A warning has surfaced indicating that smart TVs in living rooms and refrigerators in kitchens, in addition to smartphones and personal computers, could serve as hidden pathways for hackers. Recently, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, major players in the global home appliance market, have removed apps containing problematic code from their smart TV app stores, revealing the security weaknesses present in Internet of Things (IoT) home devices.
On August 3, according to a report by the IT media platform TechCrunch, which referenced findings from the cybersecurity company Nymic, certain applications available for Samsung smart TVs included code that allowed unauthorized sharing of internet connections with third parties without users realizing it. One of these apps was a simple Pac-Man game that was widely trusted and even chosen as Samsung Electronics’ “Editor’s Choice.”
This code is triggered when users download the application and select the consent option. Usually, users do not thoroughly read the extensive consent information, and if they refuse to agree, they are typically unable to use the app, which can leave them vulnerable to potential dangers.
During this process, the smart TV can become a ‘channel’ used by hackers to conceal their online activity. Even after the app is closed, if the TV stays connected to Wi-Fi, the network keeps running in the background, unintentionally offering the home wireless internet connection as a route for cybercriminals.
Samsung Electronics said, “We have limited the registration of new applications featuring this capability on the smart TV platform.” It mentioned, “We are enforcing rigorous developer guidelines and detecting and eliminating such apps from the app store.” LG Electronics also introduced a prohibition on similar apps shortly after a study revealed that around 42% of apps in its app store link smart TVs to relevant networks.
This danger extends beyond smart TVs. In modern households, many IoT devices are linked to Wi-Fi networks, including Android streaming devices, smart refrigerators, robotic vacuum cleaners, and air conditioning units. Although users pay attention to antivirus protection for their smartphones, they often neglect to regularly update the software in appliances like fridges or washing machines, creating vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can take advantage of.
The technology sector is worried that if smart home devices are compromised, they might turn into ‘zombie appliances’ used in extensive DDoS attacks or for cryptocurrency mining, which can reduce the longevity of the gadgets. A representative from the tech industry stated, “There is a significant chance of secondary harm, where private details like financial data, images, and passwords might be exposed by accessing smartphones or computers linked to the same Wi-Fi network.”
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