Turn off these five settings on your smart TV since they are monitoring you
Did you know that when you watch a movie on your TV, it could be spying on you? Many smart TVs come with built-in features that gather personal data without your knowledge. If you have one at home, this article is for you: I'll show you the settings you should check right now to prevent your TV from acting like a silent spy.
We live surrounded by screens, many of which are listening, monitoring, and analyzing us without our even realizing it. Your TV, once used solely for watching TV, is now a smart, internet-connected device... and one with a strong appetite for your data. But all is not lost: there are plenty of settings you can review and adjust to regain control and protect your privacy.
Automatic Content Recognition (ACR)
This is the most dangerous configuration of all. Automatic Content Recognition, or ACR, allows you to record everything you watch on your smart TV: programs, video games, apps, and even videos you play from a USB drive.
Why is this a problem? Because this information doesn't stay in your home. It's sent to servers that build a profile about you. They know not only what you watch but also how much time you spend in front of the screen, what you like, and what topics interest you. Using this information, they can infer your age, your economic status, your ideology, and even your emotional state. Turn it off as soon as possible.
For example, on Samsung TVs, go to Settings > Support > Terms & Policies > Display Information Services.
- Voice recognition
The built-in voice assistants in many TVs offer convenience, yes, but they also mean that the device's microphone may be listening to you all the time. This opens the door to recording your private conversations or using them to train artificial intelligence systems.
My advice? Use your remote to control your TV and turn off voice control. If you can't disable it completely, restrict access to it in your privacy settings. If your model has a microphone, cover or disconnect it if possible.
- Access to smart home devices
Some smart TVs can act as a control center for your connected home. This may sound useful, but it means the TV has access to lights, cameras, sensors, and locks—making it a very attractive target for hackers.
If you don't need to control your home from your TV, turn this feature off.
- Cameras and motion sensors
Some TVs include sensors or cameras that detect the presence of a person in front of them and act accordingly. They may also have facial recognition capabilities or allow gesture control. The problem is that these sensors and cameras are always active, even when you're not using them. If someone gains access to your TV from the outside, they can activate it without your knowledge.
Disable these features from the settings, or better yet, cover them up. A simple piece of duct tape can save you from more than one.
- Personalize ads and suggestions
Your smart TV doesn't just show you ads. It carefully selects them based on what you watch, do, and even browse on other devices on the same Wi-Fi network. This may seem harmless, but it actually allows your TV to act as an ad tracker, monitoring your habits and sharing them with third parties.
It's recommended to disable all personalized ads in your TV settings. Look for options like "Interest-Based Advertising," "Ad Tracking," or "Content Personalization," and turn them off without a second thought.