Samsung bans smart TV apps that share users’ internet connections with strangers

Samsung has taken the unusual step of pulling several smart‑TV applications after a security study revealed they could route users’ internet traffic through residential proxy networks, potentially exposing viewers to malicious actors.

What the banned apps were doing

The removed apps were found to act as middlemen, forwarding TV‑streaming data and other internet traffic to third‑party servers that operate as residential proxies. This effectively turned a user’s home broadband connection into a shared conduit for strangers on the internet.

According to the research conducted by security firm Mnemonic, the apps could be exploited to hide the true source of illicit activity, making it difficult for law enforcement to trace abusive traffic back to the original user.

Samsung’s response

In a statement, Samsung said it had “immediately removed” the offending applications from its Tizen Store and would “continue to monitor for any further security concerns.” The company also warned users to uninstall any previously installed versions of the apps.

Potential impact on users

Consumers could have faced a range of risks, from privacy breaches to being implicated in cyber‑crime activities without their knowledge. The proxy traffic could also have degraded internet performance on the home network.

• Increased exposure of personal data
• Risk of being linked to illegal online activity
• Potential slowdown of home broadband

Security experts recommend that users review the permissions of any installed TV apps and keep their smart‑TV firmware up to date to mitigate similar threats.

“Smart TV platforms need to enforce stricter vetting of third‑party apps to protect consumers from hidden network routing,” said a Mnemonic analyst.

The incident underscores the growing need for robust security standards in the expanding ecosystem of connected home devices.

TechCrunch coverage of Samsung’s ban on proxy‑sharing TV apps