Samsung does a lot of evil crap. My computer got hacked through HDMI port connected to a Samsung Smart TV through their software. The phone part is tricky. Some of it is government regulation. Basically Samsung does have to provide the government with any changes that are relevant to the government's "right" to track and disable your phone. It does apply to computers too. One of my tests when I did stateless machines was to trigger a phone call from the government enforcement agency (yes there is such a thing). The "officer" will give you a speech how it is similar with tampering with a car's odometer. I would usually asked them if they are the same people who enforce the mattress safety and police the safety tag removal and hang up. I don't do it anymore. Giving info to idiots... just a bad idea. Pay cash the bill and ask to be excluded and hopefully you don't get charged with insurance fraud. Damn if you do, damn if you don't! Even when you feed expensive lawyers, when your number comes up they'll try to take you out.