ULPT: How do I render a smart TV unusable without breaking anything?
Posted by adjlw@reddit | UnethicalLifeProTips | View on Reddit | 229 comments
I have a Sony TV with Android TV. It currently has an Apple TV, Nintendo Switch , and Xbox hooked up to it. I would like to find a way to make the TV unusable without actually damaging anything.
It will need to be smarter than just unplugging it, but damaging the power cable could be an option (power cable is fully user removable). It would need to be smarter than unplugging an HDMI cable. It probably needs to be smarter than disabling the HDMI ports in the input switcher (not likely to be noticed, but would be obvious if found. Also, smart TV will likely try and override a disabled HDMI port with some kind of popup - “OMG, signal detected on HDMI #2 even though it’s disabled, press ‘Ok’ to enable”).
mousey76397@reddit
What country? Cos in the UK you could just take the fuse out of the plug.
adjlw@reddit (OP)
US. I don’t think there’s an easily accessible fuse. I think finding a way to damage or break the power cable (fully removable) would be the way to accomplish that.
blind30@reddit
The problem with messing with the power cord is you’d still be plugging it into a live outlet, which could be hazardous depending on HOW you tamper with the cable. I work with electricity, and can’t think of a simple way to “break” the cord safely, and have it not look suspicious.
Years ago, I bought a tiny key fob universal remote that was specifically designed to mess with other people’s tvs- I wonder if you could hide one in the room and jam the button down
Rick-l-Sanchez@reddit
What was the name of that remote fob?
Educational_Bird2469@reddit
Hide the remote. You’d be surprised how lazy the average person is
pigslovebacon@reddit
I tried this with my kids, they just turn it on at the side switch. I'm watching this thread intently, as I am in a similar situation. Been removing random cables from the back of the TV (can't reach the power plug) to try and disable it, but to my chagrin, the ones I've tried don't seem to actually stop the TV from working...so I continue.
Troglodytes_Cousin@reddit
I remember thats how parents of my school friend use to do it - they have hidden the power cable from the computer....... but we were smart we got our hands on another one of those cables and used it when they werent home anyway :-D
pigslovebacon@reddit
Oh that was me when I was a kid too, seeing it as a challenge whereby if I 'won' (aka found a way to get around the ban) then it meant it was ok to do. Not the fact that the access was physically taken away means that I wasn't meant to be using the computer. These were the dial up days where I needed to run a cable between the computer and the phone connection and try to hide the sound of the modem!!!
higround66@reddit
Are you not their mother?
Tell them no, or limit the time they use TV.... like wtf are we talking about here? Do what a parent should do to ensure their child doesn't become dissociated by too much screen time.
pigslovebacon@reddit
Omfg I am laughing so hard right now.
Yes. Every kid listens and obeys when their parent tells them no to something they would rather be doing. Kids are never sneaky and try to get around the rules.
You think, and judge, assuming that several other options and parenting techniques haven't already been tried and tried and tried, and failed.
Get bent.
MsTerious1@reddit
Wow! You seriously believe that it's better to find sneaky, deceptive solutions for children being sneaky and deceptive, than to simply enforce the boundaries better? Do you realize how unhinged this logic is?
RivenRise@reddit
Agreed, reminds me of the unschooled kids, or free roam kids parents. Like I'm not advocating for physical violence but boundaries are boundaries and if you have to issue punishments like removing TV privilege or timeouts then do so.
blackkristos@reddit
As a parent, cutting the power cord to my TV to stop my kids using it is just fucking wild. More and more, I feel like everyone needs to get off my damn lawn.
fasterfester@reddit
Right? If you tell them not to watch tv and they do, the consequence should be them getting in trouble and not being able to watch tv for a month. Not “let me figure out how to clandestinely trick them into not being able to watch tv”
Alchemist_Joshua@reddit
My phone is my remote.
SufficientRub9466@reddit
As an average person, I can vouch for this
iIdentifyasGrinch@reddit
As a lazy person, I can vouch for how average this is
Gargravars_Shoes@reddit
As a lazy average person I can, but I won’t
CoderJoe1@reddit
As a voucher, I won't
Ill-Running1986@reddit
As an avera
Dick_Lazer@reddit
You can control the Apple TV with an iPhone, and it can control the TV itself as much as you need.
Ok-Nectarine7152@reddit
One of my favorite practical jokes - When you're at your buddy's house watching the game, wait until he goes to the john, change the channel , then take the batteries out of the remote. When he comes back, watch him push harder and harder on the buttons, shake it, push really hard on the buttons, smack it on something, rinse and repeat.
Ok-Communication1149@reddit
My kid knows how that goes down.
