It seems that the more connected we are, the more privacy we lose. In a report and investigation by “Consumers Report” they found that some smart TVs can track what you watch. Newer Smart TVs from LG, Samsung, Sony, Vizio and others could be doing just that. It sounds like they were trying to compete with Nielson in an attempt to do a better job of ratings. Most of us watch Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, RoKu, and others. All of these need a Wi-Fi connection to work.

So how do they do it? They all have what’s called Automatic Content Recognition (AGR) that monitors what you watch. And, of course, you must be connected to the Internet via cable or Wi-Fi.

The next thing you should ask yourself, can they hack my TV? Can someone hack my smart tv and take control or do something else? The answer to both is yes. How difficult this is depends on the manufacturer of the TV or the manufacturer of Ruku, Hulu, or other hardware devices connected to your TV. They must have some sort of security protection.

Can any of this be stopped? There are two basic ways, the first is to unplug or disconnect the internet from your smart TV, this is not always practical. The second will take a bit of work and will dig into your TV’s menu options. Most TV manufacturers will have a way to turn off Automatic Content Recognition, this will vary by TV. You should be able to find this in your TV’s user manual or on the manufacturer’s website. Settings are usually found under System or Support settings in your settings menu.

It seems that every day we are more “connected” and with this connection comes many opportunities for you to lose more of your privacy. One of the best ways to stop or limit snooping is to make sure your Wi-Fi router is up to date and that you have set it up to maximum security with a very strong password. As you add additional connected items to your home, make sure you understand what information they collect from you and how they will use it.

All the security for your home, car, internet, etc. it starts with you Investigate and make the necessary changes to protect your privacy.