Samsung follows LG in killing Smart TV apps that rent out your internet

TL;DR Security researchers discovered that popular Samsung TV apps (like Pac-Man) secretly contained residential proxy SDKs from data brokers like Bright Data. Samsung is officially banning proxy SDKs, halting new app submissions, and purging existing offending apps from its store. The enforcement follows LG’s similar crackdown after research revealed over 42% of webOS apps secretly shared home bandwidth.

Samsung is cracking down on Smart TV apps that bundle residential proxy software after security researchers found the technology embedded in several popular gaming titles, including one the company had previously promoted as an Editor’s Choice recommendation. The company confirmed to TechCrunch that it has already blocked new Smart TV app submissions that include residential proxy functionality. It is now rolling out stricter developer policies while working to remove existing apps containing the software.