Samsung claims that it can remotely disable any of its televisions . The company explains that this is possible thanks to TV Block, a feature built into its products sold around the world.
The feature came to light this month after a South Korean company's distribution center in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa was looted. Consequently, many of the televisions that should hit stores never will.
However, stolen Samsung TVs could be rendered useless , as they have a remote lock feature intended to “be used only by rightful owners with valid proof of purchase.”
“The objective of the technology is to mitigate the creation of secondary markets linked to the sale of illegal goods. This both in South Africa and abroad. It is a technology already preloaded in all Samsung TV products”, explains the company .
How does TV Block work on Samsung TVs?
When a Samsung television is connected to the internet, the TV Block function checks the serial number of the device against a list available on the company's servers. If it finds a match with stolen models, it proceeds to deactivate all the functions of the unit.
However, it is a partial solution. Stolen Samsung TVs can still be used as long as they are not connected to the Internet. In this case, those who have them illegally, would lose the Smart TV capacity. However, they could continue to use them with a pay TV TV Box or video game consoles, for example.
Samsung explains that if the TV of someone who bought it legitimately is mistakenly deactivated, it will be possible to restore functionality. In this case, the proof of purchase should be sent to the email serv.manager@samsung.com.
Samsung South Africa's Chief Consumer Electronics Officer explained in a press release that “this technology can have a positive impact at this time and will also be of use to both the industry and customers in the future.”
At the moment, TV Block appears intended solely to combat theft at Samsung's distribution centers, although it could open the door for individual consumers to block their stolen televisions.
