Most people think of a smart TV as nothing more than a bigger screen for Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, live sports, and movies. In reality, today's smart TVs have evolved into sophisticated connected devices that can collect a surprising amount of information about what you watch and how you use your television every day.

Whether you own a Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, Hisense, or another popular brand, your TV may be recording the apps you open, the content you watch, how long you spend viewing certain programs, and even how you interact with specific features. In many cases, this information can be used to build advertising profiles that help companies deliver more personalized ads across multiple platforms.