Are LG Smart TVs Spying on You? Gamers Nexus Investigation Claims TVs Can Record Audio in Standby Mode

A comprehensive security investigation into LG smart televisions has revealed that the sets perform extensive scans of home networks and contain software vulnerabilities that could allow unauthorized actors to record audio even when the display appears powered down, raising fresh concerns about smart TVs quietly spying on households. The findings, published in an in-depth technical analysis led by YouTube channel Gamers Nexus alongside cybersecurity researchers, examine how the underlying webOS operating system manages device telemetry and handles peripheral hardware in standby states.

LG TVs Caught Mapping Entire Home Networks

Packet captures and firmware inspections demonstrated that retail LG sets actively map the local networks to which they are connected. Rather than limiting network communications to streaming traffic, the televisions routinely catalog other hardware on the same local network, including smartphones, PCs, printers, and IoT devices, logging internal IP addresses and unique device identifiers. What Is Mercenary Spyware? Why Apple Sent Threat Notifications to Users in 110 Countries.

LG Smart TVs Can Spy On Your Home Network And Secretly Record Audio In Standby Mode, Gamers Nexus Investigation Claims

The researchers also documented the televisions scanning and logging information about nearby external Wi-Fi networks, including capturing broadcast names (SSIDs), signal strengths, and radio channels.

When paired with LG's Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) system, branded in consumer menus as "Live Plus," this surrounding environmental data enables advertising arms like LG Ad Solutions to assemble detailed behavioral and cross-device profiles of an entire household. US Courts to Publicly Disclose Government Spyware Usage Frequency; Check More Details.

TV Can Record Room Audio Even While Appearing Switched Off

The most concerning disclosure centers on remote-code-execution (RCE) vulnerabilities uncovered in the television's software stack. In proof-of-concept demonstrations, researchers showed that a compromised unit could engage its integrated microphones while in standby mode, with the television looking completely inactive to anyone in the room.

During testing, the software continued recording room audio even when the television was severed from the internet, caching the captured files in local onboard storage. Once the internet connection was re-established, researchers demonstrated how an attacker could extract the stored audio files remotely.

The team noted that this behavior does not mean LG is systematically recording living room conversations by default. Rather, it highlights an architectural vulnerability that leaves the hardware open to remote eavesdropping if exploited by a malicious third party. Full exploit details have been withheld as part of standard responsible disclosure procedures while the manufacturer reviews the flaws.

Smart TV Industry Under Scrutiny Over Data Harvesting

The findings reflect a broader shift in consumer electronics, where connected televisions increasingly serve as data collection platforms designed to monetize viewers long after the point of purchase. While ACR and advertising analytics are standard across brands like Samsung, Roku, and Google TV, the aggressive discovery of unrelated network equipment marks a notable escalation in local telemetry.

Because televisions typically operate with unmonitored home network privileges and lack endpoint security protections, an exploited TV can serve as a persistent bridgehead for attackers attempting to reach other household or office machines.

How Users Can Protect Their Privacy

While software patches are developed, security analysts advise consumers to review their privacy settings.

Users can reduce data harvesting by disabling ACR telemetry, navigating to Settings, General, System, Advanced Settings, and turning off Live Plus and related personalised advertising toggles.

For maximum privacy, researchers recommend network isolation by disconnecting the smart TV from the internet entirely, operating it solely as an offline display while relying on dedicated external streaming sticks where permissions can be restricted more granularly.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 09, 2026 09:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).