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submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by rimu@piefed.social to c/technology@piefed.social

LG recently forced upon us an app install loaded with McAfee adware through a Windows update. We found that this has been happening to tons of users, made worse by LG's shady history with TVs that instruct buyers to inform house visitors of third-party microphones in their living room. At no point in the adware or application install did LG or Microsoft ask us for consent or permission to install the software and enable its various permissions. On monitors ranging 1 day old in our office to 3 years old, we've been able to replicate these issues -- including on the LG 34GX900A-B that we just bought (and have now returned, following spyware concerns).

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[-] Th4tGuyII@fedia.io 30 points 2 days ago

Man, I miss the days when all TVs were dumb. All they needed was a coax for aerial TV, and then whatever input for anything else. If I wanted my TV to be smart, I could do that myself by pluging a smart device into it.

[-] cobysev@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago

I plugged a mini PC into my TV, then control it from the couch with a wireless mouse and keyboard. Now I can stream all my favorite Internet shows from a desktop browser. No smart TV required!

[-] 4am@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 day ago

Yeah except you can’t buy a not-smart TV anymore

[-] cobysev@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago

True, but I just refuse to connect my Smart TV to the Internet. It can't talk to my PC, it just operates as a dumb display for the mini PC.

[-] Nikki 9 points 1 day ago

roumer is that some brands try and connect to any open WiFi networks or other smart TVs to get on the internet, its disgusting and should be illegal

[-] Slayer@infosec.pub 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

You can buy not-smart TV like Sceptre.

[-] ivan@piefed.social 2 points 1 day ago

I just looked in my local online electronics shop, and there are lots of decent non-smart TV’s of various brands - Philips, Kivi, Thompson etc.

Using “dumb” Toshiba TV with RPi as TV box myself - it supports HDMI-CEC too, so only TV remote is enough.

[-] DrBob@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago

Look for a commercial display. Same thing without the smart elements. They are more expensive though.

[-] BrickEater@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Yes you can, they're called Monitors

[-] baronvonj@piefed.social 1 points 1 day ago

Samsung has digital signage models that have a convenient "skip" button on the WiFi setup.

this post was submitted on 19 Jul 2026
180 points (100.0% liked)

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