Samsung Bans Smart TV Apps Sharing User Internet Connections

Samsung is banning smart TV apps that share user internet connections with outsiders via residential proxy networks, following security research identifying risks of device hijacking.

The move targets apps like a featured Pac-Man game that contained code from Israel-based Bright Data, which turns devices into exit nodes for funneling web traffic.

Samsung has restricted new app registrations with proxy functionality and is working to remove existing apps from its store, mirroring a similar policy change by LG last month.