US residential proxies are the bane of the internet. They’re the major source of social media manipulation and spam. A residential proxy routes traffic through a real home connection, making it look like a normal user on Comcast or AT&T. Usually the proxy is created unintentionally by a free VPN app, a hidden SDK in a free game, or malware on a device.

Recently LG banned proxy apps from its smart TVs after researchers found that over 42% of its apps could covertly turn a TV into a proxy.

Blocking IP ranges by country or provider cuts many legitimate users, so bad actors favor US residential proxies because high addresses overlap with genuine traffic. Threat‑intelligence firms track and sell IP data, and reducing abuse would shrink their revenue, creating perverse incentives.

The US government should crack down on residential proxy networks as a national security threat: data loss, malware recording, foreign influence, botnets, and DDoS. Major ISPs should detect suspicious activity and warn customers to scan devices and review TV apps. All countries should adopt similar measures.