Ch00m77@reddit
Then they'll just download an app on their phone that allows them to control the smart TV
I know, I had this happen to me when I hid the remote of a tv
Homebrewer01@reddit
Yep. Im too lazy to look for remote, so the app is my go to if the remote isnt immediately available.
Drumdevil86@reddit
Removing the power cord while the TV is on should mostly discharge the capacitors, thus reducing the risk of an electric shock while touching parts that handle main voltage. But you should still be VERY CAREFUL not to touch anything on that PCB and wear rubber gloves or something while unplugging that connector.
adjlw@reddit (OP)
That is a great option. The only problem with this is the TV is wall mounted and big - I don’t know if I’m able to unmount it without dropping it. Not really a question of weight, but size and awkwardness.
But I really like this. Perfectly in my wheelhouse.
sirrobryder@reddit
Electricity and capacitors are nothing to mess with. I highly recommend you don't do this.
But if you are going to, we're thick rubber soled shoes, some decently thick rubber gloves, and only use one hand to disconnect the connector. Make sure the rest of your body is not touching anything else so if your hand were to touch something it shouldn't accidentally, you will not be grounded.
hypocrite_iamme@reddit
Not ones this small.
whteverusayShmegma@reddit
Trip the circuit breaker
human743@reddit
Get a strong friend to help.
LordBiscuits@reddit
Bonus being there will also be a strong person available to carry you to the ambulance
avitzavi528@reddit
Hold the power button for 30s while unplugged to discharge the capacitors
GLS88@reddit
Plug the TV electrical onto a timer or smart switch. Or better yet. Replace the outlet itself with a smart switch outlet if the aforementioned is too easily bypassed.
iamworsethanyou@reddit
Throttle bandwidth to the devices to make them 'work' but take forever to do anything?
adjlw@reddit (OP)
That is definitely an option.
eat_a_burrito@reddit
I did this with a person on my home. See the Mac to the losers QoS (quality of service) that was 1Mb/s. The person kept saying how slow it was and I was shrugging. 🤷
ADHDeez_Nutz420@reddit
I had someone do this to me. So come bill time I didnt pay a penny.
ChefArtorias@reddit
They slowed your devices to a crawl but expected you to pay still? Sounds toxic.
ADHDeez_Nutz420@reddit
Toxic housemates. I got my revenge.
mulchroom@reddit
i want to know your revenge story please
ADHDeez_Nutz420@reddit
Every time I got ill I licked her toothbrush. Also hid a tarantula shedding in the oven mittens which she found at 7am.
Oh and I slowly diluted her coffee with decaff over the space of a month until it was just decaf. Endless fun.
HawkDriver@reddit
I was ok with this until the coffee, you win.
llordlloyd@reddit
That decaf trick is beyond the pale. Fun's fun but someone could have got badly hurt.
mulchroom@reddit
hahahaha fucking devious indeed, you sir deserve recognition. I would rather spit on the toothbrush instead of licking it though haha
keithhud@reddit
My kind of petty.
eat_a_burrito@reddit
Oh but devious! I love it.
BuzzINGUS@reddit
How do you do that? On the router?
Metazolid@reddit
Yeah, you'll need to have access to the login password (and possibly username, I believe "admin" is default) though, it can be different than the wifi password or the default one written on the router itself, but those two would be my first guess.
Atworkwasalreadytake@reddit
Can you just turn off the WiFi?
adjlw@reddit (OP)
Fortunately for me and unfortunately for this situation, I have put a lot of money into a very impressive home network, with fiber optics throughout the house, multiple network switches so everything is wired, and a few points of extra redundancy. I’ve also been some form of an electronics technician my whole life, so keeping the technology running has been my literal job for about 10 years.
Simulating a hardware failure would be a subtle push. Total network collapse and device banning is certainly possible, but I’m not looking to start with scorched Earth.
Atworkwasalreadytake@reddit
I completely missed your motive (my fault I should have noticed the subreddit).
Maybe just replace the Ethernet cable or fiber optic cable with a defective one?
Maybe also just give a more detailed description of your desired end state, or mark?
You’ve kind of made a classic engineering blunder in your prompt. You’ve started by asking how to do something before asking the broader question of what to do. This really limits people’s creativity and ability to give you ideas you hadn’t come up with.
jakefrmsatefarm@reddit
Go into picture settings and adjust the tint to some weird jarring color then turn the brightness way down and contrast way up to make it super difficult to see anything on the screen.
adjlw@reddit (OP)
I think in this situation, poking at the settings would be a basic troubleshooting step and would get noticed.
Justin_Passing_7465@reddit
If there is nothing else that you care about on that same electrical circuit, pop that circuit breaker. The breaker box is located in the garage in most American homes.
Glum-Suggestion-6033@reddit
Most? I’ve never had a breaker panel in the garage. Always the basement.
