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You paid for the product. So why does it feel like the company still controls Screen? This is a question more of us are starting to ask as smart devices get updated long after we bring them home. A refrigerator can show advertisements in your kitchen. A car may flash offers on the dashboard. Even a Windows 11 computer may present a promotion before you go to work.
The frustrating thing is that this often happens through software updates. You tap on updates because you want your device to be secure and functioning properly. Then one day, the product you bought starts acting like a billboard. This is why it is also beneficial to understand hidden privacy clause And the settings that come with smart products before the screen starts doing things you never expected.
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Smart devices ranging from refrigerators to cars and computers can show ads after software updates, raising questions about who controls the screens consumers already pay for. (Michelle Tantusi/Getty Images)
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Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator starts showing ads
Samsung Family Hub refrigerators are sold as connected kitchen hubs. You can use the screen for weather, calendar, grocery list, and other home features. But as we discussed on The Cyberguy Report Podcast cyberguy.comThe same screen may also become a place for advertisements after a software update. Samsung began showing advertisements on some Family Hub refrigerator cover screens in the US. We contacted Samsung about this and a spokesperson gave us this statement:
“Last year, Samsung tested a new cover screen widget on Family Hub refrigerators in the US. The widget rotates through useful information like weather, news, calendar events, and curated ads. Following the conclusion of the pilot in March, the widget was fully launched with the same user experience.
Users can turn off cover screen widgets, including ads, in the Ads tab of the Settings menu (Settings > Ads > Cover Screen Ads), without affecting any other features or functions. Ads can also be dismissed while being shown on the cover screen, meaning that a dismissed ad will not appear again during the campaign period for that specific ad. Since the launch of the pilot program last October, our reviews have indicated that consumers are finding value in this new widget. The percentage of users who have turned off this feature is in the low single digits.
A cover screen appears when the Family Hub screen is inactive, and widgets are visible only on the weather, color, and daily board themes. The widget does not appear on the cover screen art or album theme.”
This answer is important because Samsung says you can turn off cover screen ads without losing other features. Still, the larger point still stands. You bought a refrigerator, then in a later update an advertising experience was added to the screen in your kitchen.
How to turn off Samsung Family Hub cover screen ads
On the Family Hub screen:
- Tap settings
- Tap commercials
- Tap cover screen advertising
- turn over switch off
You can also change the cover screen theme. Samsung says the widget does not appear on art or album themes.
Car screen ads appeared in Jeep, RAM and Chrysler vehicles
Now proceed from the kitchen to the driveway. Some Jeep, RAM and Chrysler drivers had previously seen promotional messages on their infotainment screens through Stellantis’ Uconnect system.
Stellantis, the automaker behind Jeep, RAM, Chrysler and Dodge, says its in-vehicle message technology, or IVM, is designed to help the company stay in touch with owners at key points during ownership. The company says it uses IVM for important messages like vehicle recalls and vehicle health monitor alerts. Stellantis also confirmed that the earlier pop-up promotions were part of its in-vehicle messaging or Uconnect communication system. However, the company says it has not run the promotional in-vehicle messages referenced in those reports since mid-2025 and has no plans for in-vehicle promotional messages in the future.
At the time those promotional messages were active, Stellantis says owners could opt out by calling customer service or updating their profile or message settings on their vehicle brand’s website account, such as a Ram owner account. That update is important. According to Stellantis, there are no existing promotional messages in the vehicle to opt out of. Still, the big concern remains: Modern vehicles are software-driven, and the screen in the middle of your dashboard can be changed long after you’ve finished driving.
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Some Jeep, RAM and Chrysler drivers had previously seen promotional messages on the infotainment screen through Stellantis’ Uconnect system. (Curt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
Why do dashboard messages seem more intrusive?
A car screen is different from a phone app or website. You use that display for directions, music, climate control, and vehicle settings. So when a promotional message appears there, it may seem more personal than an ad on a webpage.
To be fair, texting in a vehicle can serve an important purpose. Recall notices and vehicle health alerts can help owners respond faster to safety or maintenance issues.
However, promotional messages have a different impact. You’re sitting in a car you paid thousands of dollars for. That screen should help you drive, maintain your vehicle, and get where you’re going without feeling like it’s just another place for a sales pitch.
Windows 11 ads may appear in multiple places
Then there’s your computer. Windows 11 may show promotional content in places that appear to be part of the operating system. This includes the lock screen, Start menu, and account-related notifications.
The lock screen may use Windows Spotlight, which displays rotating images along with tips, tricks, and notifications. Start menu settings also include areas where Microsoft can show recommendations and account prompts.
Some of these messages may seem like useful information. Others may feel like an upsell. Most annoying are alerts that seem urgent, then direct you to a Microsoft service like OneDrive Backup. Microsoft declined to comment for this story.
How to reduce ads and suggestions in Windows 11
You can reduce a lot of this in Settings.
Change lock screen:
- Go settings
- Click personalization
- Click lock screen
- Change windows spotlight To Picture
- turn off Get fun facts, tips, tricks and more on your lock screen
Reduce Start Menu Suggestions:
- Go settings
- Click personalization
- Click Start
- Turn off any available toggles for recommendations, tips, suggestions Or personalized offer
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Samsung says Family Hub refrigerator cover screen ads can be turned off, but the feature highlights how connected devices can change after purchase. (Seongjoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Limit account-related prompts:
- Go settings
- Click personalization
- Click Start
- turn off Show account information
Microsoft may change the wording over time, so look for anything related to recommendations, tips, suggestions, offers, or account information. For more Windows Settings help, see these Windows 11 Tips.
Ads spreading across device screen after you purchase
The real problem is not an ad on a screen. The fact is that the software gives companies a way to change products after they have been purchased. A refrigerator remained a refrigerator. The car dashboard does the same thing it did the day you drove the car. A computer operating system feels like a tool you use to get work done.
Now those screens can be changed later. A company can add a widget, promote a service, or push an offering through an update. This does not mean that every update is bad. Security improvements are necessary. Bug fix help. New features may be useful. However, it feels different when the ads come after you’ve already paid for the product. That’s why you should keep your device updated, but also check what has changed after the update is installed.
What does it mean to you
Think beyond the hardware before purchasing a smart device, connected car or computer. Ask what type of software controls the screen. Check if ads, recommendations, or promotional content can be turned off.
After setup, before assuming that the default experience is the only option, go to Settings. Look for menus labeled ads, recommendations, information, tips, offers or personalization. If you are installing a new device, it New Electronics Setup Guide A good place to start.
Pay attention even after the update. If a new widget or pop-up appears, don’t assume you have to stick with it. There may be a toggle that turns it off. Most of all, remember that a screen in your home, car or office has value. Companies know this. You should also know this.
Kurt’s highlights
That’s why we covered it on The Cyberguy Report Podcast cyberguy.com. This is annoying because you’ve already paid for these products, yet companies can use software updates to claim space on the screens you look at every day. Samsung says Family Hub cover screen ads can be turned off. Stellantis says its vehicle promotions stop at the end of 2025. Windows 11 gives you some settings that reduce tips, suggestions, and account prompts. Still, the pattern is hard to miss. Companies are learning how to make money from a product after it is sold. This can be great for them, but it can look terrible when the screen is inside your kitchen, your car or your computer. When you pay thousands of dollars for a product, that screen should work for you instead of being another place for a company to sell to you.
Which screen ad will bother you the most: the one on your refrigerator, the one on your computer or the one in your car? Let us know by writing here cyberguy.com.
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