Samsung using little-known ‘kill switch’ to brick stolen TVs

Samsung using trivial-known 'kill switch' to brick stolen TVs

(Image credit: Samsung)

There are lots of ways to turn off a smart Goggle box, from the power button and remote command to apps and voice control. Just Samsung says that it can turn off any Samsung smart Boob tube, anywhere in the world, disabling it permanently – or until Samsung decides to reactivate it.

It's a little-known security feature chosen Telly Block, and Samsung publicly commented on the feature earlier this calendar month after using information technology to disable a number of TVs looted from a Samsung facility, shedding calorie-free on an obscure security tool.

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A recent Tweet from Samsung Southward Africa gave many their first heads up to the feature, maxim "Did you know. Every #SamsungTV is built with a safeguard confronting theft ... Recent events and the auction of illegal appurtenances take prompted the activation of #TVBlock, our remote solution to ensure Samsung TVs are used by its rightful owners."

Did you know.Every #SamsungTV is built with a safeguard against theft ... Recent events and the auction of illegal goods have prompted the activation of #TVBlock, our remote solution to ensure Samsung TVs are used by its rightful owners. 🖱️ https://t.co/GzQyJUTAoI#RebuildSA pic.twitter.com/48snMknr1kAugust half dozen, 2021

In a related press release, Samsung clarified that "Tv set Block is a remote, security solution that detects if Samsung Television units have been unduly activated, and ensures that the television sets can only exist used by the rightful owners with a valid proof of purchase."

The tweet and press release come up after a number of Samsung Goggle box sets were stolen from Samsung's Cato Ridge distribution center in Due south Africa during a contempo menses of riots and unrest last month. Using Tv Block, Samsung remotely disabled all of the stolen units, a step that requires the private series code of every individual TV. Considering the TVs were stolen from a Samsung warehouse, that information was readily available and the Samsung Television set Block office was known.

According to a support alarm from Samsung detailing the feature, Goggle box Cake is activated whenever a stolen Samsung TV connects to the Internet, disabling all Boob tube functions. Given that Samsung has offered a similar killswitch on Samsung smartphones for several years, information technology'south a reasonable precaution for an electronics manufacturer.

This remote disabling adequacy is designed to discourage whatever sort of secondary market place for stolen Samsung TVs. Large scale annexation has been seen in several parts of the world in contempo years, and desirable electronics have always been the aim of motivated thieves thanks to their high resale value.

While a TV might be harder to steal than a PS5 stolen from a moving truck, swiped by a dishonest delivery man or even an unattended package on the porch, enterprising crooks have a similar interest in smart TVs, with popular models fetching hundreds and even thousands of dollars, even when sold as used or similar-new products.

One criminal group was recently broken up after running a years-long theft and fraud scam in thirteen states, buying and reselling new TVs from Walmart stores and and then returning salvaged TVs in the boxes for full refunds. And in Memphis earlier this year, a number of thieves successfully stole dozens of TVs from a train, breaking into multiple boxcars and proving that train robbery is even so alive and well.

It'southward not entirely articulate whether this security tool is intended for disabling individually stolen TVs or only large amounts of production, as in this instance of annexation. Presumably, if an individual customer knows the serial code of their Samsung Smart Television – and information technology should apply to whatever Samsung Smart Goggle box, anywhere in the world – they can report information technology every bit stolen, then contact Samsung and ask Samsung to disable the gear up.

South African owners of Samsung TVs may find their own TVs disabled past accident equally role of this mass blocking, merely Samsung says that whatever block tin can be removed by legitimate customers that have proof of purchase for the TV. Incorrectly impacted customers are encouraged to accomplish out to local Samsung representatives at zaservicemanager@samsung.com to have their set reactivated within 48 hours of contact.

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Brian Westover is an Editor at Tom's Guide, covering everything from TVs to the latest PCs. Prior to joining Tom'southward Guide, he wrote for TopTenReviews and PCMag.