Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse

[admin]

Samsung Supports Retailers Affected By Looting With Innovative Television Block Function

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 06 August 2021 – Samsung South Africa has announced the implementation of a Television Block Function on all Samsung TV sets. The

news.samsung.com

Basically the Samsung Television Block works as follows:

• A TV blocking system has been activated on Samsung television sets stolen from our warehouse
• The blocking will come into effect when the user of a stolen television connects to the internet, in order to operate the television
• Once connected, the serial number of the television is identified on the Samsung server and the blocking system is implemented, disabling all the television functions
• 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 [email protected]

While i agree this is proper application of technology to deter future incidents, but it is a wake up call for everyone to be aware of the capabilities of these smart TV products. I would rather prefer a dumb tv.

 

[Meria]

Samsung Supports Retailers Affected By Looting With Innovative Television Block Function

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 06 August 2021 – Samsung South Africa has announced the implementation of a Television Block Function on all Samsung TV sets. The

news.samsung.com

Basically the Samsung Television Block works as follows:

• A TV blocking system has been activated on Samsung television sets stolen from our warehouse
• The blocking will come into effect when the user of a stolen television connects to the internet, in order to operate the television
• Once connected, the serial number of the television is identified on the Samsung server and the blocking system is implemented, disabling all the television functions
• 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 [email protected]

While i agree this is proper application of technology to deter future incidents, it is a wake up call for everyone to be aware of the capabilities of these smart TV products. I would rather prefer a dumb tv.

i read somewhere that TVs are listening to us.
how true is this.

 

[Mwalimu-G]

i read somewhere that TV are listening to us.
how true is this.

reta wrink hata sisi tusome.

 

[Meria]

reta wrink hata sisi tusome.

gojea Amdin alete, yeye ndiye expert wa tech.

 

[admin]

i read somewhere that TVs are listening to us.
how true is this.

Not really listening but tracking what you watch and sending it out to their servers

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/09/18/you-watch-tv-your-tv-watches-back/

 

[admin]

Smart speakers are more notorious for directly listening

 

[Meria]

Not really listening but tracking what you watch and sending it out to their servers

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/09/18/you-watch-tv-your-tv-watches-back/

how do i disable that function.
what about laptops?

 

[admin]

how do i disable that function.
what about laptops?

Not agreeing to the terms and conditions in the first place, but you cannot really trust them to keep their word, so i would recommend never connecting a smart TV directly to your network, either through wired connection or wifi, instead use a standalone device with a pihole set up

Pi-hole – Network-wide Ad Blocking

pi-hole.net

for laptops that's a bit more complex

 

[Meria]

for laptops that's a bit more complex

you have just handed my number one enemy @It's Me Scumbag ammo to finish me.
nikama vile US wameachia Taliban hitech weapons.
am about to be massacred

 

[Kasaman]

i read somewhere that TVs are listening to us.
how true is this.

Kunyua mnazi pole pole !

 

[Kasaman]

Not really listening but tracking what you watch and sending it out to their servers

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/09/18/you-watch-tv-your-tv-watches-back/

They kind of do data harvesting ?
Are we safe ?

 

[Meria]

They kind of do data harvesting ?
Are we safe ?

siumesema ni mnazi?

 

[QuadroK4000]

Samsung Supports Retailers Affected By Looting With Innovative Television Block Function

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 06 August 2021 – Samsung South Africa has announced the implementation of a Television Block Function on all Samsung TV sets. The

news.samsung.com

Basically the Samsung Television Block works as follows:

• A TV blocking system has been activated on Samsung television sets stolen from our warehouse
• The blocking will come into effect when the user of a stolen television connects to the internet, in order to operate the television
• Once connected, the serial number of the television is identified on the Samsung server and the blocking system is implemented, disabling all the television functions
• 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 [email protected]

While i agree this is proper application of technology to deter future incidents, but it is a wake up call for everyone to be aware of the capabilities of these smart TV products. I would rather prefer a dumb tv.

They should also block via DVB - T.... and S if they can.

 

[QuadroK4000]

i read somewhere that TVs are listening to us.
how true is this.

Voice recognition I guess but for those high end ones.

Sio ile cathode ray tube yako. But that one is ok for now.

 

[QuadroK4000]

siumesema ni mnazi?

So Mnazi = data harvesting?

@Meria ache mchezo.

You have 2 strikes.

 

[Magreb]

View attachment 42341

Not agreeing to the terms and conditions in the first place, but you cannot really trust them to keep their word, so i would recommend never connecting a smart TV directly to your network, either through wired connection or wifi, instead use a standalone device with a pihole set up

Pi-hole – Network-wide Ad Blocking

pi-hole.net

for laptops that's a bit more complex

I learnt from msito Zuckeberg mwenyewe to tape off the camera.

 

[Anglututu]

Just like any other technology, there is positives and negatives. It's just a matter of which one out ways the other, ofcourse the negatives always do.
But then let's be realistic, especially those of us who are concerned about TVs listening in on us, how many of us are of such importance to be listened on?
Sometimes tunajifanya wa maana sana.
Anyway I get the privacy issues but to a common person, getting back your lost or stolen goods or knowing the person who stole it won't benefit the thief is more important, kama vile tu simu.
By the way hata simu you can be listened on, basically as long as you use internet, you can be listened on, so easy on those concerns, you're not that important, but always be careful.

 

[Aviator]

They should bring those TV's to +354 where we buy smart tvs yet we have no internet.

 

[Kasaman]

+354

Robotic

 

[LeoK]

Samsung Supports Retailers Affected By Looting With Innovative Television Block Function

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 06 August 2021 – Samsung South Africa has announced the implementation of a Television Block Function on all Samsung TV sets. The

news.samsung.com

Basically the Samsung Television Block works as follows:

• A TV blocking system has been activated on Samsung television sets stolen from our warehouse
• The blocking will come into effect when the user of a stolen television connects to the internet, in order to operate the television
• Once connected, the serial number of the television is identified on the Samsung server and the blocking system is implemented, disabling all the television functions
• 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 [email protected]

While i agree this is proper application of technology to deter future incidents, but it is a wake up call for everyone to be aware of the capabilities of these smart TV products. I would rather prefer a dumb tv.

You will see bonobos taking said tellys to Samsung care centers for repair.