GoKawiilGamersNexus finds LG WebOS TVs logging spoken credit card and SSN numbers
A GamersNexus investigation into LG smart TVs found system logs storing sensitive spoken data, including credit card numbers and Social Security numbers, captured during voice search queries. The same testing also suggested the TVs could access webcam and microphone functions while appearing off or disconnected from the network, and that a compromised TV could scan the local network to discover other connected devices.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Smart TVs increasingly bundle advertising and voice features that quietly expand what data gets collected and stored on-device, often without users realizing sensitive queries are logged in plain text. If a TV can be used to probe a home network or record audio while seemingly powered off, it becomes a serious entry point for surveillance or broader network compromise, raising questions about how seriously TV makers vet ad-tech integrations for security risk.
- LG WebOS logs reportedly stored transcribed voice searches containing sensitive personal data.
- Testing suggested webcam/microphone access was possible even when the TV seemed off or offline.
- The TV could allegedly scan and map other devices on the same home network.
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See Apple TV 4K Streaming Device on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: leaflet.pub, 2026-09-08
Published there as: “GamersNexus and LG: Or why rooting your TV is a bad idea”
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