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Television Security

Samsung is Loading McAfee Antivirus Software On Smart TVs (techspot.com) 160

Posted by msmash from the how-about-that dept.
Samsung is adding bloatware to its 2019 TVs because McAfee is paying them to do so. From a report: There is arguably no reason at all for Samsung to offer a third-party antivirus software for an operating system that is developed in house. Partnering with software vendors is fairly common practice for large hardware manufacturers. Laptop makers frequently preinstall bloatware in return for some sizable payouts and smartphone OEMs are no different. Samsung is now installing McAfee antivirus software on its 2019 TV lineup.

Samsung is claiming something to the effect of wanting to protect users from malware. On the surface that makes sense, but Samsung is running its very own Tizen OS on all of its TVs. Instead of adding more junk to a TV, why not just improve the OS? The answer though is very self explanatory. Samsung would not receive a payout from McAfee if it did not install the unneeded software.
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Samsung is Loading McAfee Antivirus Software On Smart TVs More

Samsung is Loading McAfee Antivirus Software On Smart TVs

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  • hold on.. (Score:5, Funny)

    by e432776 ( 4495975 ) on Thursday February 28, 2019 @10:01AM (#58193646)
    .. is that TV running MS Windows??

  • Raise the price, please (Score:3)

    by tomhath ( 637240 ) on Thursday February 28, 2019 @10:03AM (#58193648)
    I would much rather pay a higher price and be without all that crap. If vendors would offer that as an option I expect they would be surprised how many people would take it.

    • The proles have arrived (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward

      There was a golden age of tech (and of computing in particular), when only the intelligent, self-sufficient, industrious, unabashedly eccentric types were interested in it.

      Then, gaming made tech fun.

      Then, Apple made tech cool.

      Then, Android made tech ubiquitous.

      Now, tech is firmly in the sticky, unwashed hands of the proletariat, and it's time to move on to more secluded grounds. See you there!

    • Re:Raise the price, please (Score:5, Insightful)

      by oic0 ( 1864384 ) on Thursday February 28, 2019 @10:18AM (#58193726)
      Very few. Most people buy a TV because it's a good deal for the size in a big box store. They don't understand any specs except buzzwords like HD, smart, and 4k.

      • Very few. Most people buy a TV because it's a good deal for the size in a big box store. They don't understand any specs except buzzwords like HD, smart, and 4k.

        I understand all that... I just don't want my TV to be "smart" or have "4K".

        I have more Rokus and Firesticks than I have televisions (I didn't buy most of them)- and I'd much rather use a replaceable and upgradable external device of my choice to make my TV "smart" than have one prebaked.

        As for 4K- seems superfluous to my demands, it would be nice, be don't need the extra cost, and the cable ISP that has a monopoly in my area isn't good enough to really support 4K straming so it's a waste on me anyway.

        Just

        • As for 4K- seems superfluous to my demands, it would be nice, be don't need the extra cost, and the cable ISP that has a monopoly in my area isn't good enough to really support 4K straming so it's a waste on me anyway.

          Console games are SOOO much better in 4k, though! That's what I use it for.

        • Re: (Score:3)

          by EvilSS ( 557649 )
          1080p is on the way out with manufacturers. They have all moved most of their panel lines over to 4K production. They still make 1080p sets, but they are usually bottom of the barrel and way outnumbered by 4K at this point. As for dumb TVs, unless you want to go with a commercial panel (and the cost that goes with it) your best bet is eBay/Craig's list for older used devices. It's getting impossible to find.

          The really unfortunate part, based on how some "apps" are coming out on smart TV stores before th

    • Re:Raise the price, please (Score:4, Insightful)

      by frank_adrian314159 ( 469671 ) on Thursday February 28, 2019 @10:26AM (#58193758) Homepage

      If vendors would offer that as an option I expect they would be surprised how many people would take it.

      I'd be surprised if many did take it. Almost everything I know about marketing says that the segment of the market that cares that much about this is minuscule. The ones that don't will continue to use price as a prime criterion for their purchase decision.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by havana9 ( 101033 )

        If vendors would offer that as an option I expect they would be surprised how many people would take it.

        I'd be surprised if many did take it. Almost everything I know about marketing says that the segment of the market that cares that much about this is minuscule. The ones that don't will continue to use price as a prime criterion for their purchase decision.

        People that are using price as criterion are going to the cheaper brands, especially the ones that in CRT era were famous for their quality, like Telefunken, Nordmende, Saba or Akai.
        On the other hand most people don't understand all the TV features, I know people that have bought a new TV with terrestrial and satellite tuner without having a satellite dish because it was a special offer and was cheap, same thing goes for smart options or similar things.
        Most people are ok with normal TV and actually don'

    • But ... but ... but ... CHECKBOX TICK!

      Because that's what steers buyer decisions. People don't understand what their TVs can do. To them, HDMI is about the same as DLNA, four letters that their TV "has". Or doesn't have. But having is better than not having. So what these people do is to compare TVs by the little cards that are attached to them, and by the checkboxes that are ticked on each of them. And if there's one TV with 6 checkboxes ticked it's better than the one with 5 checkboxes ticked. Which check

    • I would much rather pay a higher price and be without all that crap. If vendors would offer that as an option I expect they would be surprised how many people would take it.

