2024-09-16 20:29:34
Android TV boxes can be used to convert televisions into smart TVs. Experts report that millions of these boxes are infected with malware.
Millions of Android TV boxes worldwide are infected with malware called “Vo1d”. This is what security researchers at the “Dr. Web” portal reported on their website. According to the report, the experts have discovered almost 1.3 million devices belonging to users in 197 countries that are said to be infected with the malware.
Android TV boxes that are equipped with the open source version “Android Open Source Project” (AOSP) of the operating system are affected. The devices are running the versions “Android 7.1.2; R4-Build/NHG47K”, “Android 12.1; TV-BOX-Build/NHG47K” and “Android 10.1; KJ-SMART4KVIP-Build/NHG47K”, it says.
The malware allows hackers to download and install malicious third-party programs without the user’s knowledge. Most infections were found in Brazil, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Argentina, Ecuador, Tunisia, Malaysia, Algeria and Indonesia.
According to the IT portal “heise online”, Android developer Google has commented on the case and clarified “that the affected devices are exclusively Android TV boxes” with AOSP.
AOSP has nothing to do with the proprietary operating system for Android TVs, Android TV, and is not Play Protect certified, it continues. This leads to the conclusion that cheap, low-quality devices are mainly affected.
According to “Dr. Web,” the attackers primarily targeted TV boxes running outdated Android versions. These often contained unresolved vulnerabilities and were no longer supported with updates.
Users can protect themselves by using Play Protect certified devices. The security software developed by Google scans for malware-infected applications in the background to prevent virus infections.