Users recommend external devices: Linux boxes, projectors, and rooted devices
5 Nov 1 3:39 PM · 10d ago · 8 comments · 1 source · development 5 of 8
Commenters suggested bypassing TV firmware entirely by connecting external devices via HDMI—including cheap Intel NUCs running Linux distributions, projectors, old commercial displays, or rooted devices like NVIDIA Shield Pro. Some warned that replacing TV spyware with Apple TV or Amazon devices merely substitutes one surveillance company for another.
“Buy any TV you want, ignore all instructions to connect it to the internet, then look for an HDMI port on the back. Plug an HDMI cable into one end, and in the other end plug in a cheap Linux computer like a used Intel NUC from ebay.”
lrvickLecroJS Hacker News user asking questionepwr HN commenterdrnick1 HN commenterlrvick HN commenter
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What people said 8 voices · verbatim
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Sadly the Samsung TV I have was the best display for the price by a mile, so I've done what i can to balance usage and protection. Its connected to the wifi to allow for AirPlay natively. The tv has a fixed IP at the router to block all traffic in and out of the network, and as a visibility layer its DNS'd through a PiHole too.Its unbelievably…
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Got a Bravia TV for cheap back in 2014 that happened to be pre-Android TV (and pre-Google TV) so Android TV was just released and those something-else-os were "outdated".Sony stopped releasing security patches a while back and there are no longer apps whatsoever and they all were crap - the youtube one was pure torture because of how slow it was…
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Buy any TV you want, ignore all instructions to connect it to the internet, then look for an HDMI port on the back. Plug an HDMI cable into one end, and in the other end plug in a cheap Linux computer like a used Intel NUC from ebay. Then use a nice air-mouse remote like the Pepper Jobs W10.I watch any movie or TV show I want in 4k via Kodi, but…
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I like LG OLED quality. My lg tv has never been connected to the internet and connects to a avr that handles inputs and 5.1.2 speakers Nvidia shield with hdmi-cec to turn on/off the receiver and tv. Jellyfin, android tv app for cable company, YouTube sans ads and projectivy launcher (Google one sucks). You can update firmware via usb stick. Would…
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>I went and researched this, and found that basically none of the TV brands were anything but creepy on privacy.Yeah they do. Go to your shopping center or airport and you'll see LG and Samsung displays everywhere. And that's the key word, 'displays' not 'TVs'.Both sell large displays meant for 100% user ownership with no spyware or mandatory…
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I allow my Samsung to connect to my local network, but then use openwrt and refuse to allow any outbound data from any IP using the MAC address of the television set. It cant update itself and no traffic suggests it can do anything regardless of what it might be collecting. Rooting it to prevent it from connecting to other wifi AP’s is probably…
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You avoided hooking your TV to a surveillance capitalism company that trains on your data to manipulate you. Great!Then you hooked it to an external device of a surveillance capitalism company that trains on your data to manipulate you. Why?Or plug in a cheap mini PC running a TV friendly Linux distro and give your data to no one.
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The fact that we even need to have this conversation is messed up...Thanks everyone for more practical comments, definitively bookmaking this post.
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