Deep-Hovercraft6716@reddit
And what about homes that don't have basements? Which is like half of them.
Stompya@reddit
Is it? I’ve seen a few but they are all like 60+ years old
Deep-Hovercraft6716@reddit
It has nothing to do with age. It has everything to do with the ground underneath the house. Lots of places don't build houses with basements because they don't want to dig into the ground
Also think about all the manufactured homes too.
Stompya@reddit
Around here it definitely is related to age, which is more related to the resources available at the time than the ground itself.
I live way up north and we have black dirt going pretty deep with clay underneath, the actual bedrock is so far underground as to be irrelevant to home building. The key is that older houses (1930s to 1940s) were built with less resources. Homes from that era tend to be a lot smaller, and they almost never have stone or poured-concrete foundations. They have a small crawl space or a dirt cellar under the home but it is not a proper basement.
I grew up in a neighbourhood where there are a lot of houses from that era, and over the last 20 years many of them have been knocked in so there have been many opportunities to confirm this. Nowadays of course they split the nice large lot in half, dig a basement and build two tall skinny homes that stand out like a sore thumb in an area full of smaller bungalow-style houses.
It's progress, they say.
Glum-Suggestion-6033@reddit
I have to assume they also don’t have electricity. /s
Sad_Okra2030@reddit
I’ve never lived somewhere that had a basement. So, the breaker box was either outside on the pole, outside on the side of the house or in the garage. The power pole was the main circuit for the whole house and a further box would either be on the wall outside or in the garage.
Stompya@reddit
Never? Where is it common for houses to not have basements?
Sad_Okra2030@reddit
I’m in Southwest, to Central Arkansas in the Ouachita Mountains. I lived for 4 years in Albuquerque. But, base housing never has basements. I lived in South Texas on the Gulf Coast before here. You can’t dig down far before hitting hard stone. If folks have basements..it’s not a true basement. It’s a house built on a slope and you actually enter the house on the top floor. You can walk around to the “basement “ back door down hill
Stompya@reddit
Ah, the stone thing makes sense then. I’m a lot further north and it’s dirt & clay, not difficult to dig
Sad_Okra2030@reddit
Most houses here when they are built are either solid slab foundations or pier and beam due to it.
Sad_Okra2030@reddit
I also grew up dirt poor in the hills. Trailer houses don’t come equipped with basements.
NonspecificGravity@reddit
Have you ever heard the phrase "built on a slab" or "slab construction"? That method of construction is extremely common in the South (southern U.S.).
Stompya@reddit
Actually no. I guess I live too far north.
Is the soil very rocky or something? Digging a basement seems like a perfect way to get more rooms in your house without buying more real estate.
NonspecificGravity@reddit
In the more heavily populated parts of the South—along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts and the Mississippi delta—the water table is so high that a basement would fill with water unless constantly pumped out, and in that case would be insufferably damp.
In most of Texas, where it's dryer, builders got used to slab construction because it's cheaper and quicker than building a basement. And land was cheaper, so houses could be more sprawling than built-up.
Stompya@reddit
I love learning this sort of thing.
Where I live most of our cars have electric plugs hanging out of the front grill. I was asked if we had a lot of electric cars here and it took me a minute to realize the person asking was a visitor from the south where block heaters are not necessary.
There are so many little examples where "normal" for some of us is not normal for others. Thanks for the info.
NonspecificGravity@reddit
You're welcome.
I grew up in Chicago. I remember block heaters (though they weren't ubiquitous).
Rusty_Trigger@reddit
Basements are more common in colder northern regions where they are required by building codes and are cost-effective for creating additional living space, whereas they are less common in warmer southern areas due to high water tables and cost.
Nationwide, only 16% of new homes built in 2013 had basements.
BugBugRoss@reddit
Florida
Dick_Lazer@reddit
States like Texas
Glum-Suggestion-6033@reddit
So, looks like the jury is out on, ‘most’. I rest my case.
Uncynical_Diogenes@reddit
Most houses have a garage. I would call what you strange northerners build more of a hut on top of a hobbit hole.
Glum-Suggestion-6033@reddit
Okay.
Dick_Lazer@reddit
In Texas they’ve always been in the garage, but we don’t usually have basements around here.
briancmoses@reddit
It's impressive that you've lived in enough homes that your firsthand experiences makes yoi an Internet expert on what "most" homes would be like.
Glum-Suggestion-6033@reddit
Thank you.
adjlw@reddit (OP)
Alas, that would be too easy to figure out. I would have better luck breaking the power cable - an easily replaceable IEC C7/figure 8 cable.
