1. Disable Automatic Content Recognition (ACR)

Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) tracks your viewing habits to serve targeted ads and recommendations. Fortunately, disabling it is straightforward. For Samsung TVs, navigate to Settings > Terms & Policy > Viewing Information Services and turn it off. On an LG TV, go to Settings > All Settings > General > LivePlus and disable it. Taking these simple steps significantly reduces your TV’s ability to monitor and collect your viewing data, offering you more privacy during your binge-watching sessions.

2. Turn Off Personalized Advertising

Personalized ads leverage your viewing data to display targeted marketing, impacting your privacy. Thankfully, most smart TVs offer options to disable this feature. On Sony Android TVs, navigate to Settings > Device Preferences > About > Legal Information > Ads and turn off “Ad Personalization.” For Roku devices, go to Settings > Privacy > Advertising and select “Limit ad tracking.” Taking these steps helps limit intrusive ads, ensuring a more private and enjoyable viewing experience.

3. Opt Out of Interest-Based Advertising

Beyond your TV settings, you can further protect your privacy by opting out of interest-based advertising through industry organizations. Platforms like the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) and the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) allow you to manage and limit targeted ads across multiple devices, including your smart TV. Simply visit their opt-out pages, follow the provided instructions, and you’ll significantly reduce the personalized ads you encounter, helping create a more private and comfortable viewing environment.

4. Restrict Data Collection on Roku TVs

Roku smart TVs collect user data by default, but restricting this is simple. From your Roku home screen, select Settings > Privacy > Smart TV Experience. Here, you can disable options like “Use info from TV inputs,” which prevents Roku from analyzing your viewing habits through connected devices. Additionally, under Settings > Privacy > Advertising, select “Limit ad tracking” to further safeguard your data. These quick adjustments significantly enhance your privacy while streaming your favorite content.

5. Disable Voice Recognition Features

Voice recognition is convenient, but it can compromise your privacy by recording and analyzing your spoken commands. To disable this feature, navigate to your TV’s settings menu. On Samsung TVs, go to Settings > General > Voice > Voice Recognition and switch it off. For LG models, access Settings > All Settings > General > AI Service > Voice Recognition, and deactivate it. Turning off voice recognition prevents your conversations from being captured, ensuring a more private viewing experience.

6. Disconnect Your Smart TV from Wi-Fi

Fully disconnecting your smart TV from Wi-Fi is the ultimate step toward ensuring privacy, eliminating almost all data tracking. Without internet access, your TV can’t send viewing habits or other data to its servers. However, this comes with trade-offs—you’ll lose access to streaming apps, firmware updates, and online features. This is likely the primary reason you purchased a TV like this in the first place, so it’s the most problematic concept on our list. Consider disconnecting if privacy outweighs convenience for you, or disconnect temporarily during sensitive conversations or while watching content you prefer to keep private.

7. Use a Separate Streaming Device

Using an external streaming device, such as an Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV Stick, can offer better control over your privacy compared to built-in smart TV apps. These dedicated devices often offer clearer privacy settings and more frequent security updates, allowing you to limit data collection more effectively. Additionally, isolating your streaming activities from your smart TV’s built-in systems reduces overall data exposure, allowing you to enjoy your favorite shows with greater peace of mind.

8. Regularly Reset Your Advertising ID

Periodically resetting your smart TV’s advertising ID can disrupt advertisers’ ability to build detailed profiles based on your viewing habits. Most smart TVs allow this reset within their privacy settings: for instance, on Android-based TVs, navigate to Settings > Device Preferences > About > Legal Information > Ads > Reset advertising ID. Doing this regularly ensures a fresh advertising profile, limiting targeted tracking and enhancing your viewing privacy without significantly affecting your user experience.

9. Update Firmware and Software Regularly

Regularly updating your smart TV’s firmware and software is essential for maintaining privacy and security. Manufacturers frequently release updates to patch security vulnerabilities that trackers or hackers could exploit. To ensure you’re protected, set your TV to automatically download and install updates, typically found under Settings > Support > Software Update. Staying current with updates not only safeguards your private data but also ensures a smooth and secure viewing experience, protecting you from unwanted intrusions.

10. Review App Permissions Regularly

Periodically reviewing your smart TV’s app permissions helps minimize the collection of unnecessary data. Navigate to your TV’s app settings—often found under Settings > Apps > Permissions—and assess each app individually. Disable permissions that seem intrusive or irrelevant, such as location tracking or microphone access for apps that don’t require them. Regularly auditing these permissions ensures apps collect only the data essential to their function, significantly improving your privacy and control over personal information.

11. Avoid Signing in With Social Media Accounts

Signing into your smart TV apps with social media accounts, like Facebook or Google, may seem convenient, but it facilitates data sharing between your TV and these platforms. This practice enables social media companies to merge your viewing habits with your online profile, intensifying targeted advertising and compromising privacy. Instead, create individual logins using your email for streaming services. This simple step helps limit data linking and keeps your viewing habits separate from your social media presence.

