LG Plans to Remove Residential Proxy SDKs From Smart TV Apps

LG Electronics USA says it will suspend smart TV applications that use residential proxy software to route third-party internet traffic through customers’ televisions. The company’s response follows research indicating that proxy components are widespread in apps available through LG’s webOS store.

Security firm Spur reported earlier this month that more than 42% of applications examined for LG televisions contained software development kits capable of turning a TV into a residential proxy node. The research also found similar components in more than one-quarter of apps designed for Samsung’s Tizen platform. The affected software included games, screensavers and file-management utilities.

Residential proxy providers pay application developers to embed their SDKs. In return, a device can become part of a proxy network used by paying customers to send internet requests through a residential connection. Some applications reportedly present users with a choice between viewing advertisements and allowing the television to participate in the network.

John Taylor, a senior vice president at LG, said the company is working with developers to remove the proxy functionality from webOS applications. Developers that do not comply will have their apps suspended, he said. LG also plans to strengthen its review process for submitted applications, including those containing residential proxy SDKs.

Bright Data, identified by Spur as the most common proxy network in its study of LG and Samsung apps, said its system is based on user consent. The company said participants opt in through a dedicated screen, receive compensation or other value, and are connected to vetted customers. Bright Data also pointed to an independent audit and safeguards intended to prevent customers from accessing other devices on a user’s local network.

Spur has argued that the central concern is the scale and context of the deployments rather than the existence of proxy networks themselves. Consumers may not recognize smart TVs as general-purpose computers, making it difficult for them to assess the implications of an in-app consent prompt. The researchers also cautioned that consent may come from household members who are not authorized to make such decisions, including children.

LG’s review is reportedly underway. The company’s announcement does not indicate how quickly affected applications will be changed or removed.