LG cracks down on smart TV proxy apps after security concerns
LG Electronics USA is moving to suspend smart TV apps that turn users’ televisions into always-on residential proxy nodes, after researchers found that over 42 % of apps on its webOS store embed proxy software development kits (SDKs). The company says developers who fail to remove the proxy option will face app suspension, as residential proxy networks are not an intended use for its devices.
A quiet but widespread risk
Security firm Spur discovered that proxy SDKs are embedded not only in games and screensavers but also in utility apps, effectively turning ordinary LG smart TVs into nodes in third-party proxy networks. According to Spur’s July report, more than a quarter of apps on Samsung’s Tizen OS similarly include residential proxy components. The most common proxy provider identified in both ecosystems was Bright Data, which markets residential proxy services primarily for legitimate data-scraping use cases.
LG senior vice president John Taylor told KrebsOnSecurity the company is already reviewing apps and will enforce removal of proxy SDKs, adding that LG is “working with developers to remove the residential proxy option from their apps on the webOS platform.” Developers who do not comply risk having their apps pulled from the store. LG also indicated it is tightening its app review process to prevent future inclusion of proxy SDKs.
Why it matters
Smart TVs are not typically seen as computers, yet they can silently route other people’s internet traffic if proxy SDKs are present. Consumers rarely audit their TVs’ network behavior, leaving them exposed to potential misuse of their bandwidth and IP addresses. For the industry, LG’s move signals a shift toward stricter oversight of app ecosystems on connected devices, potentially setting a precedent for other manufacturers to follow. The crackdown also highlights the tension between app monetization strategies and user security in the growing market of smart-home devices.
Source: Krebs on Security. AI-assisted editorial synthesis — TechnoExpress.