Yesterday, we reported that LG’s Smart TVs are collecting information on your viewing habits and USB file names, but the snooping is even more widespread. The TVs also collect file names of your network files on for example a PC or NAS – even if you have never played the video files on the TV.

LG snooping escalates, LG promises to issue fix
Following the first revelations, another LG owner decided to take a look at his LG Smart TV. It turns out that his LG Smart TV not only collects the file names of USB sticks connected to the TV, but also all names of files on external shared devices on your home or office network.


LG’s Smart TV is watching you – even if you tell it not to

This includes files in shared network folders on for example your PC/Mac or your network hard drive (NAS). It is without relevance whether you have watched the files on the TV or not, the TV continues to collect and send the information to LG’s servers. Even after he moved he files out of the shared location, the TV continued to send information on the relocated files, which likely means that the TV is caching (saving) it, too.

The blogger writes:
- ”Now the clear problem I see with this is even if I did agree to this in any T&Cs presented to me, I doubt guests I have round using my WIFI connection would be too happy with filenames from their shared media being dispatched to LG.  Personally I’m not too happy that files you assume aren’t leaving the network are having their names broadcasted to LG, even worse so that it’s unencrypted.”

LG issued a statement to FlatpanelsHD’s report yesterday, and has since admitted its wrongdoings and has promised to issue a firmware fix that turns off file name collection and respects the privacy setting option. LG says that file name collection was actually part of an upcoming service that would search the internet for detailed information on a movie or TV show, and present it to you.

- Source: Ars Technica & Ramblings