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Krebs on Security

LG to Ban Residential Proxies from Smart TV Apps

Refract AI Intelligence Digest

BLUF

LG is banning smart TV apps that hijack home networks for residential proxy services.

NEWS

LG Electronics USA announced it will suspend any webOS apps turning TVs into always-on residential proxy nodes. This follows research showing more than 42 percent of games and apps on the LG store allowed third parties to route internet traffic through user devices.

Why I Care

This protects consumers from bandwidth theft, privacy risks, and potential ISP violations caused by hidden proxy operations. It impacts all LG smart TV owners and sets a precedent for IoT manufacturers to police app ecosystems against unauthorized network usage.

Next Steps

LG users should update firmware and audit installed apps immediately. Developers must remove proxy functionality from webOS submissions to avoid suspension. Security teams should monitor other IoT vendors for similar residential proxy vulnerabilities.

The home appliance giant LG Electronics USA said this week it plans to suspend any apps built for its smart TVs that turn one's television into an always-on residential proxy node. The move comes less than a month after researchers found that more than 42 percent of games and other apps available for download on LG's webOS store allow unknown third-parties to route their Internet traffic through a user's TV.
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Source: Krebs on Security ·

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