Keep it offline and don’t update it, Pi-Hole can help, but I wouldn’t count on it. I would also go with NextDNS. Suggest they get a device like an Apple TV and only use that. You can block most of LG’s domains router/DNS side.

How's the refresh rate?

That won’t save you if the manufacturer pulls the same shenanigans as LG, unfortunately.

If it’s old though, it’s unlikely they will.

100 percent discount for pirates, matey.

That's probably only legal in the US.

Lmao Gg

But how does my "dumb TV" have windows update?

You can just not connect it to the internet and use a separate device to connect to your media, such as an Nvidia shield or a small computer with similar power.

Luckily the shields allow for wireless adb, which gives you the ability to rip out all of the bloat and install custom launchers.

This isn’t just about smart TVs. Dumb displays and TVs hooked to Windows got hit by this too.

But:

• There is no alternative OS for a smart TV.

• Pretty much all TVs are smart these days.

The solution is to leave the TV disconnected from the internet, and don’t run Windows. Which is quite doable these days.

Don't connect it to the internet, but instead just use it as a monitor for a computer which you control.

I am sure they are working on ways to prevent that in the future with coming smart tv generations (the tech giants dreams of the subscription based cloud computer for every consumer instead of them actually owning a pc is definitley a step in that direction), but so far that is the perfect solution to maintain control and keep your tv dumb and anti-dystopian.

Linus made a video about dumb tv. Yeah, you can buy it now ! (With some caveats)

https://youtu.be/LJh72_O4pXE

It’s an abuse of the Windows Update “contract.” It’s supposed to be for installing drivers so devices function, but manufacturers have been abusing it to autoload bloatware for years.

Microsoft being Microsoft. In the 90s and 00s, Windows used to auto-launch programs from CDs when you put them in the drive. No check, just looks for an .exe, and silently runs it. Really good way to get a rootkit installed on your machine.

please connect to the internet to do anything

Soon they won't have to because of services like Amazon Sidewalk or the ISP-provided WiFi routers that use the customer's home to sell internet. Your neighbor's Palantir camera that spies on you whenever you leave your house will help your TV spy on you inside your house.

Or let it connect and drop it down a sinkhole on its own VLAN.

No idea if this is actually better, but it's what I do for the free smart things in my house.

That won’t necessarily save you. My 35WN65C is from 2020, and I got the Mcafee popup.

All a manufacturer needs to do is register an old monitor in Windows Update, I think.