      They do offer that. Buy a commercial display intended for digital signage in a conference center. They are dumb, and usually have lots of inputs.

    • Unfortunately, since McAfee is likely paying per TV it's installed in, the price might actually drop the more garbage they load in. Then, customers might tend to buy the cheaper (more bloat-ridden) TVs and this could become the norm.

      I really hope not, though. I don't even connect my TV to my WiFi. I use a Roku stick to stream. I'd buy a "dumb TV" if they offered them anymore. I definitely don't need an anti-virus program on my TV.

    • Any reason one can't use a computer monitor as a TV?

  • So-called "smart" anything are cancer. (Score:1)

    by Anonymous Coward

    They are literally cancer. They spread and ruin everything in their way. Dystopian nightmare of total surveillance.

  • I hate AVs in computers itself so never install it. But I guess we won't be able to uninstall it from TV.

    Lets look at potential issues with this

    Performance issues with TV
    More internet usage for AV updates [That goes from our bill ]
    Random removal of TV apps which are considered as virus by AV
    Annoying messages for AV updates
    Annoying messages for upgrading to premium version
    What else?

    • Re:AV on TV (Score:5, Insightful)

      by supremebob ( 574732 ) <themejunky@geoc[ ]es.com ['iti' in gap]> on Thursday February 28, 2019 @10:32AM (#58193786) Journal

      Yeah, I'm curious... how this is going to work? Is it going to work like the McAfee bloatware on retail PC, where I'm going to get pestered to upgrade to the "Pro" version every time I turn on the TV?

      Also, do I have the option to uninstall the software? If not, I'm pretty sure that they're going to lose some customers over this.

      (Frankly, I'm amazed that Microsoft hasn't allowed AntiVirus programs for the XBox yet. It's much more like a PC than a SmartPC is.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by Anonymous Coward

        Right, because tv consumers care about "bloatware." It is less than 1% of the consumer market that would care. Most tv consumers are LOOKING for these apps on their tv's to make it easier.

        • Re: (Score:3)

          by taustin ( 171655 )

          If it affects the TV operation the way it does a PC, consumers will care. They'll have to run the TV on fast forward all the time to compensate for the slow-down, and fast forward usually disables the sound.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

        According to McAfee you can actually delete it: https://service.mcafee.com/web... [mcafee.com]

        I guess you "need" it because Tizen OS has an app store and like all app stores it sometimes gets malware in it.

    • Dont forget added data mining by the AV too.

  • I like my TVs the way I like my toasters... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by stevegee58 ( 1179505 ) on Thursday February 28, 2019 @10:23AM (#58193746) Journal
    ...DUMB

  • You kiddin' me? (Score:4, Funny)

    by NoNonAlphaCharsHere ( 2201864 ) on Thursday February 28, 2019 @10:27AM (#58193762)
    Now my TV runs so slow it's showing first-run episodes of Star Trek: TNG.

  • Welp (Score:3)

    by pak9rabid ( 1011935 ) on Thursday February 28, 2019 @10:28AM (#58193768)
    Welp, guess my next TV will be from LG.

  • Malware as standard (Score:5, Informative)

    by Going_Digital ( 1485615 ) on Thursday February 28, 2019 @10:39AM (#58193820)
    Samsung TVs already come with pre-installed malware that plays ads to you!

  • Off sourcing a core function? (Score:1, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward

    If the so called anti virus is just a digital signature verification system to make certain that the firmware and so called apps are legit then it makes sense. Could be that MacAfee is just taking over what is becoming an essential function of their software control quality control. I guess that all the experience of years spent building a software digital signature checking system that run at high priority make it so that it is cheaper for Samsung to outsource the essential process rather than do the essen

  • I'm afraid to buy a new TV. It's bad enough the cable company and Netflix know exactly what I am watching. Now the TV company does, too?

  • Putting the cart before the horse? (Score:3)

    by Opportunist ( 166417 ) on Thursday February 28, 2019 @10:57AM (#58193910)

    I can see the need for AV on general-purpose devices like computers where user input can be VERY difficult to predict and it's hard to keep users from screwing everything up by starting a program they shouldn't. But how in the world is this possible in a walled-off environment like a TV where you can literally ONLY run whatever the maker lets you?

    Samsung, if you have a security problem in your walled garden, YOU screwed up. Fix the problem instead of slapping a band-aid on it!

    • It's because TV vendors make overly complicated Smart TVs to do anything. Sometimes they are essentially general purpose PCs hobbled to only show videos. This wouldn't be an issue if the manufacturer addressed security concerns, but then they don't supply updates because they've released a new model and would rather you buy that one. (Because everyone is going to by a new $500 TV every year, right?) So what you get is a computer inside your TV, connected to WiFi, and which doesn't get updates. It's a recip

  • Yet another reason not to buy a Samsung TV (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Casandro ( 751346 ) on Thursday February 28, 2019 @10:59AM (#58193918)

    I mean why should I pay for a TV from a company that sees me as its product?

