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Tech News
A Northeastern University study found that smart TVs running Samsung, Vizio and Roku operating systems continued transmitting data to automatic content recognition (ACR) servers even after users disabled tracking in settings. Researchers tested 12 smart TVs across eight operating systems from 10 manufacturers, running nearly 6,000 controlled experiments to monitor network traffic to and from ACR endpoints.
Vurt, a startup focused on short vertical microdramas, has released dedicated apps for Apple TV and Android TV, giving viewers access to roughly 3,500 episodes across more than 100 series on big screens. The company says its userbase has grown from 10,000 to 675,000 since launching in March, and it monetizes content through ads rather than microtransactions, distinguishing itself from rivals like DramaBox and ReelShort that rely on AI-generated content and paid unlocks.
Samsung TV owners can perform a factory reset to resolve persistent issues such as app crashes, freezing streaming services, or video glitches. The process reverts the TV entirely to its out-of-box state, wiping all settings, apps, and configurations. Users are advised to try simpler troubleshooting steps first, since a factory reset cannot be undone.
An investigation by YouTube channel Gamers Nexus found that LG smart TVs continuously gather user data—including search terms, audio recordings, payment details and screenshots—and send it to LG's ad division, Alfonso Inc. (LG AdSolutions). The company reports roughly 49 million LG smart TVs active in the US and 216 million worldwide, and the tracking reportedly includes Wi-Fi-based location data accurate to within about 10 meters.
A tech guide identifies seven free streaming services offering both on-demand libraries and live, cable-like channel surfing, all available as apps on most major smart TV platforms. These services are ad-supported, meaning viewers get content at no cost but must sit through commercial breaks.
Smart TVs running WebOS, Google TV, Fire TV OS or Roku OS use standby mode to install software and app updates in the background rather than forcing users to wait through updates at power-on. OLED TVs specifically rely on standby to run pixel-refresh routines that prevent image retention and burn-in, a process that gets interrupted if the set is shut down or unplugged too soon after use.
An investigation by YouTube channel Gamers Nexus, working with independent security researchers and Level1Techs, found that LG smart TVs scan local Wi-Fi networks to catalog connected devices and nearby network names, even while offline or in standby mode. The TVs also use automatic content recognition to track viewing habits and have microphones capable of capturing and transcribing nearby conversations, with the collected data reportedly funneled to LG's advertising arm.
LG pushed back after GamersNexus published a video alleging that its G5 TVs could be hacked via a man-in-the-middle attack to capture ambient audio and viewing data, even with the microphone switch off. LG stated its TVs only process voice data when the remote's voice button is pressed or a wake word is spoken, and that unrecognized audio is never sent to its servers.
An investigation by Gamers Nexus and Level1Techs, alongside independent security researchers, found LG's smart OLED TVs use Automatic Content Recognition to monitor viewing habits across all input sources and scan connected home networks, sending this data to LG Ad Solutions for targeted advertising. The team also uncovered a security flaw allowing the TVs' built-in microphone to be secretly activated for audio recording even when the set appears off, with stored recordings capable of being transmitted later once reconnected to power and internet.
An investigation by YouTube channels Gamers Nexus and Level1Techs, using packet capture tools and firmware analysis, found that LG TVs including the $2,500 G5 OLED can scan a household's entire local network, detecting phones, smartwatches and other unrelated devices even when those devices are never connected to the TV. Researchers say this behavior is built into the TV's native functionality rather than the result of a security flaw, and can occur even when the TV is turned off.
An analysis breaks down why cheap and expensive smart TVs differ mainly in their system-on-a-chip, which handles video decoding, upscaling, and app performance. Budget TVs often lack AI-assisted upscaling, are capped at 60Hz refresh rates, and tend to run menus and apps more slowly, while pricier models handle 120Hz output and sharper image reconstruction.
An investigation by Gamers Nexus, working with Level1Techs and independent security researchers, found that LG OLED TVs continually scan local Wi-Fi networks for nearby devices, log location and network details, and send this data to LG Ad Solutions. The TVs were also found capable of capturing microphone audio during standby, storing it locally when disconnected from the internet and uploading it once reconnected, alongside using Automatic Content Recognition to identify what owners watch through apps and HDMI inputs.