Samsung smart fridges

A Samsung software update has inadvertently caused its smart refrigerators to freeze, rendering the appliances unusable. Owners are reporting that their fridge displays and functions stopped working after the update rolled out, turning an update meant to improve the devices into an outage. The incident has sparked criticism of how connected appliances handle over-the-air updates, with many pointing out the risks of internet-dependent home devices failing all at once.

A Samsung firmware update has reportedly bricked a number of the company's smart refrigerators, leaving them non-functional and owners counting the cost of spoiled food. Users are sharing accounts of failed units and frustration over forced updates on internet-connected appliances, renewing debate about the risks of software-dependent home devices and the responsibility of manufacturers when updates go wrong.