Old-Fudge4062@reddit
You can't "break" one of these without creating a fire risk in the cord. Get a power strip, pull out the guts, put back together. Plug into that
Sir_Vey0r@reddit
Most breaker boxes have a way to put a lock on them. Or swap a burnt out breaker for that one. Looks on, but doesn’t do anything.
Kdiesiel311@reddit
For what
adjlw@reddit (OP)
The goal is to make the TV unusable. So if someone wanted to play Xbox or watch something on the Apple TV, they would be unable to, and would need something else to do.
It’s my TV, so I don’t want to break it. Also, property damage for this would be going too far.
AidenTEMgotsnapped@reddit
if it's your console, set a pin on each device. google will help you with that one. this post wasn't necessary.
adjlw@reddit (OP)
Sometimes scorched earth isn’t the best policy. We’re not at that point yet.
AidenTEMgotsnapped@reddit
ah, so you're going for passive aggressive bullshit instead of a clear sign of 'stop using my stuff'
can i ask why you can't just... talk
hanoian@reddit
You can buy small IR blasters that you can control when not at home. Send the turn off TV command every five minutes.
adjlw@reddit (OP)
Haha, I do like this. I could possibly do something similar with Home Assistant if I dug deep. If > Sony TV turns on, Then > Wait 7 minutes, Then > Turn Off.
DeeGayJator@reddit
Ahh, problems with people using your stuff? There should be a password lock on most TVs (there used to, anyway). Play with the settings a bit and verify whether it's just a channel lock or if it locks down the entire system or what have you. There are even sometimes settings that allow you to remove visible inputs so it seems like there aren't even connections available. This is good first step: delve into the TV settings.
The Xbox can be locked down as well, I'm assuming the Nintendo to some degree. Parental controls is what you want for all the devices. This is the way.
Then you can finish off at the router level and blacklist the devices and, while you're at it, lock down the router with your own password so no one can mess with it.
AidenTEMgotsnapped@reddit
The switch can be pin locked, this whole post is a 'let me google that for you' and an xy problem wrapped up into one
deathboyuk@reddit
Man, you'd have saved a lot of people a lot of time if you'd put that in the original post.
Alternative-Dig-2066@reddit
So, just get rid of it. This is ridiculous.
Kdiesiel311@reddit
I def missed that part lol it’s been a long day. I thought maybe you were trying to return it. But alas, I have no options now
Some3rdiShit@reddit
block the ir sensor on the tv with some dirt. Wont be able to turn on the tv
douganater@reddit
3.5mm cord that is cut into the Headphones output to "Break the speakers" in such a way the fix is as simple as removing that plug when you want to be the one to use it.
No_Educator_6376@reddit
Switch the input to antenna if you don’t have one . It will turn on but no picture or sound just static and if they don’t know how to switch it back it’s useless
adjlw@reddit (OP)
They would know. Also, it’s been set up with HDMI-CEC for so long (where turning on the source turns on the TV and changes input), it would be noticeable.
Also, it shows the name of the source in the top right when the screen turns on. And I’ve always had the inputs named, so that’d be really obvious.
No_Educator_6376@reddit
How about you change the names of the inputs that would frustrate them trying to connect with cable
adjlw@reddit (OP)
Wow. You are a terrible person and I like the way you think.
No_Educator_6376@reddit
Thank you just trying to help you out it’s fun to be a part of the plan
Competitive_Reason_2@reddit
Set the brightness to zero
adjlw@reddit (OP)
That would give me a dim picture, but not a black picture. Smart TV is smart, and lowest backlight/brightness isn’t no light.
ki4clz@reddit
magnetism
inn0cent-bystander@reddit
what's the purpose of doing this?
gatvolkak@reddit
It's either an attempt at parental control or they want to return it before the warranty expires
KyleCAV@reddit
If thats the case about warrantymake up an issue thats hard to prove like every 4 hours the screen flickers and goes blue then after 5 minutes turns off then turns back on again doubt anyone is going to sit there for 4 hours to prove the claim at bestbuy.
eileen404@reddit
Circuit breaker?
rmfelan@reddit
Add parental controls and say you don’t know the pin
girrrrrrr2@reddit
Wad some paper into the power plug so it doesn’t plug in all the way, but when you push on it it feels plugged in all the
Fun_Variation_7077@reddit
Rip out one of the prongs in the power socket. Jam into the power cord, but leave it unplugged for safety reasons. This way it looks like the prong was ripped out for no good reason.
hevnsnt@reddit
Give it invalid ip/dns settings
HovercraftPlen6576@reddit
Activate the TV's service mode and mess around with some settings that turn it unusable, like Store mode.
levon999@reddit
Block the device’s MAC address at the router.
pegoff@reddit
and you can access that from your phone browser on wifi so very easy to activate/deactivate.
