When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Your PC knows your age. Your TV knows what you watch. Privacy is becoming a setting you have to turn back on. Privacy used to be a default feature of technology.

Look Up Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Say More Trending Now Mashable Selects Creator Playbook Back to School Good Connection: Uplifting stories for a digital age Switch Off Mashable Voices Safety Net Versus All Series The company responded to accusations that it created a spy network in people's homes. Electronics giant LG has been under fire over the past few days after a viral two-hour video report by Gamers Nexus warned that LG's TVs surreptitiously record users' audio, even when the screen is turned off, as well as collecting details about networked devices, location data, and wireless network information. Since the video's release, dozens of reaction videos have followed, with titles like How to Stop Smart TV Spying and LG Isn't the Only TV Company Spying on You, from reputable channels such as Linus Tech Tips and RTINGS, respectively. In the wake of the video, LG has formally denied the claims on various news networks and in a statement on its website . Titled Understanding Privacy on LG Smart TVs, LG unambiguously denies the central accusations of the Gamers Nexus video.

After an unsettling report that accused LG's smart TVs of spying on its users, the company has responded by saying that "some recent media coverage may have contributed to misconceptions about how LG smart TVs work." To address the claims made in a lengthy video published on Gamers Nexus, LG said that its "smart TVs do not continuously record or transmit user's conversations." LG released a comprehensive statement a few days after the 135-minute long video from Gamers Nexus was published, which claimed the Korean electronics company's smart TVs can capture audio recordings even when the TV is asleep or unplugged from the network, as well as collecting sensitive data like IP addresses, geographic locations, names of nearby WiFi networks and devices connected to those networks even if they're not connected to the TV. The report was conducted by Gamers Nexus alongside Level1 Techs and independent cybersecurity researchers. Following the report, LG denied these claims in statements to news outlets, but the company put out a much longer response on its website.

The snacks for movie night at home will cost more than the TV itself. Lauren Allain is a freelance journalist covering deals at Mashable. She graduated from Western Washington University with a B.A. in journalism and holds an M.B.A from Webster Leiden. You can find more of her work online from publications including Reader's Digest, U.S. News & World Report, Seattle Refined, and more. When she's not writing, Lauren prefers to be outside hiking, bouldering, swimming, or searching for the perfect location for all three.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Worried that your smart TV is spying on you? Here's what will help, and what won't. The impetus is a 135-minute video from Gamers Nexus, digging into the data that LG can collect from its users. The most shocking claim is that LG's TVs can persistently listen to what you're saying even when the power is off (albeit only if you plug in an external USB webcam).

Look Up Back to School Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Mashable Selects Say More Trending Now Good Connection: Uplifting stories for a digital age Creator Playbook Switch Off Mashable Voices Safety Net Versus All Series LG's 65-Inch OLED AI 4K B6 Smart TV is down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon with $800 discount Don't miss out on 40 percent off this sleek screen. Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer with Mashable. She's written for various entertainment websites since 2017, covering everything from tech to games to film. You'll currently find her work on IGN and Fangoria alongside Mashable, but she also has bylines at Rock Paper Shotgun, Collider, Screen Rant, and more. When she's not writing, she enjoys catching up with the latest films and shows -- horror, in particular -- and has a deep love of FromSoft games, which she continues to happily replay.

Look Up Back to School Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Mashable Selects Say More Trending Now Good Connection: Uplifting stories for a digital age Creator Playbook Switch Off Mashable Voices Safety Net Versus All Series Samsung's 65-inch The Frame TV is $550 off at Amazon -- give your living room gallery vibes for under $950 Because a huge black rectangle in your living room is definitely not the vibe. Soumya is a deals writer who covers consumer tech, shopping deals, and the products people use every day. With experience writing about everything from AI tools and software to smartphones and home gadgets, she enjoys breaking down product research into clear, useful recommendations. When she's not tracking deals, she's usually comparing products, digging through reviews, and figuring out what actually makes a purchase worth it. All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers.

Mashable Selects Look Up Mashable Voices Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Say More Safety Net Creator Hub Versus Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Switch Off Trending Now In My Bag All Series Record-low deal: Get $200 off Amazon's 50-inch Omni QLED 4K TV Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer with Mashable. She's written for various entertainment websites since 2017, covering everything from tech to games to film. You'll currently find her work on IGN and Fangoria alongside Mashable, but she also has bylines at Rock Paper Shotgun, Collider, Screen Rant, and more. When she's not writing, she enjoys catching up with the latest films and shows -- horror, in particular -- and has a deep love of FromSoft games, which she continues to happily replay. All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers.

Say More Look Up Safety Net Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Creator Hub Versus Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Mashable Selects Switch Off Trending Now In My Bag VidCon with Mashable All Series Samsung's 77-inch S85H OLED TV is $400 off this weekend -- make it yours for under $2,400 This is what treat yourself looks like in TV form. Soumya is a deals writer who covers consumer tech, shopping deals, and the products people use every day. With experience writing about everything from AI tools and software to smartphones and home gadgets, she enjoys breaking down product research into clear, useful recommendations. When she's not tracking deals, she's usually comparing products, digging through reviews, and figuring out what actually makes a purchase worth it. All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers.

PCWorld addresses whether external streaming devices are necessary when modern TVs include built-in smart platforms like Roku or Fire TV. Streaming sticks like Roku Streaming Stick 4K and Apple TV 4K offer faster performance, cleaner ad-free interfaces, and broader app selection than many smart TV processors. External devices provide exclusive features like dialogue boost, ensure continued updates for older TVs, and simplify 4K HDR compatibility issues. Buying a new TV and a new streaming device used to be separate decisions, as televisions didn't always come with adequate smart TV software. These days, though, it's virtually impossible to buy a television that isn't a smart TV, with Roku, Fire TV, or other streaming platforms built in. So whenever I write about the latest streaming devices--like Amazon's new Fire TV Stick or Walmart's latest Onn players --inevitably some folks will ask me what's the point. Why bother using an external streaming box or stick when your TV already supports the same apps? Naturally I have answers to that question, but that doesn't mean everyone should abandon their smart TV software in favor of a separate streaming device. Let's walk through the merits of both.