better since now we do things together as a family instead of sitting around watching TV. Having made this transition, I am fully convinced that TV is the major culprit behind the destruction of the family and the decline of our society.

  6. Re:stupidest reason.ever. by AmiMoJo · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Came here to say the same thing. Create a separate, isolated network for your TVs. Avoid ones with cameras and microphones. Job done.

    --
    const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
    SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
  7. Re:stupidest reason.ever. by HermMunster · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I run the pihole software on an early raspberry pi.

    This allowed me to watch dns activity. With what I saw, which was the tv constantly accessing certain addresses, I blocked those addresses with the blacklist feature of the pihole.

    This allows me to use things like netflix, etc while keeping the data collection to a minimum. This allows me to get updates to the tv's firmware while terminating the tracking and spying on my daily activity.

    The pihole can be used for a lot of other reasons too.

    --
    You can lead a man with reason but you can't make him think.