Is your Roku or Fire TV streaming device tracking you? It's possible - how I put an end to it

Streaming devices, such as Fire TV Sticks and Chromecasts, collect personal data for various purposes. If that makes you uneasy, here's how to regain some control.

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ZDNET's key takeaways

• Roku, Fire, and Chromecast TVs may collect viewing, usage, and screen‑content data.
• You can disable or limit data collection via privacy/ACR settings.
• Full privacy requires disconnecting the TV from the internet entirely.

Whenever I hear about consumer data tracking, my half-century-old brain dredges up that Hall and Oates hit called "Private Eyes" with the refrain "they're watching you." 

I don't mean to incite Big Brother paranoia; I know I'm not being spied on everywhere I go, especially not in the seclusion of my home. But while using streaming devices, you can almost guarantee that your entertainment and advertisement preferences are being ...