Some weeks ago, the YouTube channel Gamers Nexus released a two-hour video exposing how extensively LG televisions collect data. The report highlighted that LG, along with other major television manufacturers, engages in data collection for various purposes, including selling it to third-party advertisers or using it for internal marketing. According to the report, LG transmits data—such as search terms, audio recordings, payment details, and screenshots—to a company known as Alfonso, Inc., which is also called LG AdSolutions. The company's website states that there are currently 216 million connected LG televisions in use globally, creating a large pool of data that is mainly used to display targeted advertisements and multimedia recommendations. Hidden in the terms of use of LG televisions is a mention that data is collected and sent to third parties. The report explained that a data log is a record of all user activities on a connected television, including connections to profiles, activation of voice commands, searches, and launching of applications. This data is stored locally on the television hardware with timestamps and is typically used for diagnostic and troubleshooting purposes. In contrast, a data packet is a snapshot of what the smart television is doing at a particular moment. It includes the user's IP address, profile information, details about the image on screen, audio recordings, Wi-Fi network settings, and possibly precise geolocation data. This information is sent to a central server, where it is compared to a broader database. Visual and auditory "fingerprints" are matched to scenes from shows and movies to identify what users are watching or listening to, allowing brands like LG to create personalized content suggestions or advertisements. Data packets can be sent to servers every three seconds, providing brands with a wealth of information about users that can be sold or used for marketing. The report also noted that some data logs stored by smart TVs may include built-in expiration and deletion protocols that erase specific information each time the user turns off the screen or unplugs it. However, many data logs can be retained indefinitely if the hardware remains functional. User names, email addresses, passwords, and payment information are among the most persistent data, surviving even after the deletion of applications, firmware updates, and power outages. These logs can only be definitively deleted through a full factory reset, which makes such a reset especially important before reselling, recycling, or discarding a connected television. The report suggested that physically destroying the internal electronic components of a connected television might be necessary to ensure that no one can recover the data. For users looking to reduce their digital footprint or completely erase themselves from the Internet, a data deletion service such as Incogni or DeleteMe can be a good option. These services can retrieve old profiles and forgotten free trials associated with smart TV applications. Although users cannot use these services directly from their television, they can retrieve data related to their general Internet activity. To take a more proactive approach to preserving the privacy of browsing history and online activity, there are several VPN services designed to work on connected televisions, as well as smartphones, tablets, and computers, to ensure the protection of the entire home. To factory reset an LG television, users can navigate through the menu by opening the Settings menu, then going to: All Settings > General > System > Reset to Factory Settings > Reset All. Once the reset is complete, it is recommended to disable all menu options related to automatic content recognition (ACR) and HDMI CEC data tracking, to prevent the connected television from collecting more data in the future. If users want to further prevent the tracking of their streaming and gaming activities, they can purchase practical gadgets that block the sending of HDMI data from their devices to their television without interrupting the video and audio signals.