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Stopping the smart TV from being used against you.
(www.s-config.com)
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this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2026
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Technology
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As a former IT professional, it blows my mind that people actually hook their TVs up to an Internet connection. Why would you ever want your TV installing updates? Or for that matter, give it the chance to install malware? Not to mention, the potential for it to turn on a microphone (!?) and listen to you in your home! Why does a TV have a microphone built in?! A TV should never be able to record you!
I bought a mini PC and hooked it up to my TV. It's not that powerful, but it can stream 4K video through a web browser. I use a wireless mouse and keyboard on my couch to access it
Because it's a PC, I can install ad blockers and other security features to keep junk from popping up while I'm using it. Then I just stream all my shows and whatnot, fullscreen through the browser. No interruptions, total control over what is installed/playing, and the TV itself doesn't connect to the Internet. It's just a dumb device, acting like a monitor.
Even worse, though, the attack discussed in the article doesn't REQUIRE the TV be connected to the internet, only to a Windows machine that has an internet connection.
I'm not sure why it blows your mind
Most people don't assume malice
Is there a solution for TVs that automatically connect to open WiFis in range?
Percussive maintenance:
This would be some expensive pleasure
Of the top of my head: create an open WiFi guest access on your router and use parental controls to block outgoing connections.
Don’t they go through the list of available networks until they find one with working connectivity?
I have out wired but block WAN. Need LAN for jellyfin from my server (different room, sadly)
I use my iMac and screen mirror to my Roku TV
That’s the only way I watch, never using their OS or apps.
YouTube adfree, pirate everything else and stream from computer.