PM "How to Disconnect a Vizio Smart TV from the Internet So It Can't Spy on You"

"...starting in February 2014, VIZIO, Inc. and an affiliated company have manufactured VIZIO smart TVs that capture second-by-second information about video displayed on the smart TV, including video from consumer cable, broadband, set-top box, DVD, over-the-air broadcasts, and streaming devices.In addition, VIZIO facilitated appending specific demographic information to the viewing data, such as sex, age, income, marital status, household size, education level, home ownership, and household value, the agencies allege. VIZIO sold this information to third parties, who used it for various purposes, including targeting advertising to consumers across devices, according to the complaint."


Popular Mechanics says you should give the tv a full factory reset. Here's how

1. Using the VIZIO remote, press the Menu button.
2. Use the Arrow buttons on the remote to highlight System and press OK.
3. Highlight Reset & Admin and press OK.
4. Highlight Reset TV to Factory Defaults and press OK.
5. If you have not manually reset the parental code, please input 0 0 0 0 when it asks for the password.
6. Highlight Reset and press OK.
7. Wait for the TV to turn off.