LG TV Scans LAN for Third-Party Phones and Devices
▼ Summary
– Security researchers and tech YouTubers revealed that LG TVs can track users even when turned off by scanning local networks.
– Testing with Wireshark showed devices like the G5 OLED TV identifying IP addresses, locations, and other networked gadgets without user consent.
– The investigation was conducted collaboratively by Gamers Nexus and Level1Techs to analyze packet captures from LG television firmware.
– LG stated that this tracking capability is intended for features like device connectivity and smart home functionality rather than just advertising.
– Concerns remain regarding whether this data is sent to LG for purposes beyond diagnostics or if it is used for targeted advertising.
LG Smart TVs have come under intense scrutiny after new evidence suggested that the televisions are capable of tracking users even when they appear to be powered down. The investigation was spearheaded by Gamers Nexus, a prominent tech review channel, in collaboration with Level1Techs and independent security researchers. By analyzing network traffic, the team discovered that LG sets, including high-end models like the G5 OLED TV, actively scan the local area network (LAN) for other connected devices.
The scope of this scanning activity is significant. Steve Burke, editor-in-chief at Gamers Nexus, highlighted the intrusive nature of the behavior in an interview:
“The [G5] crawled our entire network and found dozens of unrelated devices, including smartwatches and phones of our staff who didn’t even know we were working on this.”
To document these findings, the team utilized Wireshark, a standard network protocol analyzer, to capture packets from an LG OLED65G3PUA model. This specific television carries a starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $2,500. The data revealed that the TV was identifying not just its own connection, but also mapping out the broader digital environment of the home.
This technical capability aligns with the business interests of LG Ad Solutions. In recent marketing disclosures, the company stated that its advertising platform can reach 363 million “addressable secondary devices” across the United States. When asked about the privacy implications of the LAN scanning, an LG representative provided a statement via email defending the functionality:
“LG TVs can identify compatible devices on the same network to enable features such as device connectivity, content sharing or smart home functionality.”
However, the depth of data collection goes far beyond simple connectivity checks. The firmware analysis conducted by the researchers indicated that LG TVs are capable of identifying your IP address, geographic location, name of every Wi-Fi network in the vicinity and signal strength, channel numbers of neighboring Wi-Fi networks in range, and other devices on the network, even if not connected to the TV in any way, and the internal IP address of other devices on the network, alongside others.
While it remains unclear whether LG utilizes this granular data for purposes beyond targeted advertising, such as remote diagnostics, the mere existence of such pervasive surveillance tools in consumer electronics is alarming. The revelation raises serious questions about user consent and data privacy, particularly given that these devices are operating within the private spaces of unsuspecting homeowners.
(Source: Ars Technica)
