An investigation by Gamers Nexus found LG smart TVs sweep local networks to map phones and nearby devices. Tests also showed the sets can capture microphone audio with the screen off — they then upload data once reconnected to the internet.
An investigation by Gamers Nexus found LG smart TVs sweep local networks to map phones and nearby devices. Tests also showed the sets can capture microphone audio with the screen off — they then upload data once reconnected to the internet.
This is why my tv’s don’t get internet access.
They speculated it could connect anyway via some router brands, that allow specific devices to connect automatically. Since cases like that happened.
So if it’s range of neighbours’ routers, you might be fucked anyway. They didn’t confirm it though, to be clear.
That… seems like a poor design choice security wise. Might as well carry it into DEF CON wearing a shirt that says “PWN ME DADDY” at that point.
Then you can watch all the depraved porn you want to, and the Government will think it’s coming from the house with the insecure wifi
No, it sends mac addresses. It knows exactly which tv and where, doesn’t care that it connected via your neighbor or some public wifi.
not necessarily, MAC is a layer 2 protocol, and your router (NAT or no NAT) operates on layer 3. Routers are supposed to overwrite the MAC address with their own when they forward a packet.
It’s always possible for the unit to put its own identfying info in the payload. But you didn’t do anything silly like register the TV, did you?
The dns entry uses a unique subdomain with that info hashed into it
He hacked it without internet access and also show that they can collect data without internet access
This is why I don’t buy smart TVs in the first place.
I just don’t have a TV.
I mean that works too, I’m just not a fan of watching things on computer monitors. Sometimes I just want to sit in a recliner and watch a movie on a larger screen.
Yeah that’s fair. Personally, I live in a really small space so steam deck and phone are my only devices. Don’t think I’d feel comfortable with a TV that reported back on me - but TBF I do have a phone which I’m sure is doing that anyway!
I’m lucky enough to have the room for a TV and chair so I take advantage of it. Though I do mostly spend my time at the computer, so I have a small TV next tot he computer and just stream ad supported shows that I only half pay attention to. We all do what works for us.
Is this even possible or reasonable? Smart tvs are pretty dumb if you never connect them to the internet, so no issues until they decide to add 5g chips to them
Or… If your neighbor has an open network… Or the TV has a secret networking protocol that allows it to talk to other LG smart devices that are on a network. Or it looks for phones that have the LG app installed… You get the idea. Once you put wireless capabilities in it, there is any number of ways it can leak your data out.
Sure prove it. At least these are proven and now your just making stuff up.
Proving it is the hard and expensive part. I don’t really have the time, skillset, or money to buy a bunch of LG or other branded IoT devices, put them in an isolated test chamber and then try to decode all the RF noise come off them.
That being said, all the technical requirements to do the things I suggested in my previous comment currently exist in those smart TVs. All that was preventing LG from doing that was consumer trust, and they’ve clearly thrown that in the garbage. At this point, based on previous behavior, it should be assumed that they will go as far as possible to exfil customer data without their consent or knowledge, until proven otherwise.
My solution here (this is my solution; i recognize 99.5% of people would never do this) is to open up the tv and physically remove any wifi adapters or cards. Obviously not stopping them from hiding them, but being under the plastic shell is enough to stop most people
Non-smart TVs are still available, they just cost a bit more. As for the connectivity issue, China has been caught hiding 5g chips in electrical control systems and city buses, and selling “free streaming” boxes with malware that scans networks and attacks targets deemed worth while. And all these TVs are being manufactured in China so why take the risk when you aren’t going to use the connectivity anyway?
Specifically which ones? Are they any good? HDR, color accuracy etc?
I went with Sceptre, as for the specs, I’m half blind so all I can say is I can see everything clearly.
Bingo. No need to connect your display.
Yep an isolated vlan with no internet access. Cast your media from a dongel or computer connected via hdmi.
In the video they explained that the TV seemed like it was trying to find and connect to any connection available (some routers allow auto-connection for easy integration). This would probably be a huge issue in an apartment building or townhome situation.
I’m not entirely sure if they mentioned that was with Wifi enabled or disabled… But given that, even with the microphone input disabled, it records you from “other microphones” available, seemingly hidden, or through other devices connected to the TV… I assume they have a Wifi chip that is always enabled and searching.
Wow a faraday cage is needed then… :(