Technology giant LG has found itself at the center of a serious scandal regarding user privacy. Investigations by independent publications have revealed that the brand's devices — ranging from smart TVs to gaming monitors — may collect personal information and install software without the explicit consent of the owners.

Smart TVs: Recording Conversations to "Improve" AI

According to the updated terms of use for LG smart TVs, the company has obtained the right to record and analyze user conversations. Officially, this data is necessary to "improve" artificial intelligence features. However, the mechanism for notifying about this activity is placed solely on the device owner. This means that guests in the house may not know that their conversations are being recorded.

If a user disagrees with such terms, they must manually disable all functions related to the microphone and voice control. Furthermore, accepting the standard terms allows LG not only to track device usage but also to transfer collected data to third parties.

LG Monitors: Unauthorized Software Installation on Windows

Privacy issues have also affected the monitor lineup. According to Gamers Nexus, models from the LG UltraGear and LG UltraFine series are capable of automatically installing applications on computers running Windows. This happens immediately after connecting the monitor to the PC, without requesting permission from the user.

The installed software includes:

  • LG Monitor App Installer
  • McAfee Scam Detector

Journalists note that the problem affects not only the newest devices but also some older models that received a firmware update.

Access to System Resources and User Data

According to the manufacturer's documentation, the LG Monitor App Installer application obtains full access to all system resources of the computer. In the course of its operation, it collects an extensive array of data, including:

  • User location;
  • Hardware configuration;
  • Network activity;
  • Account data;
  • Contact information.

The Security and Privacy Dilemma

Owners of older LG smart TVs face a difficult choice. They can avoid accepting the new terms by refusing to install webOS operating system updates. However, in this case, the devices will stop receiving critically important security patches, making them vulnerable to external threats.