Skyblacker@reddit
The average person doesn't know how to do that. This could work.
aspie_electrician@reddit
Also remember to change the router setting s password from the default admin/admin
Dick_Lazer@reddit
I disable my TVs WiFi regardless. It doesn’t need to be connected if you’re watching through an Apple TV box anyway.
Skyblacker@reddit
More like five devices, the smart TV and everything that's hooked up to it.
celticairborne@reddit
That would work for the AppleTV part, but you'd also have to block the MAC of any devices plugged into it...
KyleKun@reddit
And the Wi-Fi and Ethernet ports individually.
OtherImplement@reddit
Put it in the microwave for ten seconds. Be sure to leave the turntable on for an even fry.
jfernandezr76@reddit
Update the firmware and cut the power mid process.
Puzzleheaded-Ice2073@reddit
Block MAC address at the router. No IP for device, no connectivity at all.
Accomplished_Sir_660@reddit
Why? Trying to get new TV, or want that TV elsewhere?
AOChalky@reddit
Not sure if Sony allows you to get the root permission and flash ROMs, but some adndroid tv does. With this, disabling the tv is simply deleting/altering one key file and this can easily be restored going back to recovery.
soparamens@reddit
Add translucent tape to one of the terminals where the power cable connects.
swirlybat@reddit
are you a parent and this is your child or are you a spouseparent and this is your childhusband?
KenMerritt@reddit
My guess is it's his roommate.
swirlybat@reddit
oh oh ohhhh "roommate" got it
HaiMush@reddit
If in the UK: take the fuse out of the power lead. Will completely stop it working, very easy to do and very hard to detect.
You could even keep a spare power lead that still has a fuse in for when you want to use it.
metalflygon08@reddit
Take the power cord with you whenever you leave and don't want the TV to be usable.
IndyAndyJones777@reddit
Find out where the electricity for your area comes from. Break into the power plant and turn it off. Make sure to barricade the doors so that nobody can come in and turn it back on.
-tacostacostacos@reddit
Messing with the power sounds like a house fire waiting to happen.
Mrteamtacticala@reddit
somjething real easy and cheap is the ole "3.5mm headphone jack with nothing attached plugged in" making the tv think theres some audio device when in reality there isnt. So it just mutes the tv. You only need the jack not a cable so it can be quite hidden for someone that dosent know much about tv,s
Pizza-sauceage@reddit
Unplug TV and unscrew your electrical outlet in the wall and disconnect the wires. Tape up the ends with electrical tape so they don't touch each other or any other metal. Screw the electrical outlet in and plug TV back in.
YnotBbrave@reddit
Saran Wrap inside the hdmi cable receptacle.
spids69@reddit
Info: Why? Are we looking to fool an adult or a child? Are you just going way out of your way to avoid telling a roommate to quit hogging your TV and get a hobby?
fatdjsin@reddit
Static electricity .... a piezoelectric bbq starter .... put a couple of spark into every connectors :) impossible to tell
Jacktheforkie@reddit
Put a blown fuse in the plug
Known-Skin3639@reddit
Factory reset and password protect it? I did that to phone. Not sure if it would work on a tv though. In work in a machine shop. Totally different tech. Lmao!
1gal_man@reddit
My newest TV's power cord is plugged directly to a PCB under the back cover. You can plug it or unplug it without tools if you pop the back cover off. That would render the TV inoperable with no apparent solution without disassembling the TV to plug the cable back on the PCB
AcademicSavings@reddit
If you can access your router, then you can block the specific device accessing the router.
Installer6@reddit
Install a smart outlet and turn it on and off at your will.
nghtmrbae@reddit
My kid poured milk into the front of a TV once. After I wiped it all up you would never know but I sucker never worked again. I even took it apart to dry everything else which makes it do something different but still not work. So that's an idea.
Intelligent-Iguana@reddit
You can set a pin code lock on a lot of smart tvs. Or, failing that, set parental controls on with a pin and disable everything.
phileegee@reddit
Parental control lockout?
Neoreloaded313@reddit
Looks like there are smart surge protectors where you can turn off individual outlets on it. Here is one i found on Amazon. Its not 100% foolproof, but this is the best I can come up with.
Geeni Surge Ultra 8-Outlet Surge Protector, 6 Smart Outlets & 2 Always-On | 1200-Joule Multiple Outlet Power Strip, Remote Control | Works with Alexa & Google Assistant
ConfusionMindless579@reddit
Remove the power cord from the TV and using nail polish or some other insulating paint swab the inside of the power cord connection to the TV. Wait for it to dry, plug it back in and hopefully it's enough not to make a connection.
