Is your Smart TV listening to you? 5 clues to confirm it

Think about it. You are at home, talking about your next holidays destination or a new TV or gadget you want to buy. Then, the adds in websites and apps start showing exactly what you’ve been talking about. If you have a Smart TV connected it is probably listening to you.

In this article you will learn 5 clues to confirm if your Smart TV is listening to your conversations and how to protect from it. Nowadays we are surrounded by smart devices. They simplify your daily life but they also compile information permanently. If your Smart TV has active microphones it may be recording what you say. Most of modern Smart TVs integrate microphones in order to enable voice control features. By default, the system is set on active listening to process surrounding sounds until an activation word sounds. If you are suspicious about your Smart TV listening activites, there are certain signals and tips to protect your privacy without giving up your Smart TV.

Smart TV listening to you: it activates on its own

The most evident indication of a listening Smart TV is an automatic activation of the microphone icon or light in your device. Sometimes you don’t even need to say a keyword such as Alexa  or Ok Google. The TV just hears your voice and activates the system.

The reason for this is the active listening feature of several Smart TV models. With this setting, the microphone is always one, waiting for a specific word to fully activate. But it’s already listening to you so be aware.

Ads about what you have been mentioning

It may sound paranoic but it’s not at all. You may be talking about the need of changing your sofa and then the ads are all about new sofa stores. In YouTube, Instagram or your web browser, the ads are exactly what you have been looking for. There are certain companies that confirmed how their Smart TV models collect user interactions not record them, to enhance the user experience. It’s up to you to believe them.

The privacy menu may be hidden or it’s confusing

If you can’t find the microphone switch easily on your Smart TV settings, you should suspect. Several brands hide the microsphone settings or use technical names like “advanced voice recognition” or “remote interaction” that sound harmless, but in fact enable the microphone all the time. Look for privacy settings and disable every feature related to voice recognition, ads customization or remote control. In case you can do it, unplug the physical microphone.

Basic features get disabled if you disconnect from the Cloud

This tip is very useful to determine if your Smart TV is listening to you automatically. Disable the Internet feature and the Cloud services and some basic features will stop functioning. For example, the voice switching channels command. This means that everything goes through the manufacturer’s servers and they have access to more data that you may know. Besides, if you have already accepted terms and conditions without reading, you may have accepted this condition.

The infamously brand known for spying

Vizio Smart TVs make for the most resonant case in the United States of America. In 2017 the company paid a fine for 2,2 million dollars to the Federal Trade Comission. It was for collecting visualization data from 11 million users without the proper consent and selling it to a third party. This is a precedent that reveals that the risk is real. Other companies such as LG or Sony have been sanctioned in Europe, but not because of privacy issues.

The vigilance upon every connected device must be done independently of the manufacturarer or brand. Not every Smart TV is the same and you can look for additional data on the Internet. Try looking for your TV model and the spying or active microphone terms. Then you can check if there have been complaints recently.

How to protect you from a Smart TV listening to your conversations?

It’s normal to feel a little insecure when you realize your own TV may be listening to you. But don’t worry; you don’t have to throw away your TV set or totally disconnect from the Internet. With just a few settings you can increase your privacy and regain control over it.

Disable the active listening and voice recognition features

You can normally find these options in the Privacy or General setting menu. Turn off every voice control, content customization and directed ads features you find.

Check out if the microphone is physical and cover it

Some Smart TV devices have physical microphones in the form of a small orifice such as a mobile phone. If you can’t unplug it, put a piece of insulating tape or make a 3D plug.

Do not connect personal accounts

Don’t login with your Google, Samsung, LG or Amazon account if you can avoid it. Most of the time it’s optional and it only works for them to track you better. Use YouTube or Netflix services from an external devices to have better control on your user account.

Use an external player

Chromecast, Fire TV and similar external players allows for more control over your apps and the permits you give. They also update better than the proprietary Smart TV operating system most of the time.

Control your Internet connection

If you don’t use apps directly from the TV, you can disconnect it from the WiFi without any problem. That way you can avoid data sending on the background. You can reconnect it anytime you need it.

Read or search the privacy terms for your Smart TV

You don’t have to read the 50 pages of fine print. You can just search for the privacy policy and your TV model and the Internet will show you the most important aspects of it. Look for microphone or voice recognition aspects on it. If your model is controversial, you will find it almost immediately.

If your Smart TV is intelligent, you can be even more. Check out the settings and make sure your device is working as you want it and prevent any issue with privacy and personal information leaks.