The Internet of Things Are Really Little Parasites Sucking Up Your Bandwidth
You can't hardly go into an electronics store anymore without being slapped in the face with a dizzying array of cool electronic devices that want to offer you all kinds of benefits you can't live without.
Back in the mid 80's when the movie ET launched, a classic from Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg, all the cute little Extra-Terrestrial wanted was to phone home. Many of us could have hardly imagined back then, a world where all our devices would one day want to do exactly the same thing.
This is the world we are now living in today. All these super cool Smart Assistants, Video Doorbells, IP Security Cameras, Smart Thermostats, Smart Door Locks, Smart Appliances and Media Streamers have one thing in common, they want access to our Internet connection so they can phone home.
If you use them it's all well and good, yet be aware that each device is using a little chunk of your Internet bandwidth which can slow down your Internet. This is a resource that may be better put to use for other things you enjoy doing more like streaming videos or playing online games.
Even worse, Internet-connected devices also give hackers another access point into our home networks. Devices that don't have good security protocols, left set to a default password or have bad code can easily be exploited, this leaves us even more vulnerable to having personal or private information stolen or used for ransom.
Recently we came across a post in a group where someone noticed their Smart TV was sending back home a huge amount of information. It was hammering their network with much more outgoing data compared to any other online connected device on their network.
This got us wondering how many cord-cutters have purchased a Smart TV, hooked it to the Internet and then use several media streamers attached to various HDMI ports while never ever using the television's Smart Function ever again?
All the while that Smart TV is sitting there collecting data logs, and phoning home information on your viewing habits right back to the mothership.
That's why we recommend if you don't use a device that has access to the Internet disable it. If you don't need it to call home for it to function and it has an Ethernet port simply unplug it. You may also want to go into the device settings and remove your WiFi login and password as well. Some devices will automatically connect to WiFi if the Ethernet connection goes down.
A Smart TV will continue to work fine with devices attached to the HDMI ports without it needing Internet access. These devices all have their own separate connection to the Internet and will work perfectly fine. So it's safe to disable Internet access to your Smart TV.
Any other device you don't use like that Alexa device your kids sent you for Christmas, or a Wifi enabled refrigerator you should really disconnect these from the Internet as well. This makes your home network all the much safer from hackers, and places less of a demand on your broadband Internet connection.
Limiting Internet access to devices is also helpful if your broadband provider imposes data caps.
Your Private Information is the New Digital Currency
Pretty much every low-cost media streamer you buy collects and sends information back to the manufacturer. It's one thing if you use and like the device. It's completely unnecessary if it's hooked to the network and never get's used. Then it's just a parasite sucking up bandwidth that could be used for video streaming, playing games, and doing other fun stuff online.
Device manufacturers want to learn as much as they can about you so they can more easily manipulate you with their ads, or sell this information to data brokers for profit. Don't make it easy for them, if you are not using an Internet-connected device, don't give it free space on your home network. Shut it down!
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Use of third-party trademarks on this site is not intended to imply endorsement nor affiliation with respective trademark owners.
We are Not Affiliated with or Endorsed by Roku®, Apple, Google or Other Companies we may write about.
