…due to seemingly installing adware on PCs and telling you to warn guests they may be recorded by AI features, to comply with ‘wiretapping’ laws

  • ragebutt@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    1 month ago

    Connecting your tv to the internet is a terrible idea and has been for years. If you have webos and must connect it for some reason root it, block all updates (they rarely include bug fixes, just make the UI more sluggish with increased advertising), and block all lg ad domains in your router.

    ||snu.lge.com^ ||su.lge.com^ ||su-ssl.lge.com^ ||snu-dev.lge.com^ ||su-dev.lge.com^ ||nsu.lge.com^

    Are the domains to block, formatted for adguard.

    • gedfromgont@piefed.ca
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      1 month ago

      Yeah but this is going a step further. This is also happening for PC monitors which are a bit harder to keep away from internet seeing as they connect to your internet-connected computer. Router blocking will help there too of course but the average user will not be able to set this up.

      • ragebutt@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        1 month ago

        The monitor thing is crazy because I have no idea why you would install software for your computer monitor?? Like the monitor itself isn’t connected to the internet and the adware comes from installing some lg monitor tools suite, and I have no clue why you would do that? Like are people really dead set on changing their monitor input via pc instead of the monitor osd??

        Monitor should and does just work. Lg just scams people into installing unnecessary software because it’s harder to shove ads into a computer monitor

        • Jesus_666@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          Windows does that automatically. The software is part of the LG monitor driver and is distributed through Microsoft’s automatic driver setup infrastructure.

          There’s an obscure GPO that can prevent Windows from auto-installing “related files” but of course most people don’t know it exists or that it’s yet another core OS feature you have to turn off to use Windows in peace.

          • schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works
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            1 month ago

            “I turned it off but it got turned on again during the next update.” There is no peace. To use Windows is to constantly be at war.

          • maccentric@sh.itjust.works
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            1 month ago

            To prevent this kind of thing in future, run gpedit.msc and enable “Prevent automatic download of applications associated with device metadata” under Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → System → Device Installation.

            Thanks to:@floofloof@lemmy.ca

          • ragebutt@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            1 month ago

            That’s the part I’m confused by. Why does a non touchscreen monitor even need a driver? It should work fine before windows is even in the picture?

            • Jesus_666@lemmy.world
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              1 month ago

              Might be glorified ICC profiles. Normally EDID should cover most bases already but I can see how config files might improve matters.

              Of course there is no justification for adding a dropper for unwanted programs.

        • kbobabob@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          1 month ago

          I have no idea why you would install software for your computer monitor??

          AI. They need to be able to scan the pixels for…reasons

    • RustyNova@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      I didn’t connect my tv to the internet, I never accepted the terms of service. All you’re supposed to do is display what the HDMI tells you to.

      Sadly the vendor that recommended this TV didn’t get the message that I wanted a dumb TV

    • tomkatt@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      I mean, that’s a bit complicated, and they can always change the domains. I just block the whole-ass TV from WAN. I can still interface with it for smart home stuff on LAN, but it can’t update or access anything outside my network. And since it has an IP on the LAN, it doesn’t bitch and moan about not having network.

    • TheFrirish@tarte.nuage-libre.fr
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      1 month ago

      Unlike a lot of what I see on the internet your TV is 10000% listening to you (sole purpose is to target ads) anyway just disconnect or isolate your TV from the internet.

    • St.Elsewhere@threads.net@sh.itjust.works
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      1 month ago

      Super short version for those who don’t want to fight the site, some lg monitors install upsettingly comprehensive spyware onto your computer.

      Some lg tvs, years after purchase and with no warning, do the same thing to themselves. Like sleeper agents.

      And I’m not talking “monitor the images” spyware, I’m talking “listen in on your every word and send the transcript to lg” level spyware. “We have clauses around wiretapping wormed into the user agreement” level spying.

  • 13igTyme@piefed.social
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    1 month ago

    When I was shopping for a new monitor a while back I stayed away from “Smart” monitors with their own operation system. I’m connecting it to a computer, why would I spend an extra $600 when the exact same monitor without an operating system exists?

    • AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      Look! You can watch Netflix on this monitor!

      Well, yes, there’s a PC stuck on it, of course I can.

      No, you can watch it without the PC!

      Why would I want to use a monitor without a PC?

      It’s only half again as expensive! It’s a steal!

      • mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works
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        1 month ago

        Tbf, you could probably actually stream Netflix at 4K on it since it gets limuted to something like 720p in the browser. But that’s just because Netflix are bastards, not because of technical limits

        • AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          it gets limited to something like 720p in the browser

          I think that depends on the browser (for reasons that I never really looked into). Some do 720p (I think that’s Firefox), some do ~1k (the Chrome based ones), maybe more.

    • Jimmycrackcrack@lemmy.ml
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      1 month ago

      I didn’t know the smart disease had infected computer monitors too. Seems like a harder sell even for those unconcerned with privacy. What could it possibly do that the computer it’s connected to wouldn’t be used for? If it’s a computer monitor it’s usually physically installed in a space you set aside for computer related stuff so even if you wanted all the “smart” features of a smart tv you’d be unlikely to want them there .

          • 13igTyme@piefed.social
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            1 month ago

            My original comment was about normal monitors and smart monitors. Smart monitors are more expensive because of the added software and chip hardware.

            • quick_snail@feddit.nl
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              1 month ago

              Isn’t a smart monitor an oxymoron?

              I thought the whole reason to buy a monitor was to get something dumb

  • RabbitBBQ@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    Remember just a few years ago, all the main tech companies and Government were gaslighting the shit out of everyone about the targeted advertising stuff? It’s not listening to you! The ADs based on what you’re talking about are just coincidental!

    Maybe no one remembers this for some reason. Of course they just get away with all the lying

  • RejZoR@lemmy.ml
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    1 month ago

    uBlock Origin anyone for the shitty ads? How do you folks even use internet without adblockers?! I don’t give a shit if it “pays” for the websites, it’s shit.

    As for LG, I put it on my shit list. Their panels might be good, but I will never buy TV or monitor branded by them after seeing this shit. Then again my MSI motherboard has its dumbass Armory whatever driver nonsense that I need to disable in BIOS every time I reset CMOS which is pissing me off too.

    Issue here is actually combination of shitty behavior from both, LG and Microsoft. LG doesn’t technically inject anything, they just send a hardware flag to Windows which then just gladly pulls shit from internet and runs it. Not only it’s annoying as fuck, this is malicious behavior and on top of that huge security risk. If anyone hijacks this shit from LG and Windows will just gladly parse and execute WHATEVER binary on millions of LG monitors. WHAT. THE. FUCK. You don’t have to compromise each individual system, you just need to compromise single target which is LG. I don’t think I need to further explain how that is insanely bad idea and Microsoft should disable this bullshit in Windows ASAP. I hope there will be more outrage about this…

    • Rothe@piefed.social
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      1 month ago

      The ads are inherent in the software which Windows 11 automatically downloads as soon as you plug in the LG monitor. It doesn’t ask, and you will get the ads even with an adblocker because they are not shown in a browser, but in Windows itself.

      The best solution is not to use LG or Windows.

    • waz@feddit.uk
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      1 month ago

      This annoys me intensely. I don’t own a tv or monitor from LG, but I do have an excellent (dumb) washing machine and fridge, I would have updated my TV which is currently a fairly basic Samsung TV, because of it’s ads and I’ve decided they are on my shit list for this kind of thing.

    • FoxAlive@lemmy.zip
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      1 month ago

      When I’m at someone’s house and the YouTube video kicks into 4k 60fps its noticeable.

      Its almost too distracting when you’re not used to it. When its gone I miss it for a day or two but ultimately wasn’t the reason I enjoyed it.

      I’ll watch YouTube on my phone at 480p because I pretty much grew up on metered internet and it just feels wasteful. But I’m the type of guy to play at 1080p mid settings (uncapped distance and frames if possible tho) to give my PC a easy time. Even if have the media installed locally I’m going 720p tops because now storage is more important.

      The only time I’ll fully let myself enjoy high res high quality media is if its a physical form like a blue ray. Other than that in the back of my mind I’m always thinking about how ray tracing and crazy high rez is kind of a gimmick, and how I would rather have more frames or conserve my hardware.

  • chronicledmonocle@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    “Whoever came up with this…”

    Executive with shit eating grin in the corner of the room

    “And I’ll fuckin’ do it again”

  • ∟⊔⊤∦∣≶@lemmy.nz
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    1 month ago

    Surely there is some legal recourse? It’s vandalism. They are putting things on YOUR property. Secondly, shouldn’t they be paying YOU to lease your advertising space???

