Your Smart TV May Be Smarter Than You Think.

   According to pcmag.com: 

Definition of:smart TV

An Internet-enabled TV set that supports movie streaming from content providers such as Netflix, Amazon and Hulu. Also called a "connected TV," a smart TV may contain a browser for general Web surfing and also be able to execute built-in or downloaded applications. A QWERTY keyboard may be built into the remote control; however, some smart TVs have tablet apps that, working simultaneously with the TV, display the program guide, control the set and offer additional information.

   Wow! This takes TV viewing to the next level - offering more options than ever before. BUT - just how SMART is your smart TV? Will it only do what you "tell it" to do? Or will it watch you, and your family, while you're watching it? According to Doctor Beet  an LG Smart TV sent unencrypted data  over the internet! No problem you say? Doctor Beet's tests revealed that the information was sent out each time he changed the channel. He also learned that there is an option in the system settings to turn OFF the "collection of watching" option (the default setting is ON) BUT the smart TV continued to send viewing information even when the watching option was turned OFF.

   The data sent to GB.smartshare.lgtvsdp.com included the name of a "mock" video file (Midget_Porn_2013.avi) that he had created and stored on a USB drive that had been PLUGGED in to his TV. He monitored and analyzed the network traffic and found out that the file name had been transmitted unencrypted and in some cases the file names for an entire folder had been transmitted! While Doctor Beet never determined the criteria that controlled when the smart TV transmitted data he was certain that the data sent included the names of customer's files, unique identification customer information and  tracking numbers for a specific TV.

  

  Why, you ask, would LG, or any other smart TV manufacturer, want my smart TV to monitor me? The answer, "Follow the money". According to Doctor Beet, he "found a rather creepy corporate video" (that was removed but mirrored here)  "advertising their data collection practices to POTENTIAL ADVERTISERS. It's quite long but a sample of their claims are as follows":

 

"LG Smart Ad analyses users favourite programs, online behaviour, search keywords and other information to offer relevant ads to target audiences. For example, LG Smart Ad can feature sharp suits to men, or alluring cosmetics and fragrances to women.

Furthermore, LG Smart Ad offers useful and various advertising performance reports. That live broadcasting ads cannot. To accurately identify actual advertising effectiveness."

   They do it so they can charge an advertiser top dollar by providing a "TARGET AUDIENCE" allowing them to stream to your TV a RELEVANT ad. Not only is the NSA watching you but now so is CORPORATE BIG BROTHER. Doctor Beet did ask LG to comment on, "data collection, profiling of their customers, collection of usage information and mandatory embedded advertising on products that their customers had paid for."  Their response "you accepted the Terms and Conditions on your TV, your concerns would be best directed to the retailer." Basically they said "F*&! OFF"!

   Doctor Beet did come up with a creative way to block their collection of his data by blocking the domains

on his router. This effectively prevents his smart TV from reaching the server - unless, of course, it can create a Gmail account and then email the info to the "home office".