LG smart TVs caught logging audio with screen off and snooping on local devices
Gamers Nexus found LG smart TVs record microphone audio in standby, scan home networks, and feed LG Ad Solutions ad targeting.
A 135-minute Gamers Nexus investigation with Level1Techs and independent researchers found retail LG OLED TVs running webOS sweep local networks, gather device names and Wi-Fi metadata, and run Automated Content Recognition. Tests showed the TVs capture clean microphone audio while appearing powered down and store it offline, uploading once reconnected. The team also found RCE vulnerabilities in webOS now moving through responsible disclosure; LG claims 216 million smart TV sales, and its ad unit claims access to 363 million addressable devices in the US.
- webOS TVs scan LANs for phones and smartwatches and log neighboring Wi-Fi metadata
- Microphone audio captured in standby, stored offline, uploaded when internet returns
- ACR fingerprints on-screen audio and video to log viewing across inputs
- Undisclosed RCE vulnerabilities in webOS are moving through responsible disclosure
- Researchers recommend disconnecting LG TVs and using external streaming devices
- Vendors
- LGLG Ad Solutions
- Products
- webOSLG OLED G5
- Organizations
- Gamers NexusLevel1Techs
- Countries
- United States
From the original article
2 min read at notebookcheck.net
Testing revealed webOS logging user voice prompts in plain text. An investigation by Gamers Nexus found LG smart TVs sweep local networks to map phones and nearby devices. Tests also showed the sets can capture microphone audio with the screen off — they then upload data once reconnected to the internet.
By chris_overseas · notebookcheck.net
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