Several popular Samsung smart TV applications were found to be sharing users' internet connections with strangers, potentially putting millions of TVs at risk. The security research, conducted by Mnemonic, reveals that even a simple game like Pac-Man could turn into an exit node for web traffic.

The apps contain code that turns the smart TV into a residential proxy network (resproxies), which are increasingly linked to cybercrime. While some resproxies can help bypass internet censorship, they also enable hackers and spies to remain hidden while conducting malicious activities.

Samsung has taken action by banning apps that share users' internet connections and removing those containing such functionality from its app store. The company has also introduced strict policies to prevent similar issues in the future.

The research provides a rare insight into resproxies, which can be found not only in smart TVs but also in regular consumer phone apps and other electronics. Cybersecurity companies face challenges in tackling these networks due to their encrypted traffic, making it difficult to identify and stop malicious activities.