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Roku explores taking over HDMI feeds with ads (www.lowpass.cc)

submitted 8 months ago by Stopthatgirl7@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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Roku is exploring ways to show consumers ads on its TVs even when they are not using its streaming platform: The company has been looking into injecting ads into the video feeds of third-party devices connected to its TVs, according to a recent patent filing.

This way, when an owner of a Roku TV takes a short break from playing a game on their Xbox, or streaming something on an Apple TV device connected to the TV set, Roku would use that break to show ads. Roku engineers have even explored ways to figure out what the consumer is doing with their TV-connected device in order to display relevant advertising.

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[–] Entropywins@kbin.social 12 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Look into adgaurd or set up pihole software for dns and have a network device dedicated to blocking ads

[–] Confused_Emus@lemmy.world 10 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Roku uses hardcoded Google DNS, so you’ll need to make some additional changes on your router to direct their 8.8.x.x addresses to your DNS service. Instructions at the below site are for Unlocator, but I think should work with any custom DNS.

https://support.unlocator.com/article/131-how-to-bypass-forced-dns-on-roku

[–] LrdThndr@lemmy.world 2 points 8 months ago

You are a fucking hero. I couldn't figure out why my Roku TVs were still able to get ads after blocking everything.

[–] qwertyqwertyqwerty@lemmy.one 7 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I already have Pi-hole with a bunch of additional lists to be blocked. I also cancelled all streaming services that service ads, and I use Adblock. I still see ads occasionally. What do you suggest for dedicated ad-blocking hardware?

Also, I don't know what to do about the environmental ads.

[–] Confused_Emus@lemmy.world 8 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Make sure you’ve got rules set in your router to redirect Roku’s hardcoded DNS to your custom DNS service.

Some ads can’t be eliminated - for example, if a service delivers ads through the same content servers that the show/movie is coming from.

[–] qwertyqwertyqwerty@lemmy.one 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Custom DNS probably explains how the fucking thing throws a pop-up display informing me that I can watch the movie I'm watching using their Roku app instead if I want to. I was wondering how it knew the name of the movies I have been watching, lol. I will probably just go and reset my WiFi password on my router and 50+ devices, or rip the WiFi antenna out of the TV, not sure which yet.

[–] AtariDump@lemmy.world 1 points 8 months ago

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/roku-looks-into-serving-you-ads-on-whatever-you-plug-into-its-tvs-120016754.html#:~:text=While%20you'd%20probably%20prefer,to%20identify%20what's%20on%20screen.

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 2 points 8 months ago

Roku's current only saving grace to me is that I can block their shit conveniently. All my Rokus are on my Raspberry Pi in a special group so I can block specific things.