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Submitted via IRC for FatPhil
If those who purchased Vizio Smart TVs haven't heard that their Internet-connected devices collected information without affirmative express consent, they may be finding out about it directly from their Smart TV.
On Wednesday, attorneys in a class action lawsuit against Vizio over its data collection and dissemination practices asked a California federal judge to extend the time to submit a motion for a preliminary settlement. The settlement was originally scheduled to be detailed publicly on Sept. 12, but now the parties say they require a delay. Why?
According to court papers, "The Parties are developing a class notice program with direct notification to the class through VIZIO Smart TV displays, which requires testing to make sure any TV notice can be properly displayed and functions as intended. The additional time requested will allow the parties to confirm that the notice program proposed in the motion for preliminary approval is workable and satisfies applicable legal standards."
Source: Source
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Thursday September 13 2018, @09:06AM (3 children)
The only Vizio in my home is used as a computer monitor. If it ever connects to the internet, it is VERY sneaky! Neither my router, nor my modem knows the monitor exists. There is nothing in the logs about any such device. My rather small network is pretty easy to keep an eye on. I have quickly identified each and every telephone that has attempted to connect to my WIFI, and there is no trace of any IOT devices attempting to connect. The Linux machine to which that monitor is connected is not configured to forward any communications from any IOT devices.
If I receive any such notice, I'll be about as surprised as if the tree outside my front door started talking to me.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by maxwell demon on Thursday September 13 2018, @09:11AM (2 children)
I don't expect this to be the case, but in principle, it also could have an embedded SIM card to communicate directly over the mobile network. That wouldn't show up on your home network.
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Thursday September 13 2018, @09:50AM (1 child)
Great, so now houses have to be faraday cages.
Mobile calls *outside*, even when it is snowing.
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Aiwendil on Thursday September 13 2018, @11:13AM
Not to worry, we are (unintentionally) getting there - the best thermal insulated windows for home use has a thin metallic coating, and so has the inner side of the best thermal insulator for residental buildings.
Yup, here in Sweden they managed to build a couple of blocks as faraday cages by accident when they made sure the the insulation was good enough not to warrant radiators - they found it out when the people moving in complained about no cell phone reception unless they opened a window (in which case it was a strong signal) :)
(They solved it by installing a leaky feeder)