D0KUT0@reddit
Cut the plug off the end, reattach a plug when you want to use it - alternatively locktite or something in all the buttons on the tv so they cant be pressed and it can only be operated by the remote and take the remote with you.
adjlw@reddit (OP)
The power cable detaches easily from the TV. And unfortunately everything is smart enough to turn on and off with the source devices, so borking the remote wouldn’t do much good.
Plot-3A@reddit
Why don't you just remove the power cable and take it with you?
D0KUT0@reddit
Ahh I see! Never bothered with a smart tv just another thing to slow down and go out of date
adjlw@reddit (OP)
Yeah. Not a big fan of the smarts, but I specifically bought that model for the new 4K/120FPS/HDR, and the ability to turn it on with a “Hey Siri” command. At the least, the Apple Home integration is local, so that will continue to work even if Sony and Google abandoned everything.
new-Baltimoreon@reddit
Look for a fuse near where the power cable connects to the body, pull that if it exists and the tv will be inoperable but easily fixable
Bratchan@reddit
DOn't remove the cable from the tv completely, just enough so it doesnt' connect and work. So when they look behind it they wil see its plugged in and not working. Unless they are one of those people who does each of the checks of whats wrong with something it will take them alot longer to figure out.
ConfusionMindless579@reddit
How about just doing a factory reset. They'll have to set it all back up again. Do that every few days. I think they would get very frustrated after the third or fourth time. You could do that to the TV and some of the attached devices.
death11@reddit
Trying to get a new tv but mom said you got a tv at home
PoolMotosBowling@reddit
Block the MAC address if all those items on your ISP router. Unless it's been changed, the username and password should be on it.
They all will "work", will have full signal, but none will get on the web.
dogcmp6@reddit
If the TV is wall mounted...
Shut off the breaker for the outlet, and lock the breaker box shut.
Slow-Molasses-6057@reddit
In your router, blacklist the Mac addresses of all the smart devices. Most routers have parental controls to where you can create groups and set schedules
arthurdentstowels@reddit
Is this request so that the TV can be replaced? If so and if it's possible, take the back panel off without leaving obvious evidence, you can just pull any one of the serial connectors (or a few of them) on the PCB to make the TV wonky. Not exactly recommended because the capacitors can hold some spicy electricity but this isn't a sub for normal advice haha.
If it's to stop other people using the TV to much, don't take this advice.
Oddveig37@reddit
Turn off the breaker the TV is connected to.
You can just blame it throwing itself.
BasicallyGuessing@reddit
Connect it to a WiFi that is not connected to the internet. “Why isn’t this working? It says I’m connected!”
eclipsed2112@reddit
spray water into the ports, short circuiting it?
kevinkeenan@reddit
It’s a Sony. Google ‘Pro Mode’ or ‘Hotel Mode’ if it’s older and you can disable everything and anything.
TheNefariousMrH@reddit
Is there an audio jack? Sacrifice a shitty set of dollar tree headphones, clip the wire and plug the jack into the TV. Audio will try to play exclusively to the non-existent speakers.
phoonie98@reddit
I know through my Xfinity app I can cut off wifi to individual devices. If you have a different broadband provider see if you can do the same
Sunlit53@reddit
Depends on how settings aware your target is. Mess up all the image settings. Set the bright to highest, the contrast and sharpness to lowest, activate that annoying setting where everything moves like a old daytime broadcast tv soap opera…
Mm2k@reddit
Find an identical cheap used one for parts and switch them out.
Yourownhands52@reddit
Have you tried a smart switch? Plug your TV into it and control it on your phone? Im not sure if this would work for you.
lolques@reddit
If you know how to get it into DFU (aka firmware recovery mode), you could brick the TV and then reflash it back to factory at a later date.
adjlw@reddit (OP)
I used to flash Android ROMs all the time about 10 years ago, but I haven’t done that in so long I’d be too worried I wouldn’t be able to undo it.
But I like that idea.
jojohohanon@reddit
Look for semi secret hotel mode menu. Which you enter by pressing some a a b b left left .. cheat sequence on the remote.
From there you can set Max volume zero and disable various inputs. On my age old Panasonic plasma at least.
adjlw@reddit (OP)
“Hey Siri, enter the Konami code on the living room TV.”
jarrucho@reddit
Someone else asked the same question with a GPU so I guess put it in the microwave also applies here?
adjlw@reddit (OP)
Now that would be something to see.
Aggravating_Speed665@reddit
Gonna go out on a limb and say that can't be done...
