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Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse

news.samsung.com

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Re: Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse

#41

Post by dilippkumar »

cr3ative wrote: post #30
dilippkumar wrote: post #9

> The blocking will come into effect when the user of a stolen television connects to the internet, in order to operate the television I purchased a Sony TV in 2019 after giving up on looking for 70" "dumb" television sets that would only connect to my PlayStation and act as a screen. I decided that I would buy a smart tv but never connect it to the internet. Every few days when I start my TV, I get an annoying "set…

In case it's helpful to you, you can ADB over the network to your Android TV and uninstall packages which are annoying to you. I'd wager there's one which this prompt comes from. I have disabled all but the essential apps (for HDMI-CEC function, etc) on my Sony Android TV. Alternatively, set it up once then ban it from the internet.

This hadn't ever crossed my mind! Thanks for the tip.

I wonder if I can adb root into my tv via some USB port. Some hardware hacker probably has figured this out - time to go look.

Re: Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse

#42

Post by the-dude »

majormajor wrote: post #12
toomuchtodo wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At least they’re not scanning your media library against a list of hashes yet. Edit: Ahh, I see from the replies I have had my fill of curiosity for the day.

They are, they're just doing it for advertising, not piracy prevention. https://www.samsung.com/us/business/samsungads/resources/tv-...

> piracy prevention.

privacy prevention.

Re: Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse

#43

Post by kazinator »

anonuser123456 wrote: post #31
mrkramer wrote: post #19

"Should a customer’s TV be incorrectly blocked, the functionality can be reinstated once proof of purchase and a valid TV license is shared to serv.manager@samsung.com or click here for more information" Fuck off. This is a wake up call for us to make free and open source Smart TV operating system so we can stop this tyranny.

Oh the tyranny of having to pay…

Some people will pay, not knowing the TV was stolen.

A batch of stolen TV's could end up in the ends of a legit distributors; someone could end up with that by walking into some established brick-and-mortar discount TV warehouse type place.

Gee, I hope that everything you own that you got off Craigslist in good faith and paid for is remotely disabled if it had been stolen, while the thieves enjoy the money. Because you're the bad guy!

Re: Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse

#44

Post by ollien »

wait_a_minute wrote: post #36

I bought one of Samsung's smart televisions a couple years ago. I think I paid $1500 for it. Anyway, it started showing me ads and the TV eventually became sluggish less than a month after owning it. Returned it as defective. Ever since that experience, I swore of all smart televisions and will never buy another Samsung television or smartphone again if I can help it.

I recently bought a TCL TV specifically because I trust Roku to maintain their software more than someone like Samsung. The ads drive me insane, even if they're relatively unobtrusive. At least in that case the TV was much cheaper (~$500 for a 55" TV)

Re: Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse

#45

Post by bob1029 »

CedarMadness wrote: post #10
post_break wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My samsung TV was never connected to the internet. I didnt even accept the user agreement, it still works just fine.

Just wait until they include Amazon Sidewalk, so the TV can connect using your neighbor's internet connection to download the latest ads.

Physically eliminating the RF capabilities of a device without impacting the rest of its functions is usually feasible with enough patience. Your options include blocking external radiation (add copper mesh/foil), or destroying the device's antennas.

Re: Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse

#46

Post by Teknoman117 »

anonuser123456 wrote: post #31
mrkramer wrote: post #19

"Should a customer’s TV be incorrectly blocked, the functionality can be reinstated once proof of purchase and a valid TV license is shared to serv.manager@samsung.com or click here for more information" Fuck off. This is a wake up call for us to make free and open source Smart TV operating system so we can stop this tyranny.

Oh the tyranny of having to pay…

I don’t have proof of purchase for 90% of the stuff I own. It’s insane to expect people to hang on to receipts for eternity.

Re: Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse

#47

Post by cyckl »

anonuser123456 wrote: post #31
mrkramer wrote: post #19

"Should a customer’s TV be incorrectly blocked, the functionality can be reinstated once proof of purchase and a valid TV license is shared to serv.manager@samsung.com or click here for more information" Fuck off. This is a wake up call for us to make free and open source Smart TV operating system so we can stop this tyranny.

Oh the tyranny of having to pay…

oh the tyranny of having a product which you purchase and think you own have all functionality be remotely disabled—effectively becoming a multi thousand dollar paperweight—at the whim of a large international corporation with no real recourse...

Re: Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse

#48

Post by dthul »

wait_a_minute wrote: post #36

I bought one of Samsung's smart televisions a couple years ago. I think I paid $1500 for it. Anyway, it started showing me ads and the TV eventually became sluggish less than a month after owning it. Returned it as defective. Ever since that experience, I swore of all smart televisions and will never buy another Samsung television or smartphone again if I can help it.

The issue is that it's hard to find any not-too-smart TVs with up to date technology (4k, OLED, HDR etc). Unless you spend a fortune on a luxury brand like Bang and Olufsen.

Re: Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse

#49

Post by prepend »

h2odragon wrote: post #38
mrkramer wrote: post #19

"Should a customer’s TV be incorrectly blocked, the functionality can be reinstated once proof of purchase and a valid TV license is shared to serv.manager@samsung.com or click here for more information" Fuck off. This is a wake up call for us to make free and open source Smart TV operating system so we can stop this tyranny.

There's several. I'm fond of https://libreelec.tv/

This is not to firmware though. Is there an OSS firmware that can be used to replace whatever crap Samsung has on these devices?
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