Samsung is tightening its Smart TV app policies after security researchers found that some popular apps included code capable of routing internet traffic through users' home connections. The company said it has already limited new app submissions that use such proxy features and is now working to remove apps that still contain them.
The issue centers on residential proxy technology, which can turn a device into an always-on network relay for outside traffic. In the case of Smart TVs, this can happen through apps that appear simple on the surface, such as games, while running hidden connectivity functions in the background.
According to the research, even a Pac-Man app highlighted by Samsung in its Editor's Choice section contained this kind of code. The findings also showed how lightweight apps can make review processes more difficult, since what is inspected may not fully reflect what the app actually does once installed.
Samsung said it is introducing stricter developer rules that explicitly prohibit residential proxy SDKs across its platform. The company also stated that it is identifying and removing existing apps with these components from its store.
The development follows a similar policy shift by LG, signaling a broader industry effort to strengthen trust in smart home ecosystems. As connected devices become more central to daily life, platform-level safeguards may shape a safer and more transparent future for consumer technology.
