LG Smart TVs Record Audio in Standby Mode and Scan Home Networks for Advertising Data
Smart televisions manufactured by LG have been found capable of recording audio while in standby mode, scanning local networks, and collecting detailed information about nearby devices, according to an investigation by the Gamers Nexus YouTube channel.
Analysis of several production LG G5 OLED models revealed that the built-in microphones captured intelligible sound even when the screen was powered off. When the television was disconnected from the internet, recordings were stored locally on the device and automatically transmitted once connectivity was restored.
The televisions actively searched the home network for smartphones and smartwatches, collected internal IP addresses, recorded names of available Wi-Fi networks, and gathered location-related information. In addition, the devices utilized Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) technology to create digital fingerprints of movies, television programs, and other video content viewed by users.
Collected data is reported to flow to the advertising division LG Ad Solutions and may be used for targeted advertising purposes. Researchers also identified vulnerabilities in the webOS platform that could potentially enable remote code execution, although details on patches remain unavailable.
LG has not commented on the findings at the time of publication. Security experts recommend disconnecting LG smart televisions from the internet and relying on external streaming devices until official clarification is issued.
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