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I found a weird way to stop my smart TV from listening to me all the time
The microphone mute button on the remote didn't seem to actually work (I tested it by saying trigger words near the TV and still got targeted ads). So I opened it up and physically disconnected the mic module, which is just a tiny board with a wire clip. Now it can't hear a thing. Has anyone else had to go this far with a 'smart' device?
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pat7811mo ago
Wish more people would crack their devices open like that. We're sold this idea of convenience but it always comes with a hidden cost, like a microphone that won't really turn off. When does a helpful feature just become a built-in spy?
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wade2501mo ago
Yeah, it's the same with those smart doorbells and thermostats. They track your comings and goings to "learn your schedule," but that data's a goldmine for other uses. Makes you feel like you're always being watched in your own home, doesn't it?
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wade2501mo ago
Honestly @pat781, that whole "helpful feature" line reminds me of my old smart TV. It had voice search, right? But the manual said the mic was always listening for the wake word. I found out it was sending little audio packets back to the server even when I hadn't pressed the button. Felt super creepy. Makes you wonder what else is just quietly logging data in the background.
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