Despite the recent leaks from Evan, it was a tweet from @Jukanlosreve showing images of the Samsung Galaxy S25+ that got multiple Samsung employees fired. In case you’re wondering why live images of unannounced handsets often contain tape over certain parts of the device, it is done to hide any numbers or characters that can be used to trace the leaked image of the phone to the person or people who leaked the device to the media.
One of these leaked photos of the Galaxy S25+ led to Samsung firing multiple employees. | Image credit-@Jukanlosreve
In the case of the Galaxy S25+, the images shown in the tweet failed to hide the device identification number that Samsung used to get the identities of the leakers who made the images of this particular Galaxy S25+. For many who work at companies that assemble devices like phones, or have a job with a phone manufacturer, selling leaked images of an eagerly awaited device can be a great side hustle. But not if you get caught doing it and lose your job.
This is how Samsung knew who to fire for leaking images of the Galaxy S25+. | Image credit-Max Jambor
Another tweet, this one from Max Jambor, editor of @AllAboutSamsung, shows the identification numbers on the Galaxy S25+ that led Samsung to identify the employees behind the leak and turn them into former employees. Interestingly, all of this took place the day before Blass was able to leak images of the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy S25+ along with the date that the Galaxy S25 series will be announced.
You might think that companies like Samsung love leaks because it promotes some of its upcoming devices. But firms like Samsung complain that leaks take away from the excitement of the events held to unveil new products since it reduces the number of surprises announced. Major manufacturers prefer to control the introduction of new products to the public and would rather stick with marketing plans they developed instead of having someone with a “X” or Weibo account be the first to reveal their latest devices.