If you have a smart TV, be careful: you could spy on what you see. But there are ways to avoid it

Have you just purchased or received a new smart TV as a gift? On holiday dates there have been scandal discounts , which have made this product very attractive to many users.

But it is convenient to pay attention to one aspect: many of these devices have technology that not only offers great and innovative vision experiences, but also to capture information about its users.

This represents a golden opportunity for some of the brands that launch them on the market: sell that data to other companies (or use them themselves) so that they can create personalized advertising ads. A bit like the ones you get when you visit Facebook and Google, assures USA Today .

In this way, says the website specialized in CNET technology, manufacturers manage to keep these devices low. But this ability to collect user information can also be worrisome, if any of these companies could use their privacy in a dangerous way .

To this we must add one more risk: that hackers take advantage of smart TVs connecting to the Internet to get into the interconnected environment of your home and have access to other devices that you use, as the FBI alerted and reported TechCrunch .

Do not despair: there are ways to protect yourself.

The technology that could spy on you

From Amazon and Roku to Samsung, LG and Vizio, all major smart platforms and latest generation TV manufacturers are capturing their viewing data, CNET says.

A common tool for tracking what users see is called Automatic Content Recognition (ACR), a program installed on televisions that recognizes displayed images. It works regardless of whether the images come from an application or external devices such as Xbox or PlayStation video game consoles.

The Oregon FBI adds that some of the newer televisions also have built-in cameras. In certain cases, the cameras are used for facial recognition, so that the device knows who is using the TV and can suggest proper programming.

If a hacker takes control of it, he can change channels, play with the volume and show his children inappropriate videos, alert the federal agency, and, in the worst case, “turn on the camera and the microphone of the TV of his room and harass him in silence. ”

How to regain control of your privacy

Smart TVs and devices to watch most common programs and movies have settings to disable the technologies they use to collect data. CNET and Consumer Reports published comprehensive listings of how each one works, and USA Today summarized it

On Roku TVs of the TCL / Roku brand, whose software is also used in Hisense, Hitachi, Insignia, Philips, RCA and Sharp products, you have to look for the Configuration option, then Privacy and "Smart TV Experience". To disable ACR, make sure all options are unchecked, notes CNET .

In the models 'Fire TV Edition' of the Amazon brand you can look for the option to Settings and Preferences, where several categories to control appear. If you select Privacy Settings, there you can deactivate the Device usage data "," Collect application data and data over the air "and" Interest-based ads ".

It is advisable to check later if the configuration change has been saved correctly. And pay attention if other messages appear that ask to use information.

In the case of LG devices, it is selected in the menu Settings, All settings, and General. This company calls ACR technology "LivePlus." It is the one that must be deactivated to avoid being observed while using television.

Samsung places a similar option in Settings, Support, and finally Terms and Policies. From there, CNET suggests "Choose to see information services" and uncheck the ACR tab. Custom announcements are found in the Service Privacy Notice; The way to disable it is to uncheck the Enable option.

On Sony TVs, you will have to look for the corresponding option in Settings. To do the same in those of Vizio, you will have to choose the System option, click on "Reset and manage" and choose "View data"

Another possibility, generally applicable, is to turn off the TV's WiFi and use the signal from your cable TV.

What does the FBI suggest

The Oregon FBI, for its part, advises on its page to find out in detail the characteristics of the television and how to control them. For that, he suggests doing basic searches on the Internet with the model number and the words "microphone", "camera" and "privacy".

Another recommendation is not to leave the default security settings and change access passwords.

Also, it is convenient to learn to turn off microphones and cameras, if possible, says the federal agency. "If you can't disable them, consider whether you are willing to take the risk of buying that model or using that service," he adds. Alternatively, a simple piece of black tape can be applied over the camera's eye when in doubt.

Finally, the FBI invites you to verify the manufacturer's ability to update the device offered with computer security measures and consult the manufacturer's privacy policy for the transmission services it uses, as well as what data it collects, how it stores them and what it does with them. .

Look also: I could have a spy at home through your TV

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