The device is supposed to work this way. It's like asking water not to be wet.
mousey76397@reddit
But water isn't wet. It makes other things wet.
ready-eddy@reddit
What
mousey76397@reddit
https://youtube.com/shorts/_4D_NdiO7TM?si=tQc1MZE74I6UAI8U
Representative_Elk90@reddit
Thank you, I never knew that I needed to see this.
ready-eddy@reddit
That video made my day. 😂 thanks bro
adjlw@reddit (OP)
I mean, there’s always ways to make electronics misbehave. Forcing the wrong kind of HDMI signal would work, but modern devices try to be very helpful and would inform the users. Switching to an out of date HDMI cable would have a negative effect, but the devices would just readjust (and not everyone immediately notices the difference between 2160P and 1080P).
jasikanicolepi@reddit
You can buy a USB killer. It basically short circuits any electronics when you plug it in. Permanent bricking the device without any evidence of external tempering.
adjlw@reddit (OP)
I do not want to damage the TV, I just want it unusable for maybe a week or two.
jojohohanon@reddit
I think there are infra red universal turn off all tv remotes. For use in airport lounges and bars where the tv is always on and you just want some peace and quiet.
One of these pointed at the tv from a corner with the button taped down should mysteriously turn the tv off soon after it’s been turned on. That might be frustrating enough to render it unusable
psy-epsilon@reddit
This is probably the best advice on here.
whatawelshtwat@reddit
Take the fuse out of the plug
Funk4Five@reddit
QWORK Electrical Cord Plug Lockout Device for Electrical Cord, 4 Pack Plug Locking Safety Lock Fits 2 & 3 Prong Plugs, Electrical Shutdown Service American Standard, Built-in Lock Cylinder, Dual Key, https://a.co/d/1isfKlm
adjlw@reddit (OP)
Haha, the power cable detaches at the TV. One of those figure 8 cables.
Funk4Five@reddit
Then take the cable away
adjlw@reddit (OP)
Looking for a little subtlety on this one. Test the waters before going scorched earth.
Funk4Five@reddit
Ok. To be clear, you don't want the tv to be usable, and it has to be covert. No indication of tampering, or passwords, etc
adjlw@reddit (OP)
Pretty much. Finding a way to break the power cable would be one option, since it’s easily verified that the TV is plugged in, and basic troubleshooting (plugging it in to another plug) would still get the same result.
Someone else suggested opening it up and unplugging the motherboard. I’d do that if it weren’t a big TV on a wall mount.
Blocking the devices at the network level has been suggested, but these sorts of things will notify right away what isn’t working and why, and I’ve sunk enough money into fancy networking gear that it would be very odd why they would just stop working while everything else keeps working.
Funk4Five@reddit
Could you disable the power button on the tv and have a fake remote?
That way, you can still use it with the real remote
Nemo2BThrownAway@reddit
My dude, it seems like you‘re overfocusing on physical tampering. That's too clumsy when you keep saying you need subtlety. Bring in a little social engineering instead.
Start complaining at home in your target’s presence about your Internet service provider. There is an issue with your service/account, but it’s intermittent so they keep on kicking the can down the road when you complain about it. Really, Target hasn't experienced it yet? Lucky. Hope it doesn't get worse. They won’t even send someone out...
Mess with the internet yourself during this period, but restore it before your target properly troubleshoots it themselves.
After a week or two of this, disconnect your Internet. Not from inside your house, not just unplugging your router. Find your best point of distanced entry, like pausing your Internet for the month; call customer service and request a voluntary service suspension (or “temporary service hold”) for 30 days. Then, when the TV doesn’t work (because no Internet-required electronics will work), loudly complain again about that damned ISP! Try all the other internet-based stuff in front of them, and shake your first at how lack of sustainable WiFi is ruining your lives.
I know, it’s so unfair. But when internet will be restored is really up to the ISP, and you know how inefficient and unreasonable these bureaucratic systems can be. I guess you'll just have to wait it out. Too bad, so sad.
eat_a_burrito@reddit
You can say you saw a system update today and don’t know why it’s slow.
m4cksfx@reddit
Disconnect the sockets in the wall? Or have them on some other kind of lockout? They would have to drag the cord from somewhere else.
jruss666@reddit
Concealable smart plug that only OP can control?
Also, scheduled MAC address settings on router.
adjlw@reddit (OP)
I kinda thought about setting up an automation that turns it off after 7 minutes every time it’s turned on. I’d have to do it in Home Assistant and not Apple Home. That’d make it look like the TV and not the source devices, and there’s no log on the TV to say what commands it received and who from.
According-Capital-45@reddit
Use a screwdriver to remove the back panel, disconnect the power board and put the unit back together.
adjlw@reddit (OP)
That was suggested, and I love the idea. It would be perfect if I was confident I could get the big ass TV off the wall without breaking it.
According-Capital-45@reddit
They are very lightweight nowadays. Perhaps you could recruit a friend to assist you, if needed. Look up repair processes for your model of TV before you start any disassembly. If you happen to be at Walmart, maybe try lifting a similar size TV so see if you're up to the task solo.
