I remember trying to buy a TV that does not have "smart" functionality a few years ago. It was a chore. Today it seems nigh-impossible.
And not just TVs: ovens; refrigerators; dishwashers — all have "smart" options. In fact, it seems that more and more the available non-smart models are only the simpler ones, less performant in ways that are not related to any smart functionality missing.
My non-smart TV was available only with lower resolutions than "smart" models of the same brand.
This really annoys me. I am too well aware of security implications of smart devices.
I do not want to have to manage regular software updates for whatever number of appliances I have at home, or risk somebody using them in a botnet (or worse).
And no, I don't trust their "disable WiFi" menu options either. Seen this setting get enabled without my consent too many times.
I *could* put them on a special VLAN, but 99% of people can't. That's a problem, and not just for them.
2/🧵
@rysiek Even if Wi-Fi is enabled, smart TVs can't connect to the Internet unless someone actually keys in their Wi-Fi password, no?
@ocdtrekkie can't find the source right now, but there was at least one case of a major ISP, I think in the USA, that deployed home WiFi routers that created a special secret WiFi networks that were not controlled by their users. They were there for other customers of the company to have WiFi away from home, so to speak.
So yeah, people should not trust their routers either.
UPC does something like that in Switzerland too. They allow the customer to enable/disable the feature: the incentive is that if you enable it, _you_ can use that wireless network on others' routers (there's no noticeable latency in flipping the setting, but I guess people usually don't want to bother flipping it back and forth whenever they travel).
@robryk do you have a link?
https://www.upc.ch/en/support/internet/wi-free/
(to see that it's about using people's APs, look at the "will it affect my internet connection" question, to see that it's available-for-those-who-make-their-APs-available, look at the "how do I disable it" question)
> Interestingly enough, it appears that there is no straightforward way to opt-out anymore.
Wouldn't switching the UPC-provided AP to modem/bridge mode do that? (Not that it's reasonable to expect people to do that just to opt out of this feature.)
@robryk @rysiek @ocdtrekkie Sounds plausible, but guess what ‒ that's one of the options that got disabled on the model I have.
I don't recall if this one has been shipped like this or updated later, but I am quite certain that not all were like this some time ago. You can get around UI changes, but I am not going to test this right now.
@miklo @robryk @ocdtrekkie @rysiek So, long story short. It is still possible to opt-out through their support (we'll see if it stays down for good).
Regarding bridge mode ‒ no luck here. Got caught in a loop LOL. When the device was in IPv4 mode, support claimed that they have to switch to IPv6 to make it possible. After switching to IPv6, they decided that it has to be IPv4. And then back again. It goes without saying, that the option was disabled either way.
@robryk @rysiek @ocdtrekkie
Same thing in Poland (https://www.upc.pl/internet/poznaj/wi-free/) Interestingly enough, it appears that there is no straightforward way to opt-out anymore.
Furthermore, it seems like it disregards WiFi settings on the device (not that you can depend on the config in place anyway).