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bgwhn | 5 years ago

I'm with you, and I prefer "dumb" devices, but you can still buy these blu-ray players and not connect them to the internet.

The internet connectivity is sold as an additional feature so that you can use your blu-ray player to watch Netflix. I agree that I don't want logging on a device like this, but if I was going to connect one of these to the internet, I would at least want regular security updates.

discuss

RandomBacon|5 years ago

Vote with your wallet. Don't buy these internet devices.

All it takes is for a visiting family member or friend who wants to watch Netflix while you're in another room/asleep/etc to click okay.

chrisBob|5 years ago

That’s what my in-laws did. “For some reason you hadn’t connected your smart TV to the internet; instead of using your Apple TV, we gave TCL your WiFi password. Aren’t you proud we figured it out on our own?”

untog|5 years ago

Easier said than done. It’s increasingly difficult to find a “dumb” TV these days. Almost all have smart functionality.

(and besides, most TVs have other ways of watching Netflix that ought to be more convenient for a visitor. A $30 Roku stick is all you need)

dreamcompiler|5 years ago

Wow. I hadn't thought of this vulnerability. Time to set up MAC address blacklists on my router.

ptx|5 years ago

If it's developed with the assumption that they can deliver rolling software updates, the software it ships with might be unusably buggy.

Merad|5 years ago

> you can still buy these blu-ray players and not connect them to the internet.

Unfortunately this is only a temporary solution IMO. Within the next decade I think you'll see these smart devices shipping with built in connectivity that's difficult or impossible to disable, especially if Starlink or other satellite based services really take off.

wartijn_|5 years ago

I don't think these kind ofdevices will use Starlink or an equivalent service any time soon. Starlink needs a "pizza box sized" satellite dish that constantly adjusts its position to stay in contact with the satellites. I assume they won't work inside, like other satellite based antennae.

If smart devices will have build in connectivity in the next decade, I think 5g will be a more likely candidate. But I don't see that happening either. Why would a company pay for the data of its users when most people will just connect it to their wifi?

I. Couldn't find a source on "pizza box sized", but I remember Elon Musk has said that. Also here is a picture of one of the antennae: https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/hruzck/new_photo_...