Comment on I got this popup ad on my TV **while watching a DVD**

• CosmicTurtle@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  The problem is that because the hardware is there, a determined person with physical access can change the settings to join a network you don’t control.

  Ideally, you can open the TV and remove the wifi modules but I suspect that might be beyond the skills of most TV owners.

  Tbh, I stopped owning a TV since college. I watch everything on my computer or phone now.

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  • EdibleFriend@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Wait…so the fear here is that they will take my tv, that i don’t have connected to the internet and…connect it to a network i don’t have? Whats the point of going through that trouble? Whats the gain?

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    • intensely_human@lemm.ee ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Connectivity!

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• Jerkface@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  They could connect it to the Internet, I guess.

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• Endorkend@kbin.social ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  There's microphones and even cameras in many of these TVs.

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• 9point6@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Those radios may have a flaw that allows someone to connect to them without direct physical access, wardriving is a similar idea. Particularly the Bluetooth stack, since modern TVs often use Bluetooth for their remotes, so it’s always going to be powered and active.

  Then you’ve got to remember a lot of TVs have shit like cameras and mics now days. Even without that, if an attacker can take control of something with a WiFi radio, it can become a jumping point to exploit other devices near your TV. I mean it doesn’t even need to be an exploit, e.g. if your phone disappears from WiFi range, maybe you’ve gone out—that’s a good time to rob you.

  Sure it’s all pretty unlikely, but it’s a non zero threat. Particularly when you consider that TV OS software is often like swiss cheese when it comes to security.

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