{"id":940,"date":"2026-09-08T05:12:22","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T05:12:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sebertech.com\/news\/?p=940"},"modified":"2026-09-08T05:12:23","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T05:12:23","slug":"using-apple-tv-does-not-stop-lg-smart-tv-tracking-researchers-warn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sebertech.com\/news\/2026\/09\/08\/using-apple-tv-does-not-stop-lg-smart-tv-tracking-researchers-warn\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Apple TV Does Not Stop LG Smart TV Tracking, Researchers Warn"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An Apple TV can replace most smart TV apps, but it does not stop an LG television from collecting or sending its own data while the TV remains connected to the internet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"LG<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A new investigation from Gamers Nexus, working with Level1Techs and independent security researchers, has raised fresh privacy and security concerns around some LG smart TVs running webOS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The researchers said tested LG OLED televisions scanned local networks, collected information about nearby devices and, in some tests, stored microphone audio while the screen appeared to be off. They also demonstrated security weaknesses that could make the data more dangerous if a television were compromised. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

AppleInsider responded by advising LG TV owners to disconnect their televisions from the internet, even if they normally use an Apple TV box for streaming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should You Disconnect Your LG TV From the Internet?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you are concerned about the findings, disconnecting your LG TV from Wi-Fi or Ethernet is the clearest way to stop it from sending data over the internet while the reported security issues are investigated.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That does not mean every LG television has been proven vulnerable. The investigation tested specific LG OLED hardware, including the G5, rather than every LG model ever sold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is another important limit. Researchers reported that some information could still be stored locally while a tested TV was offline. In their tests, recorded information was sent again after the television reconnected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So taking a TV offline can reduce internet-based tracking and remote exposure, but it does not necessarily stop every process running inside the television.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Did Researchers Find LG TVs Were Collecting?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The investigation looked at the network activity and software behavior of LG smart TVs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers reported seeing the televisions scan the local network for other devices, including phones and smartwatches. They also found information about nearby Wi-Fi networks and location-related data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most serious finding involved audio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During testing, microphone audio could be captured while a television appeared to be in standby. AppleInsider reported that some audio was stored locally when the internet connection was removed and later uploaded when the connection returned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers also demonstrated webOS security weaknesses that allowed them to retrieve audio data from a test television.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These findings should not be read as proof that someone is currently listening through every LG TV. They show what the researchers observed on the hardware they tested and what could become possible if certain security weaknesses were exploited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Does LG Collect Viewing Data?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Part of the data collection is tied to advertising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LG openly uses Automatic Content Recognition<\/strong>, or ACR, on its smart televisions. ACR can identify what is being watched and help advertisers understand viewing habits, including content coming from sources outside the TV’s own apps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LG announced the global expansion of its own ACR technology in September 2022<\/strong>, saying it would roll out across millions of smart TVs in 27 countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LG Ad Solutions currently says its advertising platform reaches 216 million LG smart TVs worldwide<\/strong>, including 49 million in the United States<\/strong>. It promotes ACR data as a way for advertisers to target and measure campaigns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That official advertising system is separate from the security vulnerabilities uncovered by researchers, although the combination of extensive data collection and security weaknesses increases the privacy concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does Using Apple TV Protect You?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using an Apple TV, game console or another streaming box can reduce how often you use LG’s built-in apps, but the LG television itself can still remain connected to Wi-Fi or Ethernet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it stays online, webOS and other LG services can still communicate with outside servers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For users who want to make the television act more like a basic display, the simplest option is to disconnect its Ethernet cable and remove or disable its Wi-Fi connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The downside is that LG’s built-in streaming apps, online features and automatic software updates may stop working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is LG Fixing the Reported Security Problems?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

AppleInsider says LG is working on the vulnerabilities discussed by the researchers. However, we could not verify a detailed public LG security bulletin specifically addressing the September 6 investigation as of September 8. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That makes the affected model list, patch schedule and exact scope of the problem important details still missing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For now, owners should avoid assuming that all LG TVs are affected in the same way. They should also avoid assuming that simply using an external streaming box prevents the television itself from communicating online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The investigation makes one point especially clear: a smart TV is still an internet-connected computer, even when you only want it to display what comes through HDMI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n