Some Galaxy S22 Extremely house owners are dealing with a surprising realization: they do not really personal their telephones. Extra alarming nonetheless, neither does Samsung.
. This occurred regardless of the models being private purchases relatively than enterprise-issued {hardware}.
The affected Galaxy S22 Extremely models are registered to Numero LLC. | Picture by TheLastRedditAcct
The gadgets look like owned by Numero LLC, an elusive firm that has remained unreachable.
No method out
The mysterious Numero LLC can view actions, apps, and knowledge on compromised gadgets. | Picture by Reddit person Eulerbodyguard
The affected Galaxy S22 Extremely models have been registered by way of their Worldwide Cellular Tools Identification (IMEI), a singular cellphone identifier, with Samsung’s Knox Handle enterprise administration answer. This command middle permits firms to remotely configure, monitor, and wipe gadgets. This makes it simpler to enroll a fleet of gadgets with minimal steps.
Galaxy S22 Extremely customers cannot use their telephones with out giving a shady firm elevated permissions. | Picture by Reddit person 5over7username
Nevertheless, Galaxy S22 Extremely house owners who’ve been locked out of their gadgets purchased their telephones from Samsung or different trusted retail channels. The issue solely cropped up after a reset.
Numero LLC is utilizing an admin app referred to as “SAMSUNG ADMIN” to handle telephones, and the app signifies that there is a Manufacturing unit Reset Safety (FRP) lock on the gadgets. FRP is a safety measure supposed to stop the usage of a tool in an untrusted surroundings.
Why are the customers solely discovering out about it now?
The Galaxy S22 was launched in 2022. It is nearing the top of its assist cycle and has lately been downgraded to quarterly safety updates.
Most house owners have used their telephones for years, solely discovering the company hijack after a tough reset. That is most likely as a result of the system was unenrolled when it was reset, however setup can not proceed with out granting rights to Numero.
Samsung and Knox assist are passing customers forwards and backwards, with each saying they do not have entry to the database that may take away the lock.
Putting in a customized model of Android would not assist both, because it doesn’t take away the hardware-level Knox safety.
Samsung solely lets trusted resellers register gadgets to a Knox server. There’s even a listing to search for licensed resellers.
It is attainable {that a} licensed reseller was compromised to enroll a batch of client gadgets beneath Numero LLC. One other concept is that the CVE-2026-20978 authorization vulnerability was exploited to bypass settings, although that will have required bodily entry to the gadgets.
Both method, the one alternative left to house owners is to make use of a restricted, company-controlled system or settle for that it has successfully been bricked.
Having to scrap a superbly good cellphone
Many house owners reset their gadgets to offer them to relations however gave up on account of privateness issues.
The size of the issue is restricted, and the affected customers have not posted proof that they, in truth, purchased the system.
Assuming these are in truth consumer-grade gadgets, Samsung’s alleged indifference and refusal to assist are alarming. In spite of everything, the Galaxy S22 Extremely is a top-tier cellphone, and prospects should not should toss it if it is nonetheless in working situation.
Privateness implications
Maybe essentially the most worrying side of all is the privateness violation. These Galaxy S22 Extremely models have been registered beneath Numero LLC for the 4 or so years of possession, unbeknownst to prospects. Worsening issues is the truth that nobody has been capable of monitor Numero LLC.
Samsung hasn’t formally commented on the difficulty, however it displays poorly on the corporate, which lately needed to compensate some Galaxy S22 house owners for slowing down their gadgets.
The South Korean large was second solely to Apple in smartphone gross sales final yr, transport 241.2 million models. Thus, whereas surprising, the hijacked Galaxy S22 gadgets are outliers.
