Popular Android TV boxes sold on Amazon are laced with malware (connect, reviews)
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These Android-powered television set-top boxes are typically cheap and are highly customizable, packing several streaming services into a single device, rather than buying separate hardware. Their listings on Amazon boast four-out-of-five star ratings and collectively racked up thousands of praiseworthy reviews.
But security researchers say the models are sold preloaded with malware capable of launching coordinated cyberattacks.
Not true at all. Most of them don't. None of mine do. Samsung tried it and gave up on it already. This is a feature that is already dying on the vine, if not dead already.
If you think they're sneaking in a microphone to record you, I promise you, they aren't.
Not true at all. Most of them don't. None of mine do. Samsung tried it and gave up on it already. This is a feature that is already dying on the vine, if not dead already.
If you think they're sneaking in a microphone to record you, I promise you, they aren't.
um you might wanna crack a few open, and while you are at it, include the remote. In everything made in the last 10 years people bring in for repair, its 100% tho to be honest I do see a slight drop off as the newest ones with some sort of 'xxxx-cast' in it (not just vizio) when you include the TV ap on your phone, it uses the phone mic(s) to get what it wants. PLUS, TVs which have the ability to be computer monitors also act as speakers and mics for the 'pc' so you can zoom/teams/skype etc.
I did find out the hard way that if you clip off the mic, the TV throws a hardware error - oooops. cant win, cant lose, cant leave the game.
aside from your phone which is likely on and active next to you 24 hours a day, the tv is number 2 and they want that data. and when you start the tv up for the first time, you click agree on the EULA which gives your consent for such monitoring.
As I remind each customer...you didnt build it, you didnt write the software, ergo you have no idea of the depths of its plumbing.
Not true at all. Most of them don't. None of mine do. Samsung tried it and gave up on it already. This is a feature that is already dying on the vine, if not dead already.
If you think they're sneaking in a microphone to record you, I promise you, they aren't.
Anything with a voice assistant built in has mics - which is pretty much any Google TV. Samsungs are still coming with them too. All kinds of guides on how to turn them off.
You'd be surprised at what these mics are being used for. Most are benign - Alexa, etc. But they are indeed listening.
That said, if someone wants to listen in on what's going on in my living room, more power to them. It's not like we're sitting in there discussing state secrets or voicing out our account numbers. No, they'd probably hear things no one in their right mind would ever care about, or things that might make their grandma blush. Should have plugged their ears
I'm talking about actual TV sets, not Rokus or Android TV boxes.
Although I did just go to Samsung and see they still do have TV's with "GOOGLE BIXBY AND ALEXA BUILT IN". I get it as a big Google user and smart home fan but I don't need to speak to my TV. I've tried and it never gets it right. I only use it nowadays...to turn the TV off. lol
Agree Rebl.... you want to listen to me get frustrated helping my son with his homewok in my living room? Hey go for it.
I'm talking about actual TV sets, not Rokus or Android TV boxes.
Although I did just go to Samsung and see they still do have TV's with "GOOGLE BIXBY AND ALEXA BUILT IN". I get it as a big Google user and smart home fan but I don't need to speak to my TV. I've tried and it never gets it right. I only use it nowadays...to turn the TV off. lol
Agree Rebl.... you want to listen to me get frustrated helping my son with his homewok in my living room? Hey go for it.
Yep, Sony is still doing it too. Almost every Smart TV now has it baked in since they're either Google, WebOS or Tizen.
Remotes are coming with mics now too - and not just the standalone boxes. You can speak to your remote and off it goes!
Yea, my Roku remote has a mic. Which I also never use.
When they can get to the point, if ever, to be able to pull this off, I might:
"TV, play episode 6 of Tulsa King on Paramount Plus"... I might start using it.
Retract my "TV's don't have Mics" I was thinking more like that failed attempt Samsung tried before the dawn of "The Assistants".
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