Owners mourn spoiled food after firmware update bricks Samsung smart fridges

[softproof@mastodon.social]

@arstechnica Shuddering to think how many out there still believe WiFi-enabled fridges are a cool idea.

[jbriancoyle@mas.to]

@arstechnica
obSiliconValley 'suck it Jin-Yang!'

[graemewinter@mas.to]

@arstechnica we truly live in the dumbest of timelines

[kevinashworth@mastodon.social]

@arstechnica
Do not buy appliances that need to be online. Better yet, do not buy appliances that can be online.

[altlazybear@mas.to]

@arstechnica Rest in peace, foods You were mourned

[cassandra_complex@beige.party]

@kevinashworth @arstechnica
If it's not an option to get appliances that are (for lack of better word) analog when (if?????) I can afford a home, I'm not sure what the hell I will do. Certainly not pay premium for garbage.

[fluffylizard@ohai.social]

@softproof @arstechnica

I know some people who think that way. They think it's a way to progress. Like, someone whose ideal is The Jetsons. But The Jetsons never really dealt with security, privacy, or the fact that the appliances weren't truly "owned" by the family.

I too grew up with that cartoon, but I think it sucks that we're still very far from open sourcing appliance technology, which is how I thought it would be. Kind of like PCs.

[kevinashworth@mastodon.social]

@Cassandra_Complex @arstechnica
Yes, one really hopes there will always be at least one good vendor of traditional modern appliances. Otherwise, it’s back to traditional old appliances like wood-burning stoves and iceboxes!

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@traecer @arstechnica

shhh...

my "smart tv" heard you

now this is going on my record

(/s)

[sharoncrockett@toot.community]

@arstechnica Our last fridge was from Samsung. Its computer electronics got fried after only a few years. Samsung stopped manufacturing replacement parts for that model (planned obsolescence). We bought a Bosch fridge and haven't looked back once.

[spacelifeform@infosec.exchange]

@arstechnica

Here is a likely work-around that an AI would envision:

Move ice from the freezer section to the fridge section.

#AI #Insanity

[tom@subdued.social]

@arstechnica
Oh no, I hope it can at least still display advertisements on the screen!

[bowreality@thecanadian.social]

@Javensbukan Samsung and smart? That’s dumb dumb.

[iamdannyboling@mstdn.social]

@chris

Bravo!

@PetterOfCats @arstechnica

[pascaline@mastodon.nl]

@kevinashworth

Seriously, to have to be told to never UPDATE YOUR FRIDGE

@arstechnica

[eldersea@expressional.social]

@72mz
That's because you're tech savvy.
@arstechnica

[lhauser@mefi.social]

@arstechnica I’m really happy with my Samsung smart TV … that isn’t connected to the Internet. The Roku box does all that.

[tasket@infosec.exchange]

@jamesmarshall @arstechnica Having lived in a house with this model of fridge (pictured with the see-through door), it contains a "sensor" to detect when you knock on the door (knocking illuminates the items in the window). The sensor is a microphone.

[tasket@infosec.exchange]

@dissident @arstechnica That report missed this issue – Samsung puts un-removeable govt spyware on their phones:

https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/11/budget-samsung-phones-shipped-with-unremovable-spyware-say-researchers