ScarInternational161@reddit
Just change the wifi password
You can also turn on the adaptive services on the TV. It will literally give verbal descriptions of EVERYTHING on the screen, and turning on color blind mode will make it greyscale.
AttackCircus@reddit
Set to manual network configuration and give it an "impossible" configurAtion.
adjlw@reddit (OP)
Unfortunately, things like the Apple TV will actively inform the user that something is wrong with networking, which would make it very obvious I had done something.
I could find a way to kill the little network switch in the living room.
Noctiped@reddit
Buy an extra power cable, and saw off the plugs that go into the wall. It will be easy to fond if you unplug the socket, but it is very easy to do and undo.
DiligentCockroach700@reddit
Cover the pins on the hdmi plugs with tiny pieces of sellotape then plug them in. Nobody will think of looking there. Years ago I went on a training course for fault finding electronic devices with plug in modules and this is how the instructors used to introduce "faults" into the system. It was very difficult to spot!
Foreign-Cookie-2871@reddit
What do you need it for?
1) a small child, with the approval of the other parent -> easy, damage the power cable or unplug the hdmi slightly
2) an adult with no troubleshooting skills -> get a fake hdmi cable, or similar.
3) an adult with strong troubleshooting skills -> you are better off selling the TV
Do you need it to be permanent or easily reversible?
stevenmc@reddit
If you live in a country where plugs have fuses.... Take the fuse from the plug, put it into something that requires more power (kettle or hair dryer), turn on that device until the fuse burns out. Put the fuse back into your tv plug. Done. Unusable, no harm done.
adjlw@reddit (OP)
We’re too busy making America great again to have silly consumer-positive things like user replaceable fuses.
/s
Phyxdough@reddit
Damage the HDMI plug itself. Stick a screwdriver or knife down there and see what happens. If it looks normal but doesn't work, he might think something is wrong with the TV and leave it.
adjlw@reddit (OP)
Not looking to cause any damage with this one. And my soldering skills are not good enough to reattach an HDMI port.
Phyxdough@reddit
Sorry, My bad. I said that wrong. I meant the HDMI cable that plugs into the TV. If you can damage the connection INSIDE the plug so the cable looks normal but doesn't work, you can just replace the cable when you get back and save the non working one to use whenever you leave again.
Picaronaut@reddit
You would have to open it up and install a kill switch. I would locate the main fuse which is probably surface mounted and re orient it and put some kind of switch that is rated for the same amperage between the fuse and the opened pad.
Or you could make the power cord faulty and have a working spare.
cbelt3@reddit
I bought a keyed power switch where the TV was plugged in securely. That worked well. Then kid figured out he could pull the power cord from a printer and used it on the TV.
Really your best bet is blocking the devices MAC addresses on your router. Parental controls work pretty well. Then your kid will figure out how to hack your router. My kid learned packet sniffing for that mission.
adjlw@reddit (OP)
I was one of those kids. 😁
cbelt3@reddit
It was kind of fun watching my kid learning about computer networking so he could play XBox. Mile hacking is a great learning tool. It’s how I learned about security in the 70’s… I wanted to play a school mainframe game…. (NOT with the WOPR)
FrostySquirrel820@reddit
I was going to suggest taking the fuse out of the plug, or replacing it with a blown one.
But just been told appliances plugs in the USA don’t contain fuses. So, depending on where you are, this might be frustratingly unhelpful.
adjlw@reddit (OP)
USA! We’re making things great again over here.
/s
nb_on_reddit@reddit
Other option is to change the picture settings to a very dark or very bright display, it could create the illusion of damaged
dark_54@reddit
I’ve just had this months quota of teaspoons delivered to my house. and I’m already down to about 3 left
TheHueman@reddit
Unscrew and remove the polarizing sheet 😂
HappyHyppo@reddit
It seems that you want it to be useful again, you just want to prevent a brother from using it.
You need to make this very clear or you’ll get a lot of suggestions on how to brick your TV
SVTContour@reddit
I mean, take the TV and put it in storage. Tell the other person that you sent it away for repairs.
stoiclibertine@reddit
Well it would probably be better to actually have a conversation with a person you don't want to use TV. But since you don't want to do that here's an idea.
TVs are sold to places like hotels, venues etc. So depending on the TVs make and model it might have a secret menu to enable that functionality. There's usually like a sequence of buttons that you have to press to get to that menu. You'd need to do your own research on that.
One of the features of the hotel menu is the ability to disable the remote. The IR sensor. And the remote just won't work at that point. Not exactly sure how you would get it out of that mode once it's in that mode since the remote no longer works but there you go a non-destructive method for disabling your TV.