  • dudeface@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    I have a LG oled tv and keep it off the internet because I keep hearing about crap like this

    I connect it occasionally because it has been pretty unstable and I hope that updates will resolve issues, but seems they are more concerned about updating ads etc than improving the system software

    • TrickDacy@lemmy.worldM
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      I have a LG oled tv and keep it off the internet

      I connect it occasionally

      So then you don’t keep it off the Internet, it would seem.

        • TrickDacy@lemmy.worldM
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          1 month ago

          Better than the alternative I suppose. I have never owned a smart TV but need a new TV soon. Not looking forward to the shopping experience for that.

    • RoddyStiggs
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      1 month ago

      Just return it if it doesn’t work right. You don’t need to tolerate this.

  • ape_arms@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    Is it possible to physically disable the mic on the TVs without adversely affecting other functions? I see no reason a mic to be necessary on a TV at all.

      • ape_arms@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        I did a quick search and other suggestions are to fill the “mic hole”, stick a needle in the mic hole to damage the mic, and applying a soldering iron to the mic. My LG tv has no visible mic hole, so they are getting crafty at hiding them.

        • Dultas@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          The soldering iron might be a bad idea if you don’t know what you’re doing as it could lead to a short.

    • Aussiemandeus@aussie.zone
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      1 month ago

      I have a tcl smart TV and it has a physical switch on the base of the TV that turns the mic on and off.

      I was also able go download a program called productivity sweet which bypasses the TV’s base menu and just loads to a hdmi output screen and apps you want to see so there’s no adds or anything

  • Murse@slrpnk.net
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    1 month ago

    Been thinking about a monitor upgrade… I should get on that if they’re going the way of TVs. Any recommendations that don’t have all this shit?

    I’ve been using the same monitors for… holy shit, like almost two decades. One was a Goodwill trash purchase to use as a secondary, the other was a highschool graduation gift. Highschool. I barely even remember highschool at this point. Anyway, they’re showing their age. And I’m way out of touch with what specs to shoot for, or what they even mean. I need a ‘For Idiots’ guide to this shit.

    • Talcosis@lemmy.zip
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      1 month ago

      I got a scepter two years back. Specifically because they advertised no smart bullshit.

      • Murse@slrpnk.net
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        1 month ago

        Price on Scepters look decent too. Fuck it, going for it.

        Thanks for the insight!

    • Lemmayng@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      I bought a Dell monitor back in 2022, though I wasn’t caught up with their support towards the Israeli atrocities back then. Would recommend literally anyone else besides Dell or LG. Maybe Samsung, if they offer dumb monitors?

      • Victor@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        I don’t want a dumb TV, just a TV that doesn’t spy on me. Maybe those are antonyms these days.

        Do Sceptre make large-inch OLEDs of similar quality to LG’s? Or similar technology?

        • natebluehooves@pawb.social
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          1 month ago

          if you want a smart tv, you actually want an nvidia shield/linux pc/apple tv connected over HDMI.

          getting your content from the crackerjack cpu included in the surveillance system of your tv will always be a compromised experience.

        • Turret3857@infosec.pub
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          I can’t speak to tbe “quality” because I dont buy any TV that connects to the internet, I only know my sceptre looks good enough for watching TV and movies.

          • Victor@lemmy.world
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            1 month ago

            Is it an OLED? Resolution? Diagonal size in inches? Model? You got recommendations? 🙂

            Do you use it with a media server? If so, how do you connect it to the server?

            • Turret3857@infosec.pub
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              1 month ago

              50" 4K UHD TV

              3840 x 2160 Ultra HD Resolution
              MEMC 120
              HDMI 2.0
              ARC & CEC
              Edgeless Design
              

              Looks to be LED with HDR. They have other sizes and other models. I am unsure of what model I have.

              I use it with Jellyfin via a LineageOS TV box. LineageOS only supports a small subsect of TV boxes so its probably easier to go with a mini PC with a USB air remote + something like KDE Plasma Big screen or Steam Big Picture mode.

              I use the wade device for LOS, but they also support a dynalink box, the sabrina model google Chromecast, a few NVIDIA shields, the Nintendo Switch, and a couple radexa devices. Theres also an unofficial image for raspberry pis.

    • Betterthanlast@mstdn.social
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      1 month ago

      I looked into this last year when my TV broke.

      I didn’t care a great deal about picture quality so you may want to look into that part, but I ended up buying a (I think 4k?) Sony Bravia. It’s a “Google tv” but it allows you to set it up as a regular TV instead and never connect it to the internet.

      The HDMI CEC has bug and it doesn’t always work, but it’s not reason enough for me to connect it to the internet to update it. Otherwise it works fine.