Samsung's warning: Our Smart TVs record your living room chatter

[Borg 386]

And soon you'll have to leave the kitchen while engaging in conversation to avoid the fridge or toaster eavesdropping on your convo. :sarc:

Why worry about Big Brother?

It's your big Samsung TV that's watching you. Oh, and listening to you.

That seems to be the conclusion from reading the privacy small print offered by the company. (Samsung's motto: TV has never been this smart.)

It concerns the voice-recognition feature, vital for everyone who finds pressing a few buttons on their remote far too tiresome.

However, the following words border on the numbing: "Please be aware that if your spoken words include personal or other sensitive information, that information will be among the data captured and transmitted to a third party through your use of Voice Recognition."

Samsung's warning: Our Smart TVs record your living room chatter - CNET

 

[ThrashZone]

The great features of built in microphones :/

 

[andrew129260]

Sometimes conspiracy nutjobs are right ha.

Always read the fine print

 

[groze]

really simple just don't get a smart-tv or make sure it doesn't come with a webcam or microphone.

 

[RoasterMen]

Thanks for the tip Samsung now no one will buy your crappy products.

 

[scr]

I talk to my TV and my comments wouldn't be acceptable in this forum or any place else. Especially when it fails to record show I really wanted to see. But I have a really Dumb TV so no worries.

 

[Borg 386]

Voice commands are handled by a microphone embedded in the TV remote control, which triggers interaction with a server for things such as recommending movies or searching for certain TV programs.

Samsung said it collects interactive voice commands only when a person makes a search request, which requires deliberately pressing a button on the remote control and speaking into the remote control’s microphone.

Still, you better watch your convo when you press that button. :sarc:

Samsung’s amended privacy policy also identifies the third party as Nuance Communications, a Massachusetts company that builds speech recognition software. Nuance handles translating “interactive voice commands” into text enabling the request to be fulfilled, Samsung said.

In addition to the voice data, Nuance receives other information, including “device identifiers.”

Neither Samsung nor Nuance immediately replied to questions on what specific information is shared and how the data is kept private. It’s also not clear for how long the remote control’s microphone stays on after it’s activated.

Samsung: Our smart TVs aren't eavesdropping on your conversations | PCWorld

 

[Tookeri]

I've never activated the smart part of my Smart-TV, connected it to the Internet etc. So it's more like a safe stupid old TV I think

Now I'm only a little worried that this "smart" TV is so smart that it will at some point connect automatically to an unsecured public Wi-Fi in range only because I haven't already connected it.

 

[Borg 386]

Now I'm only a little worried that this "smart" TV is so smart that it will at some point connect automatically to an unsecured public Wi-Fi in range only because I haven't already connected it.

About 6 months ago there were articles circulating, stating that you better think twice about putting a smart TV in your bedroom. Insufficient securities built into them by foreign manufacturers could allow someone to hack the camera or microphone.

And what are some of the other devices/TV's doing that you don't know about?

In 2013, for instance, LG was caught uploading information on file names from USB and networked storage devices, even for users who had opted out of having their viewing information collected. LG eventually disabled the data transmission through a firmware update, but only after the U.K. government started asking questions. Its smart TVs also transmit your every word to offsite servers when listening for instructions.

 

[Tookeri]

Then I may have to open up the TV and remove the network card physically

 

[z3r010]

Then I may have to open up the TV and remove the network card physically

That makes the TV useless as it no longer receives netflix or prime

 

[Tookeri]

I don't use any "smart" or network based functions. I only use it as a TV. I use the PS3 for smart functions

 

[sdowney717]

Maybe a hard wired switch could be put in the tv to turn off the mic and cam

 

[Tookeri]

A blog article published today and already 30+ comments. Smart TVs seem to be a sensitive subject

Why I won't buy a smart TV anytime soon - gHacks Tech News

PS. When I bought my latest TV I didn't plan to buy a smart TV but it was impossible to find a good non-smart TV, at least in the local stores.

 

[Layback Bear]

Sounds like another use for Duct Tape.
Tape over the camera and mic.

 

[andrew129260]

PS. When I bought my latest TV I didn't plan to buy a smart TV but it was impossible to find a good non-smart TV, at least in the local stores.

You must not be looking hard enough then, I have a 40 inch "dumb" fantastic tv that is 1080p, 3 hdmi inputs, component, composite etc. and is 120hz for like $280. It is a westinghouse.

I see we are different areas though, so that probably has something to do with it.

 

[Tookeri]

Maybe so but I've only had 60+ inch ones which makes the search even harder.

 

[Layback Bear]

I do wonder what Contrena is listing to on cell phones and Window 10.
I know when you request her she will talk back but is she listing all the time and sending information somewhere all the time??

 

[groze]

Maybe so but I've only had 60+ inch ones which makes the search even harder.

I am just curios.

What about smaller screens? Like 20 or 24 inch are those easier to find in Europe?

 

[RoasterMen]

Then I may have to open up the TV and remove the network card physically

That makes the TV useless as it no longer receives netflix or prime

This is why most people just rather buy a crappy TV and build an HTPC, much better