2 minutes ago, Sensei said:

You’re too fixated on that novel and fail to see that the difference between a PC, a smart phone, and a smart TV is merely an illusion. Every smartphone is essentially the "TV from 1984" that you carry everywhere with you, making it far more powerful than the one in the book (which just sat on a table). Information about where you go and the routes you take (along with that of everyone else with a GSM+ phone) is widely available in mobile operators' databases (and to anyone with whom they share that data). Fragmentary data may also be available to the developers of apps you have installed (since this data is derived from the Wi-Fi hotspots you connected to).

A Smart TV runs either Android or some other OS that allows you to install apps - so you can also install something hack-related.

Turn on the audio recording on your phone, place it somewhere - like on the balcony - then walk away while counting aloud; later, you can listen to the recording to see just how far you got before the sound faded out. When I ran this test, there wasn't a single spot in the apartment that was safe.

Well dang me!

Why don't I get myself one of those little old smartphones that the world and his donkey can use on my behalf ?

5 hours ago, studiot said:

If they know what I want, why don't they offer what I want to buy ?

Do you use a web browser from Microsoft? I doubt it. Anyone who installs a new system immediately downloads Chrome, Firefox, or Opera.

To "know you," they need you to use their web browser. Google knows you because you use their Chrome.

23 minutes ago, Sensei said:

Google knows you because you use their Chrome.

Chrome Fox

John Donne

But he who loveliness within
Hath found, all outward loathes,
For he who colour loves, and skin,
Loves but their oldest clothes."

😀

33 minutes ago, exchemist said:

Yeah it’s Hive. A fairly crap system to use, by the way, but that’s another story.

Ever since their new parent I understand.

Oh crap !
I'm in it really deep; both my TVs are connected to computers ...

But seriously, as @Sensei says, anonymity stopped being a thing about 25 years ago.
And nobody seems to care.

I do format my drives every so often, though, and I never register an account with Microsoft; always as 'USER'.

1 minute ago, MigL said:

I'm in it really deep; both my TVs are connected to computers ...

That's pretty normal. The thing which makes a difference if they are "smart" i.e. they have their own OS, and have Internet connection.. If you can read websites on them, they must have to have Internet access.

Yes they are 'smart' TVs, but I don't like using the built-in browsers, as I've been using MS Windows since the Win 3.1 shell.
( before that I used Atari STs and Amigas )

Actually, what bothers me most about new TVs is not the 'spying', but the fact that they have to 'boot-up' just like computers; I miss the good old days of 'instant on' TVs.