Israeli Investor Discovers His TV Was Part of a Commercial Proxy Network for Two Years
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Israeli investor Shachar Tsafir discovered his smart TV was part of Bright Data's proxy network for two years after a downloaded game included the company's software. The activity continued even when the TV was off, routing internet traffic through his home connection. Bright Data's CEO confirmed the service uses user connections for data collection but denies accessing personal information. A study found similar proxy components in many smart TV apps, raising concerns about user awareness and data privacy.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli investor Shachar Tsafir found his smart TV was part of a commercial proxy network for nearly two years.
- The proxy activity was enabled by a free game downloaded by his child, containing software from Bright Data.
- Bright Data's CEO, Or Lenchner, stated the company uses user connections for public data collection with consent.
- A study revealed proxy components in approximately 34% of tested smart TV applications.
- Tsafir advises users to check their TV apps and monitor internet usage for unusual activity.
An Israeli investor, Shachar Tsafir, discovered that his LG smart TV had been unknowingly participating in a commercial proxy network for nearly two years. The activity began after one of his children downloaded a free game to the television, which contained a software component from the Israeli company Bright Data. This component allowed the company to route internet traffic through Tsafir's home connection.
Tsafir, who invests in technology and cybersecurity, expressed surprise at the security lapse, noting that the proxy activity continued even when the TV was not actively in use, including when it was in standby mode. He made the discovery accidentally while using the AI tool Claude to automate tasks in his home, which flagged unusual network activity. Claude helped identify the problematic application, which Tsafir then removed, resolving the issue.
Bright Data, a company that operates a commercial proxy network, allows clients to route internet traffic through private user connections. This service is used for various purposes, including data collection for AI companies, market research, and price monitoring, making requests appear to originate from individual users rather than commercial entities. Bright Data CEO Or Lenchner stated that the company's operations are transparent, require user consent, and are subject to security audits. He emphasized that Bright Data does not access personal information on users' devices, only using their connections to access public web pages.
Tsafir's experience highlights a broader issue, with a study indicating that proxy components are present in about a third of tested smart TV applications, particularly on LG and Samsung devices. LG had previously announced plans to suspend applications that turn smart TVs into proxy exit points due to transparency and user consent concerns. Tsafir advises smart TV owners to review their installed applications, especially old free games, and monitor their internet data consumption for any unexpected activity.