Tech Community Discusses Options for Privacy-Focused Televisions
A recent discussion on Hacker News was initiated by a user seeking recommendations for a television that prioritizes user privacy. Having gone without a television for multiple years, the prospective buyer stated a desire for a 4k screen measuring between 60 and 80 inches with a minimum refresh rate of 60hz, noting a willingness to pay extra for a suitable device. The original poster also inquired about pairing a privacy-minded display with an Apple TV to bypass built-in smart television applications, intending to use the screen strictly as an external display.
Responses from the community offered various perspectives and workarounds, as participants generally agreed that standard modern television brands present privacy challenges. One common recommendation shared by multiple commenters was to purchase any television model desired, but to explicitly avoid connecting it to the internet or any wireless network. Users noted that keeping the display offline successfully resolves the majority of tracking concerns, though one contributor mentioned this setup can occasionally complicate switching inputs for game consoles unless the display supports HDMI CEC.
Other community members shared more advanced technical solutions they implemented for their home setups. One user suggested using an LG television without connecting it to Wi-Fi, paired with an Apple TV for media consumption. Another participant reported purchasing an LG C6 model, placing it on an isolated virtual local area network, and rooting the software to stream media from a Network Attached Storage device running Jellyfin. Similarly, an owner of an LG C1 shared that rooting the device allowed them to block internet access entirely, eliminate advertisements, and improve integrations with Home Assistant.
Additional suggestions included looking into Sceptre as a remaining brand offering non-smart televisions, or opting for a large format professional monitor completely devoid of internet capabilities and smart features. Meanwhile, some participants expressed skepticism about modern options entirely, with one user bluntly stating that none of the available television manufacturers offer adequate privacy standards, while another participant intends to continue using an older 2010 Toshiba model until it stops working. Debate also arose regarding whether offline televisions might attempt to connect to nearby networks via alternative methods, though other commenters dismissed those claims as unverified urban legends.
Sources: Hacker News
Aggregated summary. Original: Hacker News