Yep. I have a smart tv. (What other kind exists today?). The remote has a netflix button - which is super useful. But according to my router, the TV sends a trickle of data over WIFI constantly. Even when its "off".
So I've banned the TV from my WIFI network, and I just have a PC plugged into it. Its less convenient this way - we need to pull out a wireless keyboard & mouse to watch netflix. But I think its the right call for sure.
In some ways I think I win on all counts like this. Modern smart tvs are subsidized by creepy advertising. This way I get a cheap TV, and I don't give up any privacy in doing so.
But I worry about a time when TVs ship with cheap 4G modems, and start doing telemetry that way. It might just be a matter of time. I can't be the only one who doesn't connect my tv to wifi; and I bet samsung has run the numbers.
So I've banned the TV from my WIFI network, and I just have a PC plugged into it. Its less convenient this way - we need to pull out a wireless keyboard & mouse to watch netflix. But I think its the right call for sure.
In some ways I think I win on all counts like this. Modern smart tvs are subsidized by creepy advertising. This way I get a cheap TV, and I don't give up any privacy in doing so.
But I worry about a time when TVs ship with cheap 4G modems, and start doing telemetry that way. It might just be a matter of time. I can't be the only one who doesn't connect my tv to wifi; and I bet samsung has run the numbers.