  • My Synology NAS has antivirus, why not a SmartTV? (Score:3)

    by williamyf ( 227051 ) on Thursday February 28, 2019 @11:07AM (#58193966)

    Yup. They Offer two tiers.

    A free antivirus provided by Synology based on ClamAV, and a paid one by McAfee. Both are optional to install. I installed the ClamAV one.

    After all, the Synology is, at its core, a Linux Box connected to the net, and therefore suceptible to viruses and worms. Granted, less susceptible than, let's say, a windows box, but susceptible nonetheless. So, an antivirus is a nice addition to the defense in depth*, multiple layers of defense, whathaveyou.

    The Samsung TV is, at its core, a box running a Linux/BSD core (Bada, which is what samsung uses, can use either) connected to the net, so it should use an Antivirus. Defense in depth, multiple layers of defense and all that...

    Having it Pre-Installed is a way to simplify things for less sophisticated users, and (sadly) monetize them post sale as well.

    Let alone the publicity for McAfee: my SmartTV uses McAfee antivirus, when time comes to chose an antivirus for my new PC/company/small business, may use McAfee as well (or so goes the thinking of the marketeers).

    JM2C

    * Some of the defenses for my Syno are, in no particular order:
    1.) Use 9.9.9.9 as the DNS of the Syno.
    2.) Activate the FW on the Ingress Router of NW.
    3.) Activate SW Firewall on the Syno itself.
    4.) Keep Syno Updated on Patches. Also patch syno packages.
    5.) Run AV on Syno.
    6.) Periodicaly run Security Advisor on Syno.
    7.) Disable SMB 1 on Syno.
    8.) Secure the WiFi network as much as possible.

    • AV on your NAS is not designed to protect the NAS itself, its designed to detect windows malware being put onto the storage device and thus spread to other windows clients that are accessing it.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

        It does protect against Linux malware too. It's a Linux box running an older kernel with numerous services exposed, and periodically exploits are found.

        For example, this flaw in Samba was pretty severe: https://nakedsecurity.sophos.c... [sophos.com]

        Still not convinced that McAfee is the best solution, but a Linux based NAS is not immune to malware either.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Bert64 ( 520050 )

          Ensuring the kernel and those services are patched and hardened would do far more good than running an av scan...
          Last i checked the state of linux av it couldnt pick up old stuff like lrk (linux rootkit) or the various variants like t0rnkit or modified versions of sshd etc... Also most linux rootkits tend to be manually installed rather than automatically spreading, so if someone semi competent compromises the host and installs a rootkit, they will also notice the scheduled scans and work out how to evade t

      • Nope, It also checks the Syno partition looking for Linux viruses. As a matter of fact, the default check is to check only the system partion every day, as a full NAS check would take way too much time.

        Amyjojo already explained it.

  • Oblig xkcd (Score:5, Funny)

    by Megahard ( 1053072 ) on Thursday February 28, 2019 @11:12AM (#58194006)

    https://xkcd.com/463/ [xkcd.com]

  • Er ... (Score:3)

    by cascadingstylesheet ( 140919 ) on Thursday February 28, 2019 @12:09PM (#58194340) Journal

    ... hopefully I don't actually have to break tradition and read the fine article.

    Isn't this a closed system? WTH would you need antivirus for? Poltergeists?

  • useless (Score:3)

    by roc97007 ( 608802 ) on Thursday February 28, 2019 @01:40PM (#58194966) Journal

    Oh good lord, are they putting McAfee Security Scan Plus on their TVs? That thing doesn't do anything useful. It just natters at you and promotes their for-pay product. It's the first thing I uninstall.

    Is it *possible* to uninstall it from your TV?

  • With Linux basically running on all our TVs now, it seems very reasonable to consider AV on our embedded computers with large displays.

  • Samsung has always had terrible software. The fact that they're taking bribes to make it worse shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. Any marginal hardware advantage Samsung has had over their competitors over the years has been rendered moot by the garbageware Samsung bundles. Still it's nice to see my opinion of Samsung validated once in a while.

  • I saw an article around a year ago - and I think it was on this site - claiming that the OS Samsung use for TVs was hopelessly insecure, and that whoever had written it simply did not have a clue about security. I believe that OS was Tizen, it was certainly something Samsung wrote themselves.
    Assuming the article was accurate, Samsung should have had a serious go at fixing it. That costs money. What we see here is something that raises the bar a little and is actually revenue-positive. Win win from Samsu

  • So, if the purpose of the antivirus-software is gathering information to phone home, without the users knowledge (explicit and informed consent), those tvs would be illegal to be sold in the EU due to the GDPR (privacy laws).

  • Why does McAfee pay to have his antivirus installed? They would not do that without a plan to recover the cost and make money

    Are we ahead of another privacy scandal, with data sucked from smartTV by a rogue antivirus?

  • nike putting mcafee on their shoes?!

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