{
  "id": 8911676,
  "title": "Samsung and LG vow to remove 'botnet' apps from their smart TV app stores that turned sets into an AI scraping machines — but the shocking claim that over 40% of webOS apps had botnet code raises the question of how things ever got this bad",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/samsung-and-lg-vow-to-remove-botnet-apps-from-their-smart-tv-app",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-21T11:46:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechRadar",
    "slug": "techradar",
    "url": "https://www.techradar.com/televisions/samsung-and-lg-vow-to-remove-botnet-apps-from-their-smart-tv-app-stores-that-turned-sets-into-an-ai-scraping-machines-but-the-shocking-claim-that-over-40-percent-of-webos-apps-had-botnet-code-raises-the-question-of-how-things-ever-got-this-bad"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Samsung and LG are pledging to eradicate malicious applications, known as botnet apps, from their smart TV app stores. These apps covertly transform TV sets into AI surveillance machines by routing internet traffic through the device. Recent reports indicate that approximately 40% of webOS apps contained botnet code, raising concerns about the extent of this issue. Both LG and Samsung have committed to removing affected applications. FlatpanelsHD gathered information on this matter, tracing it back several months. In April, it was revealed that numerous apps and games included a \"residential proxy\" feature, which could be exploited by malicious actors. One example, IPIDEA, enlisted millions of smart TVs in a network capable of scraping the web for AI training or executing coordinated cyberattacks orchestrated by groups in China, North Korea, Iran, and Russia. The proxy feature operates discreetly, enabling TV owners to remain unaware of the intrusion. Security researchers have discovered that a staggering 26.5% of Samsung Tizen TV apps and over 42.5% of LG webOS apps were susceptible to being incorporated into the botnet. This alarming statistic highlights the potential security vulnerabilities associated with smart TVs. Researchers advise that residential proxies, while not inherently malicious, can be abused to conceal automation, evade geo-controls, and bypass reputation-based defenses. It is speculated that some apps may have inadvertently contained the botnet code due to the use of software development kits featuring such features, which developers might not be fully aware of. Both LG and Samsung have taken steps to address the issue, banning affected apps and restricting new app registrations. However, the prevalence of these botnet apps raises questions about the overall security and privacy risks posed by increasingly interconnected smart devices.",
  "summary": "Millions of smart TVs, including Roku and Fire TV as well and LG and Samsung, have been infected with malware that can make their TV join botnets.",
  "key_points": [
    "Samsung and LG vow to remove botnet apps from smart TV app stores",
    "40% of webOS apps contained botnet code, raising security concerns",
    "LG and Samsung banned affected apps and restricted new app registrations"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}