Seoul: South Korean electronics company Samsung has announced a ban on apps that share its smart TV users' internet connection with third parties, after security research revealed apps that use software to turn devices into gateways for internet traffic without users' knowledge.
The company explained that some apps in its app store contained code that relies on Residential Proxy Networks (RPNs). This technology allows other users' internet traffic to be routed through the home or office device's connection.
Samsung confirmed that it has halted registration of new apps using this software and is working to remove existing apps that include this functionality and implement stricter policies to prevent their use, warning of the potential for this technology to be exploited for malicious activities.
This decision follows a similar move by LG, amid growing concerns about the risks some apps pose to user privacy and the security of smart devices.
