The move follows research revealing how certain apps can turn home networks into public proxies
Samsung has removed a group of smart‑TV applications that allowed users to share their broadband connection with external parties, a step prompted by new security research that exposed how these apps can turn residential networks into proxy services for strangers.
Samsung announced the removal of a class of smart‑TV applications that could share the device’s internet connection with other users.
The decision follows a security study that examined how residential proxy networks operate, revealing that some apps effectively turn home networks into public proxies.
The research showed that the apps could forward traffic from a TV to an external server, allowing a stranger to access the network with the same bandwidth and credentials that the TV uses.
This capability raises privacy and security concerns, as it can be used to bypass geographic restrictions or to conduct malicious activity from a trusted device.
Samsung’s statement said the company is committed to protecting users’ data and preventing misuse of its devices.
The company removed the apps from its app store and issued a notice to users who had previously installed them, advising a firmware update and removal of the apps.
Developers of the affected apps have said they intended the feature for legitimate use cases such as remote access for family members, but the research indicated that the feature could be exploited by third parties.
The research team used a combination of network traffic analysis and device monitoring to map the data flows between the TVs and the external servers.
The findings highlight the need for stricter controls on how consumer devices can share network resources and how app stores vet such permissions.
Samsung’s action is part of a broader industry trend where manufacturers are tightening security on IoT devices to limit the risk of turning them into unintended network gateways.
Samsung announced the removal of a class of smart‑TV applications that could share the device’s internet connection with other users.
The decision follows a security study that examined how residential proxy networks operate, revealing that some apps effectively turn home networks into public proxies.
The research showed that the apps could forward traffic from a TV to an external server, allowing a stranger to access the network with the same bandwidth and credentials that the TV uses.
This capability raises privacy and security concerns, as it can be used to bypass geographic restrictions or to conduct malicious activity from a trusted device.
Samsung’s statement said the company is committed to protecting users’ data and preventing misuse of its devices.
The company removed the apps from its app store and issued a notice to users who had previously installed them, advising a firmware update and removal of the apps.
Developers of the affected apps have said they intended the feature for legitimate use cases such as remote access for family members, but the research indicated that the feature could be exploited by third parties.
The research team used a combination of network traffic analysis and device monitoring to map the data flows between the TVs and the external servers.
The findings highlight the need for stricter controls on how consumer devices can share network resources and how app stores vet such permissions.
Samsung’s action is part of a broader industry trend where manufacturers are tightening security on IoT devices to limit the risk of turning them into unintended network gateways.