A smart TV is a handy gadget, but it’s not nice when others can watch. Fortunately, you can easily disable this.
In this digital age, your Samsung, LG or Google smart TV is much more than just a device for watching your favorite shows. It is a smart, Internet-connected gadget that not only provides entertainment, but also tracks your viewing habits. And you may want to change that.
Smart TVs can collect your data through techniques such as Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) and tailor ads. But do you actually want that? Here’s how to turn it off easily and quickly.
How can your smart TV spy on you?
You may not realize it, but when you watch a TV show or stream a video through your game console or cable, your smart TV can track exactly what you watch, how long you watch and which programs you play most often. All thanks to a technology known as Automatic Content Recognition (ACR).
TV manufacturers often use this information to tailor ads to you. This means that after watching an episode of your favorite series, you may suddenly see ads that match what you watched. And that’s a tad uncomfortable in some situations.
They also know this about you
Did you know that sometimes your smart TV can even track you when you switch channels? Many smart TVs collect data on how long you watch specific programs, which they use to make better recommendations.
How do you keep your smart TV from spying on you?
Fortunately, you can take some control of your TV’s behavior. Here are a few simple steps to adjust your privacy settings by brand.
Google TV (Sony, TCL, Hisense, etc.).
Google TV makes it easy to adjust your privacy settings. Go to Settings > Privacy > Ad ID and reset it to limit the ads you see.
You can even prevent your TV from collecting data altogether by turning off the Use and diagnostic data switch. This ensures that Google does not collect data for product improvement and ads.
LG
LG smart TVs run on the webOS system and also offer a way to disable ACR and ad tracking. To do so, go to Settings > General > Additional Settings. There, turn off Live Plus, which disables ACR technology. Want to go even further? Also turn on the Limit ad tracking option.
Samsung
Samsung TVs run on the Tizen operating system, and like LG, you can disable ACR features through the settings. Go to Settings > Privacy and turn off Information Services and Internet Ads. Voice recognition can also be turned off in the General menu to further protect privacy.
It’s not always easy to completely shield your smart TV from tracking, but you can go a long way with these tips. Just remember to check your settings regularly, because with new updates, privacy settings can sometimes change without you even realizing it.
