My sensible TV became a digital stalker, amassing knowledge about each present, film, and video I watched. After discovering it was cashing in on my habits, I took again management by putting in 4 apps—with out sacrificing any options.
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SmartTubeNext to Watch YouTube as a Customer With No Advertisements
Screenshot by Jayric Maning –no attributions required
YouTube has grow to be my main supply of leisure since I haven’t got time to observe motion pictures and TV sequence anymore. However the fixed advertisements and monitoring made each viewing session really feel invasive. That is after I found SmartTube Subsequent, and putting in it turned out to be surprisingly simple on my Google TV.
I merely opened my Google TV browser, went to the official SmartTubeNext web site, and downloaded the APK file immediately. After enabling unknown sources in my safety settings and permitting the set up, I had a totally ad-free YouTube expertise operating in minutes.
Whereas there are numerous streaming apps and units that do not share your knowledge, SmartTubeNext is my favourite technique to watch YouTube as a result of it would not require me to log into my private account whereas additionally blocking advertisements. The app blocks every little thing from pre-roll advertisements and mid-video interruptions to these sneaky sponsored segments due to its built-in SponsorBlock function!
I’ve YouTube Premium, however I nonetheless desire utilizing SmartTubeNext on my TV as a result of it retains my viewing habits utterly personal. YouTube Premium may take away advertisements, but it surely nonetheless tracks each video I watch. With SmartTubeNext, I get the identical ad-free expertise with out Google amassing knowledge about my late-night documentary binges or responsible pleasure channels.
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Proton VPN for Personal Web Entry
Screenshot by Jayric Maning –no attributions required
Subsequent up, I flip to Proton VPN to make sure my viewing habits keep personal. Not like SmartTube Subsequent, which requires sideloading, I put in Proton VPN immediately on my Google TV utilizing the built-in Play Retailer app. I keep on with the free plan, so it would not truly block advertisements, but it surely does hold my streaming visitors protected behind Proton’s encrypted tunnel. Even with free Proton VPN, I discover that it nonetheless supplies sufficient safety for my units. Now, at any time when I fireplace up my favourite streaming companies, my ISP cannot log what I am watching.
Proton VPN additionally doubles as my key to region-locked libraries. As an example, I change my connection to Japan at any time when I crave anime on Crunchyroll that is not out there in my space. The primary time I attempted it, playback dipped a tiny bit, however after the preliminary connection, that hiccup disappeared. I nonetheless stream in crisp 4K with out a hitch.
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WireGuard VPN With AdGuard DNS for Full Safety
Having SmartTubeNext and Proton VPN in your sensible TV works nicely if you happen to solely need ad-free YouTube and privateness on that gadget. However for full ad-blocking and safety throughout all of your units, the most effective resolution I discovered was to put in WireGuard on my router and configure AdGuard’s free ad-blocking DNS. This takes extra setup than the 2 apps I’ve mentioned, but it surely delivers full VPN and ad-blocking protection.
First, I navigated to my router’s gateway (192.168.8.1) and activated the WireGuard server. In case your router would not assist this app natively, you may set up WireGuard your self or flash OpenWRT to your router to unlock the function. Subsequent, I navigated to Community > DNS and entered 94.140.14.14 and 94.140.15.15 as my main and secondary servers. I then enabled Override DNS for All Purchasers to permit my customized DNS to take precedence over any VPN settings. The second my sensible TV reconnected, all advertisements disappeared.
Screenshot by Jayric Maning –no attributions required
Earlier than, I would sit via half-minute autoplay trailers each time I switched apps. Now, the interface on my sensible TV glides easily and I get straight to my reveals. Surprisingly, blocking these advertisements additionally sped up app loading occasions.
Screenshot by Jayric Maning –no attributions required
For those who’d somewhat skip the router setup, AdGuard additionally gives a subscription service with their AdGuard for TV app that runs immediately on any Google TV. It enables you to block advertisements system-wide in your TV with out touching your router.
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JellyFin to Watch Self-Hosted Content material
Screenshot by Jayric Maning –no attributions required
Now that I’ve blocked off advertisements with AdGuard’s free DNS and secured my streams with Proton VPN, I saved JellyFin for final. Internet hosting your individual media server is not for everybody, but it surely was the proper method for me to observe the films and reveals I already personal.
I’ve put in JellyFin on each my sensible TV and a server that I’ve constructed utilizing an previous laptop computer I had mendacity round. I initially deliberate to run Plex, however after seeing it drift towards company monitoring of our viewing habits, I switched to JellyFin’s totally open-source platform.
Pointing the JellyFin app on my Google TV to my server’s IP took only a few faucets. Immediately, my complete library of flicks and residential movies appeared in a clear, intuitive interface. JellyFin routinely scans my recordsdata, pulls metadata from neighborhood databases, and organizes every little thing by style, 12 months, or actor—no algorithms mining my habits and no third-party servers concerned.
The payoff reveals throughout household film nights. My household loves rewatching previous motion pictures and different classics, so as an alternative of sorting via limitless “beneficial” lists, we launch straight into our favourite movies and do-it-yourself clips. Turning a forgotten gadget into a personal Netflix various has been considered one of my most sensible makes use of of my previous laptop computer. And now understanding I am totally answerable for my knowledge makes each watch session that rather more satisfying.
Reclaiming privateness would not demand knowledgeable expertise or an enormous finances. A modest server, my house router, and available apps did the trick. For those who’re uninterested in handing your knowledge over to companies every time you press play, give these options a attempt.
