LG to Ban Residential Proxies from Smart TV Apps – Krebs on Security
krebsonsecurity.com/2026/07/lg-to-ban-residential-proxies-from-smart-tv-apps/
Replying to @pandasiusfilet@feddit.org
Just an FYI to anyone looking, you can still actually buy mostly-dumb TVs.
I was looking for a TV to buy for my parents last year and it seemed like the only options available were “smart TVs,” and I begrudgingly ended up buying a Philips ambilight unit. I was pleasantly surprised by how dumb the Titan OS on it was. Sure, it had WiFi, and the usual Netflix and other streaming apps, but I just didn’t connect it to the WiFi, and from then on it was just a souped up version of their 15 year old TV. It did ask to be connected to WiFi, but stopped after being told no a few times.
I’m sure other manufacturers have similar “smart on paper, but dumb in reality” OSes, as it seems to mostly be a cost cutting exercise. The hardware in the TV would need to be more expensive to run an actual smart platform. So the manufacturers just make a low end thing that ticks the right boxes to be able to call it smart for marketing, thinking that’s what people want.
Replying to @UnityDevice@lemmy.zip
That’s fine if you only want to watch TV. For streaming you will either need to connect it to the internet or use some external device that will be connected. Most people will actually want to use streaming so “it’s dumb until you connect it” doesn’t really help.
Replying to @ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net
The one big advantage is that it can be something you can completely control. A very tiny htpc or even a raspberry pi without the need of much storage that will forever work on floss and will never be remotely discontinued, show ads against your will, or sell your personal data.
Replying to @dustyData@lemmy.world
People with technical skills can do many great things. For the rest it’s either smart TV or some set top box and internet connection.
Replying to @ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net
Technical skills including:
- buying a micro or other sff PC
- hooking it up to wifi
- Connecting a wireless keyboard and mouse to use it.
Replying to @Passerby6497@lemmy.world
Yes, those count as technical skills and there are many, many people for whom it’s too big a hurdle.
picking out a decent micro PC that actually works is hard.
Getting a pc install (presumably windows) configured in a way that will display in the TV legibly from the couch is hard.
Requiring a keyboard and mouse to use your TV from the couch is weird and off-putting. Most people won’t want to and some people will have difficulty understanding what they’re supposed to do with these objects
The technical competence bar for getting a TV plugged in and working is just ridiculously, ridiculously low, and that’s for a reason