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. :(

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duskwuff 4 hours ago | 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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paimapi 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/may/15/google-ad...

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2011/apr/25/goog...

https://theweek.com/tech/wifi-signals-now-tracking-users-at-...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlbjUvkoyBA

https://wigle.net/

And here's the opt-out steps to get Google to stop scanning your Wifi: https://support.google.com/maps/answer/1725632#how_opt_out&z...

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duskwuff 4 hours ago | parent [-]

None of those links involve smart TVs at all, let alone smart TVs which connect to open wireless networks.

	▲	paimapi 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9uefFYe6bM

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_dain_ 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Hypothetical is beside the point. The hardware is there, the software is closed and you can't verify what is really happening, so the potential threat exists.

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kazinator 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

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__ an hour ago \| 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.
	▲	mmooss an hour ago \| parent \| prev \| 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?
	▲	kortilla an hour ago \| parent \| prev \| 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.
	▲	x3n0ph3n3 3 hours ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		It can record audio, sometimes video, and fingerprint what you watch on it. Proximity can be enough to identify you.
	▲	aftbit 3 hours ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		ACR
	▲	lowbloodsugar 3 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		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.