Google takes down a botnet of 1.3 million Android TV boxes
Google led a takedown of a botnet of more than 1.3 million Android devices, mostly TV set-top boxes, in late October. Google says the maker Videostrong built a backdoor into the boxes on purpose and sold access to criminals.
What it means for you
If you use a cheap no-name Android TV box, it may be running a backdoor that uses your internet connection for strangers.
What to do
If you own an Android TV box from a little-known brand: Plume recommends a full factory reset, and Synthient tells consumers to stop using such boxes for good, since the backdoor can't be removed by owners.
The details
The criminals used owners' home connections to pass other people's internet traffic and to fake ad views; the backdoor could also install apps silently and capture the screen. It's part of the boxes' firmware, so it can't be removed and comes back after a restart. Videostrong makes boxes under its own name and for other brands; Google has banned it from certified Android devices.
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We write every story in our own words from its source and check the facts before it goes up. Source: The Hacker News.