Samsung Says It’s Banning Smart TV Apps That Expose Users’ Internet Connections



Some apps turn a TV into a residential proxy for internet traffic.

Samsung said it’s making its smart TV app platform more secure after a vulnerability was discovered that could expose users’ internet connections to outside sources. As first reported by TechCrunch, a cybersecurity company called Mnemonic discovered that some apps on Samsung’s smart TV platform have functions that can “route strangers’ web traffic through your home internet connection, making the requests look like they came from you.”

According to Mnemonic, one of the apps in question was a Pac-Man licensed game that Samsung featured on its Editor’s Choice section of its app store. The security company said that installing the Pac-Man app can turn a smart TV into “a residential proxy exit node” at the flip of switch. TechCrunch contacted Samsung about the vulnerability; the tech giant responded by saying it would ban any apps that shared its users’ internet connections. The Samsung spokesperson also told TechCrunch that it was going to implement “strict platform-wide developer policies explicitly banning residential proxy SDKs.”

These residential proxy SDKs — which can remain dormant inside an app until it’s activated to route someone else’s web traffic through a Samsung smart TV’s connected internet — are not an issue exclusive to Samsung. Last month, LG said it would suspend any apps that can turn a customer’s TV into a residential proxy, as reported by KrebsOnSecurity. Aside from smart TVs, residential proxies have also been an issue with VPNs, especially free options.



Source link

  • Related Posts

    Gas Stoves Create Indoor Air Pollution Risk in Commercial Kitchens, Study Finds

    Following a July study that found switching from a household gas stove to an electric one can improve asthma symptoms, a new peer-reviewed study published on Tuesday concluded that workers in restaurant…

    Continue reading
    Learning to use local AI is exciting, overwhelming, and frustrating

    I’m embarking on a journey I’ve so far been hesitant to go on: actually using AI on the regular. Giving my most personal data to cloud services has been a…

    Continue reading

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    Gas Stoves Create Indoor Air Pollution Risk in Commercial Kitchens, Study Finds

    Gas Stoves Create Indoor Air Pollution Risk in Commercial Kitchens, Study Finds

    Women once cleared by genetic tests for cancer risks now consider retesting

    Women once cleared by genetic tests for cancer risks now consider retesting

    Don’t be surprised if: Unsung heroes rack up the stats, and one QB to trade away

    Don’t be surprised if: Unsung heroes rack up the stats, and one QB to trade away

    These Are The Airlines With The World’s Longest Legroom In Economy In 2026

    These Are The Airlines With The World’s Longest Legroom In Economy In 2026

    Sky Roomba!

    Sky Roomba!

    Learning to use local AI is exciting, overwhelming, and frustrating

    Learning to use local AI is exciting, overwhelming, and frustrating