That’s crazy that LG installed adware by bundling it up with Windows drivers and delivering it through Windows Update.
If companies can send adware through Windows Update packaged simply as ‘drivers’ and Microsoft doesn’t even raise an eyebrow even once this is known, reported and questioned by media, then my already low opinion of their quality control drops precipitously.
My TV isn’t allowed to connect to the internet. It doesn’t know the password. No more ads :)
Never connect your display to the internet is the classic advice.
Unfortunately some screens require you to connect to a Wi-Fi before they let you use them, causing you to need to create a unique burner hotspot on your mobile device to complete it. We’ve also heard of these kinds of devices connecting to any open network automatically too.
I can imagine from TVs and mobile devices these manufacturers have a database of Wi-Fi network + passwords it could use as well. Screens are also integrating docks into themselves meaning that Ethernet meant for your laptop or connected to your desktop could be used too.
This isn’t even the case for those LG monitors, they trigger a Windows Update download for malware.
If it requires internet for a device that does not need it, it gets send back to the manufacturer with a complaint.
Or, as is the case with my Samsung monitor, they have Bluetooth always on.
Conjecture: This, I believe, is so it can find and talk to other Samsung devices that ARE connected to the internet and phone home.
It’s really just an impossible level of shitty. No LG or Samsung for me
So the next solution is to let it connect to your network but then block it at the firewall. That way you have full control over what it sees.
It is a dumb arms race between consumers and the devices they purchased
Going to the salvation store | thrift store now to get those crt monitors someone’s mom told to get rid of after 35+ yrs from the garage or death…
