Thanks for sharing. I’ve been using my OLED as my primary display, and the last firmware nagging really got to me.
Since you’ve posted this, I did a factory reset wiping my network info and disabling every non-tv feature.
And here I thought LG was better than Samsung at this.
Oh no. LG TVs have abhorrently slow and invasive smarts. You’re better off getting a Roku or AppleTV and doing that. Never connect the smart tv to the internet.
My LG needed to be briefly connected for a firmware update that fixed HDR video. Butbthen immediately disconnected again.
Ethernet runs for that. It doesn’t get WiFi feeds from me. Ever.
I have bad news for you.
Wouldn’t ethernet still be internet access…?
My LG TV is connected through PiHole with all lg domains blocked. I’m not getting any update notifications and can still stream from Jellyfin.
I’ve got a 42” LG C3 as my gaming monitor. It’s connected to my network so that I can stream content from my plex server. Anybody know if there’s a way I can cut the TV’s access to the internet, to avoid updates etc., while still maintaining access to the home network?
Depends on how robust your router settings are. Depriving a device of WAN access is somewhat straightforward on OpenWRT or any prosumer grade hardware like Ubiquiti, but may not be an option in the more typical home router.
If your router doesn’t support blocking WAN, you may be able to block access to LG domains at the router which is a bandaid on the problem.
You can definitely block WAN access for clients with ASUS’ routers. You can even install Pi-hole on the router if you use the Asuswrt-Merlin custom firmware.
Do cheaper routers (e.g. low end TP-Link) really not have the option to block WAN access?
This could be something you do via your router and/or firewall.
Usually it’s an option on the router to block certain devices from the Internet. You’ll want to assign a static IP to the TV first. If you need any help DM or post in any of the popular Selfhost or Privacy communities and we’ll get you.
There’s probably a security page with a “block access” option when you log into the router. It’ll be brand specific where to look though. If you have a model can point you more
Cheers, yeah I thought about crossposting to c/privacy. I also should have searched first as it seems like it’s pretty common thing to do for networked devices of all sorts.
I’ll give it a go myself and do a write up for novices like myself if I succeed.
Yes, that’s achievable. I use a DNS override for a couple of LG domains. Doing this, it can’t update, although can use other apps.
Having said that, mine gets time from LG servers. So after a power outage, I have to set the time and date manually for SSL connections to work.
With a proper router, you can do this:
Not that simple with my older tele. If it fails to contact LG servers, it doesn’t do a NTP update.
You can root it and then there’s tools. https://rootmy.tv/ probably won’t work for you but has links.
If you manually assign it an ip and don’t set a gateway address (or use an invalid one), it won’t be able to leave your subnet.
I have the same TV and it’s wonderful. It’s connected to a gaming PC which I access my Jellyfin server from so it’s not a problem. I do have a couple Bambu printers here and I set up my ASUS access points to block them from connecting to the outside world, which ended up being pretty easy for me even though I’m a newb.
You let your tv connect to the intertubes?
First mistake.
How then do I get Plex running on it?
This is why my LG TV does not know the WiFi password.
On a TV.
Are you mad?
MadTV
A consumer rebellion is our only realistic option.
Don’t give your TV the wifi password.
I was literally on the verge of purchasing an LG C5 with my bonus this year. Now there’s no fucking way in hell.
Man, I really fucked up by not getting one of the last remaining 4K dumb TVs a couple years ago when I had the chance. Now it’s looking like my decade-old 46" 1080p one will be the last TV I ever own.
Completely agree.
Currently working with a smart TV that never touches the internet (just plug other devices into it). I am low key paranoid they have some sub - protocol of HDMI that can connect from the TV to a game system and forward info out…but 90% sure that’s just paranoia…I hope.
HDMI does have an Ethernet function. It is theoretically possible to have another device route traffic behind your back via that. But there’s zero legit and reason to do this when adding WiFi to the TV is cheaper and less complex so it would absolutely invite lawsuits.
What’s even scarier (and I legit thing more likely) is despite the fact that either after firewalling off a smart tv’s IP/Mac or using Pi-Hole to keep it from using the ad side of things and locking down firmware updates, that newer TVs seem increasingly likely to include antennas for 5G and connect to a fucking “partner” network for “free” to share revenue. It won’t matter if you never connect it to the internet - it will just spy even if you don’t use it’s apps. Oh, and most new tvs have microphones (on the remote, but who knows about elsewhere). I’m not sure about cameras, but I wouldn’t be shocked.
Yep I was horrified to find my tv had a microphone. Physical switch to disable it at least (as long as it actually does disable it). And only using the dumb remote it came with, the smart remote with the mic lives in the drawer, has never seen a battery.
I just watched a LTT video comparing $30, $300, $3,000, and $30,000 TVs and what struck me throughout the whole video was Linus struggling with and getting increasingly frustrated by the enshittified controls. The $30,000 TV was less bad than the rest, but every single one was a crappy UI (or worse, exploitative) experience compared to old TVs.
We shouldn’t have to firewall our property to try to stop it from betraying us. It’s a fucking outrage and becoming intolerable to the point of radicalization.
I still use a 40 inch bravia from 2014 where the remote doesnt work. But it has no smart features thank fuck
