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pier25 | on: Ask HN: Which TV do you recommend for privacy?
> disconnect the wireless radio from the main board

Why?

sudonem | parent | next
Even if you never connect the TV to your WiFi network it will constantly scan for public networks and also scan for any devices that will respond. “Off” doesn’t actually mean off anymore. :(
duskwuff | root | parent | next
Do you have any specific examples of devices where this has been implemented? Because I've heard this idea thrown around a lot as a hypothetical, but never any concrete evidence that it's been done.
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kazinator | root | parent
Why would I care that some device to which I never gave a shred of my personal information of any kind (e.g. not logging it into any online account) found an open public network that I don't use and that has no connection to me?

Sure, I would be disturbed that it's doing that sort of thing in spite of Wi-Fi being explicitly turned off.

What is the threat to me though?

__MatrixMan__ | root | parent | next
Because it's acting with your IP address, so attempts to prevent whatever shady botnet things it gets up to may also interfere with legitimate use by humans on your network.
x3n0ph3n3 | root | parent | next
It can record audio, sometimes video, and fingerprint what you watch on it. Proximity can be enough to identify you.
mmooss | root | parent | next
They have your location, and can detect your interests from what you watch, and fingerprint you. Things like this are pieces of a larger, comprehensive picture of your life.

Also, how do you pay for streaming channels, etc., if you don't give it any information?

kazinator | root | parent | next
The assumption here is that we don't give the TV any personal information; it's just used as a monitor. The content comes from some other device connected to an input (e.g. HDMI1). (That device may raise privacy issues, but we are concerned with the TV).

Without either doing the fingerprinting from surreptitious audio recording in the room that other commenters mention, or else matching the unit serial number to the purchaser (requiring the retailer to leak personal info to the manufacturer), they can't match the unit's location to our identity.

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kortilla | root | parent | next
Samsung TVs were literally recording people with microphones and doing voice recognition. Unless you don’t speak in your home, it will have you identified quite quickly.
kazinator | root | parent | next
If we want privacy, should we be buying a TV which has these peripherals? I don't think a TV should have such things, so I would sooner rip out or damage the microphone and camera if I had to get such a TV. The ability to connect to a network could be useful; I'd not mess with it.
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lowbloodsugar | root | parent
Because the TV is recording your voice, what you watch and possibly taking pictures, depending on the brand, and it needs a connection to send that information to whoever will pay for it.
arcanemachiner | parent | next
So your idiot brother doesn't connect your spy TV to the WiFi when he comes to visit, instead of using the goddamn Chromecast that is already plugged into it. >:(
dreamcompiler | root | parent | next
This. I've had this happen with relatives who come to visit. It's unkind to tell them "Don't fuck with the TV" or "Ignore the TV if it tells you it wants to connect to something."

They want to be "helpful" and show me they can "work tech" by doing stuff like this. They don't understand that the TV is manipulating them. I don't want to have to explain to them that I'm basically a neurosurgeon and they just tried to impress me by drilling a hole in somebody's head. Because the TV told them to.

Disconnecting the wifi avoids the need for unpleasant conversations.

encrypted_bird | root | parent | next
This seems very specific.............you wanna talk about it? /hug-offer
sparky_z | root | parent | next
Dogsitter in my case.
mmooss | root | parent | next
Happened to elderly relatives. I had it set up so nicely and someone 'helped', and then it seems rude to disconnect what they did.
Tyr42 | root | parent
Yours too? Dang.
MiscCompFacts | parent | next
I’ve heard the TV’s will try to connect to any passwordless, public access point it can reach even without your approval.
duskwuff | root | parent | next
While I've certainly heard plenty of theorizing about the possibility of this happening, I have yet to see any conclusive evidence that it has ever been done.

EDIT: What I am referring to here is the specific allegation that smart TVs will connect to open wireless networks without being commanded to do so. It's not a catch-all for any nefarious thing involving TVs or wireless networks.

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fhub | root | parent | next
You still run the risk of a software update doing a tv to tv mesh network. You gotta own the software or remove the radio.
Geezus_42 | root | parent
How many open WiFi networks are there within range of your TV?
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OtomotO | parent
I guess for people living in cities where different neighbours move in and out and have open WiFis.

If the devices still scan all the time...

Living on the countryside there is no such problem.

Geezus_42 | root | parent
Even ISP routers come with a default password now. I can't remember the last time I found an actual open WiFi.
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