Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) - Foreign Affairs

Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) - Foreign Affairs - Nairaland

Nairaland Forum › Nairaland General › Politics › Foreign Affairs › Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) (55744 Views)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Reply (Go Down)

Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by TMKsouth(op): 8:01pm On Aug 26, 2021

Electronics giant Samsung has "blocked" TVs that were stolen in South Africa during the unrest in July, rendering them unusable.

The company says it has an inbuilt “block function” on its TVs that can be used to remotely disable the sets.

The function is activated when a user of a stolen TV or one that has been acquired unlawfully connects to the internet, according to Samsung.

The system checks the identified TV’s serial number against the list on its servers before disabling its functionality.

South Africa had weeks of violent protests and looting last month that left more than 300 people dead and property worth billions of rands ransacked.

Some of the reportedly popular items that were stolen were smart TVs.

The ability to remotely disable TV function has received some praise among online users for its potential use to deter crime, with some also noting its potential for abuse.

One person noted that Samsung was taking "electronic revenge" on looters of its TV sets while another said it was more reason "never to connect a TV set to the internet".

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dateline.ng/samsung-remotely-renders-tvs-stolen-in-south-africa-unusable/amp/

25 Likes

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by superior494(m): 8:02pm On Aug 26, 2021

Mad oo

87 Likes 3 Shares

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by Jeon(f): 8:04pm On Aug 26, 2021

Lolz

65 Likes 1 Share

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by illicit(m): 8:06pm On Aug 26, 2021

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by zickyclef: 8:09pm On Aug 26, 2021

I de buy spare part. grin

147 Likes 1 Share

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by BeeBeeOoh(m): 8:10pm On Aug 26, 2021

The man below really got my tire tired axwea. He made stupidity so so jealous embarassed

115 Likes 1 Share

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by Goldbw122(m): 8:11pm On Aug 26, 2021

Nice that means they will return the tv

8 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by TMKsouth(op): 8:12pm On Aug 26, 2021

BeeBeeOoh:
The man below really got my tire tired axwea

I still maintain this is a fake news story - not related to the looting. The guy looks like a typical SA recycler. Nigerians living in SA can attest to this.

45 Likes 7 Shares

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by Shellsploit: 8:15pm On Aug 26, 2021

TMKsouth:
I still maintain this is a fake news story - not related to the looting. The guy looks like a typical SA recycler. Nigerians living in SA can attest to this.

1 Like

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by TMKsouth(op): 8:30pm On Aug 26, 2021

[quote author=Shellsploit post=105210873][/quote]U didn't quote properly embarassed

1 Like 1 Share

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by Nobody: 9:23pm On Aug 26, 2021

Imagine someone that owns a car is looting a TV, later they'll claim it's hungry poor S.Africans looting

94 Likes 8 Shares

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by TMKsouth(op): 9:38pm On Aug 26, 2021*

LordVoldermort:
Imagine someone that owns a car is looting a TV, later they'll claim it's hungry poor S.Africans looting

Some well-off people took advantage of the chaos. This one was arrested for looting even though he drives a Mercedes Benz.

https://www.nairaland.com/6699268/famous-mercedes-benz-looter-viral-sa

16 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by Nobody: 10:09pm On Aug 26, 2021

It only works when you connect to internet

Looters can't afford internet, some looters will sell the TV to those that buy stolen goods and they will continue to enjoy their loot

So I don't see how this Samsung TV technology is fighting against looting and thieves

46 Likes 1 Share

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by TMKsouth(op): 10:29pm On Aug 26, 2021

thebosstrevor1:
It only works when you connect to internet

Looters can't afford internet, some looters will sell the TV to those that buy stolen goods and they will continue to enjoy their loot

So I don't see how this Samsung TV technology is fighting against looting and thieves

Thieves will avoid Samsung TVs. Also those who buy stolen goods will also stay clear of Samsung products. So it's a deterrent.

121 Likes 11 Shares

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by Nobody: 11:22pm On Aug 26, 2021

TMKsouth:
Thieves will avoid Samsung TVs. Also those who buy stolen goods will also stay clear of Samsung products. So it's a deterrent.

The block function works only when you connect to internet, it is not as if the tv wouldn't work after stealing, you can use the tv as long as you want but don't connect it to the internet.

Did you read the article you posted?

45 Likes 1 Share

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by Saucekiddo99(m): 11:44pm On Aug 26, 2021

TMKsouth:
I still maintain this is a fake news story - not related to the looting. The guy looks like a typical SA recycler. Nigerians living in SA can attest to this.

I concur.
I believe shops weren't open on the day of the looting, compared to the open shops in the picture.

4 Likes

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by Praxis758: 12:02am On Aug 27, 2021

Time and opportunity for hackers to beat the Samsung server and make the TVs work effectively

6 Likes

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by punisha: 12:06am On Aug 27, 2021

TMKsouth:
I still maintain this is a fake news story - not related to the looting. The guy looks like a typical SA recycler. Nigerians living in SA can attest to this.

Same way others moving around stuffs are keeping safe their loots at d nearest police station.

Don't do drugs u no go hear.

5 Likes 1 Share

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by TMKsouth(op): 12:06am On Aug 27, 2021

thebosstrevor1:
The block function works only when you connect to internet, it is not as if the tv wouldn't work after stealing, you can use the tv as long as you want but don't connect it to the internet.

Did you read the article you posted?

It's still a deterrent, and they should extend it to the DStv connection as well. Then they'll be stuck with just 4 free unpopular channels and continue the suffering.

26 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by TMKsouth(op): 12:08am On Aug 27, 2021

Saucekiddo99:
I concur.
I believe shops weren't open on the day of the looting, compared to the open shops in the picture.

Great observation. If the guy just looted that stuff it means that area was currently volatile and all shops would have been closed. But as u can see its business as usual.

1 Like

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by TMKsouth(op): 12:11am On Aug 27, 2021

punisha:
Same way others moving around stuffs are keeping safe their loots at d nearest police station.

Don't do drugs u no go hear.

U lost me.

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by Sonnobax15(m): 6:22am On Aug 27, 2021

What of the diddos and vibrators, won't they be blocked also? grin

Honestly,SA just lost the little respect I had for them prior to their recent protest....It proved to me that they aren't better off than the rest of us(Africans) whom they think are undeveloped.....If not for the fact that they're lucky to be dealing with whites on a regular basis, their own stupidity for don win world cup and Balon d'or tongue

61 Likes 11 Shares

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by phemmyfour: 7:19am On Aug 27, 2021

Goldbw122:
Nice that means they will ~~return~~ destroy the tv

None of them will have it using King Solomon's approach

1 Like 1 Share

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by Nobody: 7:30am On Aug 27, 2021

Re: Samsung Blocks TVs Looted By South Africans, Making Them Useless (PIX) by Nobody: 7:31am On Aug 27, 2021

Sonnobax15:

What of the diddos and vibrators, won't they be blocked also?

Honestly,SA just lost the little respect I had for them prior to their recent protest....It proved to me that they aren't better off than the rest of us(Africans) whom they think are undeveloped.....If not for the fact that they're lucky to be dealing with whites on a regular basis, their own stupidity for don win world cup and Balon d'or

Their poverty, ignorance and backwardness worse pass Nigeria, I mean mentally.

28 Likes 1 Share