GoKawiilResearcher finds Samsung Tizen TVs capture audio and screenshots for ad targeting
A security researcher known as log4j reverse-engineered the Tizen operating system on a 2025 Samsung TV after noticing unusually specific ads, gaining root access via a hardware exploit since the firmware was encrypted. They found code for packet logging, audio categorization, screenshot capture, a cross-device ad-tracking ID, and a convolutional neural network that monitors viewing behavior such as skipped ads and watch progress, even on TVs without built-in microphones by using connected devices like soundbars.