12. Disable Viewing History Tracking

Many smart TVs and streaming apps track your viewing history by default, storing data about what you watch and when. To disable this, navigate to your app or TV settings; for example, on Amazon Prime Video, go to Account & Settings > Watch History > View Watch History > Turn off Watch History. Similarly, Netflix users can access their account via a browser and remove viewing history in the profile settings. Disabling viewing history prevents unnecessary data collection and enhances your privacy.

13. Check Privacy Policies Before Using Apps

Before installing new apps on your smart TV, take a moment to review their privacy policies. These documents outline exactly how your personal information is collected, stored, and shared. Understanding these terms helps you make informed choices about which apps you trust with your data. If an app’s policy seems overly intrusive or unclear, consider looking for alternative services with more transparent practices. This proactive approach safeguards your privacy and keeps data collection under your control.

14. Create a Dedicated User Profile

Creating dedicated user profiles on your smart TV or streaming apps can significantly limit data collection, especially in households with multiple viewers. Individual profiles isolate viewing habits, preventing the aggregation of data across users and reducing the accuracy of targeted advertising. To set up separate profiles, navigate to your streaming app’s account settings, such as Netflix or Hulu, and follow the instructions to add new users. This simple measure enhances privacy and ensures personalized experiences remain distinct and secure.

15. Disable Location Tracking

Your smart TV may track your location to deliver localized content and targeted ads. To enhance your privacy, disable location tracking by navigating to your TV’s settings menu. On Android-based smart TVs, go to Settings > Device Preferences > Location and turn location tracking off. Samsung users can access Settings > General > System Manager > Location and disable it. Turning off geolocation prevents unnecessary collection of your location data, reduces targeted advertising, and enhances your overall privacy. However, some apps, such as YouTube TV, require one to share their location to watch regular network channels, so this again comes with some trade-offs.

16. Limit Data Sharing with TV Manufacturers

Smart TV manufacturers often collect user data by default, but you can easily limit or disable this practice. Access your TV’s privacy settings menu—for example, Samsung users can navigate to Settings > Support > Terms & Policy to disable data sharing. Similarly, LG TV owners can visit Settings > All Settings > General > About This TV > User Agreements to opt out. Taking these proactive steps restricts unnecessary data transmission, ensuring greater control over your personal information.

17. Use Privacy-Focused DNS Settings

Switching to a privacy-focused DNS service on your smart TV can significantly reduce tracking and targeted advertising. Services like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8) offer enhanced privacy and security compared to default DNS providers. To update your DNS settings, navigate to your TV’s network settings menu and enter the chosen DNS addresses manually. This quick adjustment helps minimize unwanted data collection, providing a safer and more private streaming experience.

18. Set Up Parental Controls

Parental controls aren’t just for safeguarding children—they can also help limit tracking and data collection on your smart TV. By enabling these settings, you restrict access to certain apps, channels, or functionalities that routinely collect personal information. Navigate to your TV’s settings menu, typically under Settings > General > Parental Controls, and customize restrictions to suit your privacy needs. Implementing parental controls helps minimize unnecessary data exposure, granting you greater peace of mind when streaming content.

19. Install a Network Privacy Tool

To block smart TV tracking comprehensively, consider using a network-level privacy solution like Pi-hole. Installed directly on your home network, Pi-hole filters unwanted data requests, preventing trackers and advertisers from collecting your viewing habits. By operating at the router level, it secures every connected device, including your smart TV. Setup typically involves installing software onto a compatible device, such as a Raspberry Pi, and configuring your router accordingly, resulting in significantly enhanced privacy across your entire home network.

20. Cover the TV Camera

Some smart TVs include built-in cameras for video calling or gesture controls, potentially posing privacy risks. To prevent unauthorized visual tracking, consider physically covering the camera lens when not in use. Simple solutions include using opaque tape, camera privacy covers, or adhesive sliders designed specifically for webcams. This straightforward precaution ensures your visual privacy remains intact, protecting you from unintended surveillance and providing peace of mind during your everyday viewing experiences.

Protecting Your Privacy in the Age of Connected TVs

Smart TVs bring convenience and entertainment into our homes, but protecting your privacy requires proactive measures. By disabling invasive features like Automatic Content Recognition (ACR), personalized advertising, and voice recognition, you can significantly limit unwanted tracking. Regularly updating your TV’s firmware, reviewing app permissions, and employing network-level tools further strengthen your defenses. Remember, simple steps such as covering cameras or disconnecting Wi-Fi when not in use can offer immediate peace of mind. Take control of your viewing experience today! Your personal information deserves vigilant protection in the increasingly connected digital landscape.