Privacy

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Disabling wi-fi on Samsung home appliances (specifically dishwasher) (www.costco.com)

submitted 3 months ago by pdxfed@lemmy.world to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

88 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Replacing a dishwasher. Most of the mid-range options now come with fucking Wi-Fi. Found a model I liked, no info in manual and support from Samsung was of course, useless since it wasn't already in the manual and wanted to keep talking about their exciting "smart things" app. gag.

I saw a youtube video of a guy disconnecting wifi cable on a fridge. I'm fine doing that if I have to open up the board but it'll probably be smaller than the fridge and who knows if it'll be helpfully labled like the one in the video was. Internet searching showed me there may be oven keypress combinations to turn wi-fi radio on/off. Anyone have anything similar/advice for Samsung appliances, specifically dishwashers?

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[–] DemBoSain@midwest.social 45 points 3 months ago (3 children)

There have been instances of network-enabled devices updating to put existing features behind a paywall, unilaterally changing the terms of service (can't use device anymore until you agree to new terms), and simply removing features that you paid for when you bought the device.

Why does a dishwasher need wifi?

[–] pearsaltchocolatebar@discuss.online 16 points 3 months ago (1 children)

So you can get an alert when the dishes are done.

Not justifying the feature itself, but there is a purpose.

[–] sun_is_ra@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

How is that legal? Could u buy a dishwasher then 3 months later it starts asking for a small fee per wash?

I know these things happen but usually you are informed in advance and bought the product at a big discount

[–] DarkDarkHouse@lemmy.sdf.org 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

It will be buried somewhere in the terms & conditions.

[–] randompasta 2 points 3 months ago

Especially when the terms and conditions say that they can update the terms and conditions at any time.

[–] DemBoSain@midwest.social 6 points 3 months ago

It probably requires an app to monitor the wash cycle. All they have to do is start charging a subscription to use the app. If people bought the dishwasher because they would get alerts when their dishes were clean, now they have to pay a recurring fee.

Roku pushed an update to their TVs requiring owners to agree to a new terms of service. There was no "disagree" button, and the TV wouldn't work until people accepted the changes.

This is such a new problem that it's never been challenged in court.

[–] logos@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 months ago

Good point