Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.
In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.
much thanks to @gary_host_laptop for the logo design :)
My dog tore up the remote so we were forced to use the roku app to control the tv.
They’re showing ads on the remote app. It feels like we can never escape this dystopian hellacape.
I mean... you bought a Roku.
Of all the streaming devices you can purchase, I'd argue Roku is the most privacy invasive: https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/roku-streaming-sticks/
Yes I am aware. I mainly use the Jellyfin app on it. I have a PiHole but I unfortunately can’t change the DHCP/DNS settings on my router (i have no admin access to it) so i have to rely change the DNS for every client on my home. But unfortunately Roku does not allow for changing their DNS server.
I have heard about putting my roku on another submet but i don’t know how to do this. Any thoughts 🤔
I mainly use the Jellyfin app on it.
Hope it's working well for ya'!
Yes! I noticed the video player UI changed, it looks pretty clean. Are you a Jellyfin developer? If so, I love you.
Are you a Jellyfin developer?
I am. Funny enough, I'm the one who made the new video player OSD 🤘
If so, I love you.
Oh. Well, this is awkward. I think of you more as a friend...
It's platonic, you never hugged a coworker before?
😆 No, but I've had one put me in a bear hug before.
The recent updates are working really well! Congratulations on the rewrite!
🤘 Enjoy
I have heard about putting my roku on another submet but i don’t know how to do this. Any thoughts 🤔
I believe that would rely on the modem settings... If you buy a router (eero, Google WiFi, etc.) and connect it to the Ethernet port, you could create a separate network and your modem would see your router as a single device. I have T-Mobile Internet but don't trust them with my data, so in conjunction with the above, I have all my network traffic pointed towards AdGuard DNS (Personal Plan)(they have a free version that works well, but you can't customize it).
Mullvad's DNS has been pretty decent, and they're free
Changing DNS isn't the same thing as a VPN. Your traffic isn't "tunneled" over DNS, it just changes which server your devices use to look up IP addresses. Your ISP can still see quite a lot, particularly if you're using plain DNS rather than DNS over HTTPS or DNS over TLS.
Buy another router to stick in between your ISP device and the rest of your network. You won't notice.
I didn't know it was quite this bad. App uninstalled, and TV blocked from WiFi. I have connected devices I typically stream from, but that data collection is crazy. Next TV I'm going to rip the WiFi antennas out of it if I have to.
That's crappy, but have you seen what other remote apps are doing?
Vizio has an ad that takes up around 25% of the screen!
MyQ has a large scrolling ad at the top, and they are actively hostile towards any integration that allows you to control your garage door without using their app (unless you use one of the very few subscription-based integrations they offer, of course).
Honestly, if I saw this after installing a new TV, smart home appliances, etc. I would rip them back out of my house and return them all. That is absurd.
HDMI port + your computer/some sort of more reputable 3rd party device. Just don't play ball lol
And at least when I tried to pihole the tracking bullshit, it got mad and stopped working.
hot damn 😵💫
My dog tore up the remote so we were forced to use the roku app to control the tv.
Force your dog to watch ads as a punishment
Are you using the actual official remote app? It looks different from mine and doesn't have the "featured" tab shown
Yeah, they updated it. Just opened my app and it has the Featured section.
Damn, thanks I just turned off auto update for it so I can stay on this version as long as possible lmao 😂
Apparently, they also worsened the UI
I recently stopped using my firestick. Even though I only used it for Jellyfin, the ads on the home screen were too much for me. So I swapped it out for a Raspberry Pi with LibreElec as the OS, and there have been literally no downsides.
RoMote (Turns your Android Device into a control center for Roku)
Are you on Android?
If so: RoMote is pretty good. Here's the releases page for the APK. It's also F-Droid.
Use RoMote Roku remote: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/wseemann.media.romote/
I was sent down a rabbit hole of iOS roku apps. Fuck the iOS ecosystem dude, I am not paying $20 a year subscription for a remote app.
I did find a decent one for free, no ads (i have a pihole so it may show ads for people, idk yet) and only asks for donations from time to time. I had to scroll a bit far to find it
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/rocky-roku-remote-control/id1598795880
Probably the biggest shock to getting a Mac for work is how all the basic QoL apps want $20+ a year subscriptions. I'm not paying a subscription to reverse my scrollwheel for my mouse.
Although, theoretically if a FOSS Android app can act as a remote, could there also be a way to self-host a Roku remote? 🤔
There's code you can download from github that would let you control your Roku device from terminal on a PC. I've used it to facilitate the design of my own Roku GUI applications. I think there might also be a TUI you can install. A lot of this is going to be easier on Linux, if that's something you're familiar with.
Yes! (arch user btw) Github link?
https://github.com/jcarbaugh/python-roku <- for a python code API
https://github.com/benthetechguy/controku <- also comes as an AUR package
I've used the first one. Never used the second, but I just happen to know about it.
To be fair the physical remote has had ads in it since the beginning.
I had something similar happen. You can find loads of replacement remotes online for very little money.
A replacement remote for my roku stick cost more than a whole new roku box.
Enshittification marches on
Roku to me has always seemed like a bogged down, spammy platform. I've always been surprised at how often it gets recommended in cord cutting and self hosting sort of forums.
I have a fire stick and a roku device. The Firestick is a slow, ad ridden POS, the Roku UI is much more straightforward forward to me.