Security → Smart TV from LG phones home with user's viewing habits, USB file names

The blogger solved the problem presented by his LG TV by configuring his home router to block the seven Internet addresses his model automatically attempted to contact. This method obviously won't work for people who aren't comfortable mucking about with their hardware settings. But even for those who are comfortable, there's a limit to how effective this can be. A decade from now, when the majority of appliances and consumer devices in homes come with their own Internet connection, it won't be feasible to block every single privacy-invading address. Eventually, the only solution will be for manufacturers of these once-dumb devices to pour the same talent and resources into securing their wares that are standard at Microsoft, Apple, and Google. In the race to cash in on the Internet of things goldrush, readers shouldn't count on that happening anytime soon.

... Think I'll be keeping my "dumb" TV as long as I can.

After that? Probably the toilet.

I can see it now: a black box monitor on every toilet outlet, with wireless reporting. And NSA will tie into it, too...

The Samsungs have a camera and microphones, voice and facial recognition software too.

My client's new Vizio 80" HDTV's wizard set up asked for the network, but it couldn't be skipped. I asked the Internet and Vizio's support on how to skip it. No one knows. It seems to be unskippable.

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It could mean LG has broken the law.

The Information Commissioner's Office told the BBC it was looking into the issue.

"We have recently been made aware of a possible data breach which may involve LG Smart TVs," said a spokesman.

"We will be making enquiries into the circumstances of the alleged breach of the Data Protection Act before deciding what action, if any, needs to be taken."

When the consultant - Hull-based Jason Huntley - contacted the South Korean company he was told that by using the TV he had accepted LG's terms and conditions, and that any remaining concerns should be directed to the retailer who had sold him the screen.

But when the BBC contacted LG, it indicated it was looking into the complaint.

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It's the newer Samsung models that include the "Smart Interaction" feature.

.....although the data is not retained by the server.