Samsung is removing smart TV apps that could share home internet connections with outsiders. Here’s how the hidden software worked and what you can do to better protect your TV.
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What Happened?
Residential proxy software lets outside internet traffic pass through your home connection. Websites then see your internet address instead of the outsider’s location.
Norwegian cybersecurity company Mnemonic found the software inside several Samsung TV apps. One was a Pac-Man game featured in Samsung’s Editor’s Choice section.
Samsung said it had already blocked new app submissions containing these tools. The company is also finding and removing existing apps with the same function.
Some apps were simple shells that loaded content from outside websites. Therefore, Samsung’s review might not show everything the app later ran.
Researchers did not report a confirmed data breach involving TV owners. However, hidden app activity can be difficult to notice.
The same problem exists with data breaches. Many people do not know their information was leaked until suspicious messages or account activity appears.
If you are unsure whether your information was leaked online, automatic monitoring can help you spot problems earlier.
Futureproof monitors your data for leaks 24/7 and helps you reduce scam risks with simple, clear steps.
Who Was Affected and What Data Was Leaked?
Samsung has not shared a confirmed number of affected TV owners.
Some app developers claimed their apps had hundreds of millions of installations. However, TechCrunch did not confirm how many TVs actually ran proxy software.
Researchers did not report a confirmed leak of owners’ passwords, photos, payment details, or other personal files.
The main concern involved the owner’s internet connection and public internet address. An app could make outside traffic appear to come from your home.
That could make suspicious activity harder to trace to its real source. However, the research did not show that every app carried criminal traffic.
Futureproof scans your data for leaks and shows exactly how to close security gaps — before scammers find them first.
Check my safetyHow Smart TV Apps Could Turn Your Connection Into a Proxy
Mnemonic found that some apps loaded proxy tools from remote websites. This made the app’s behavior harder to judge during Samsung’s review.
In the Pac-Man app, proxy code came from Bright Data — a company that sells access to residential internet connections.
The code did not activate automatically. It started after the user accepted a consent screen and kept running until the app was deleted.
Once active, the TV could become an exit node. That means websites saw the TV owner’s connection as the traffic’s final source.
The researcher also warned that a small server change could activate the feature across many TVs. This was a warning, not a confirmed event.
At Futureproof, Kevin explains digital safety in simple words, with clear tips and zero fluff. He holds a degree in information technology and studies fraud trends to keep his tips up-to-date.
In his free time, Kevin plays with his cat, enjoys board-game nights, and hunts for New York’s best cinnamon rolls.
