LG's recent software update has forcibly installed Microsoft Copilot, an AI assistant, on smart TVs without removal options, sparking widespread user backlash over privacy, bloatware, and loss of control. This highlights growing tensions in smart devices, where monetization often overrides user preferences.
I reworked my entire home network. Going from an Asus router to an opnsense firewall, just to put the HP printer and the LG TV on a VLAN with absolutely no internet access.
These two poor guys ping each other every day, in the hopes one of them gets a connection.
Sorry for that noob question: i do not grasp the idea of vlan fully: will i still be able to connect to devices in the locked down vlan (the tv, the printer) from the devices in the “normal”, open Wifi (like my phone streaming to said tv).
Right now i have a gl-iNet router (brume 2) that uses adguard to block advertising sites (and also home phoning destinations of popular brands), but not sure if that does the trick already.
Whether you can access these devices or not depends on your firewall rules.
The usual (very simplifed) setup is as follows
VLANs:
Firewall rules:
VLAN_Trusted: Can access everything, WAN (internet) as well as devices on VLAN_Untrusted and VLAN_IoT. Usually, your PC or smartphone is here
VLAN_IoT: can only access WAN (internet), but none of the other VLANs, usually connected devices, like smart appliances that you control via their dedicated apps, like Philips HUE lamps, etc
VLAN_Untrusted: Can not access anything. Usually devices that you don’t want to allow to access anything, lika a TV, or a printer to prevent automatic firmware updates.
Some people also hav a VLAN_Guests, which is similar to IoT, where devices can only access the internet.
I hope this helps