1.3 million Android-based TV boxes backdoored; researchers still don’t know how - eviltoast

Researchers still don’t know the cause of a recently discovered malware infection affecting almost 1.3 million streaming devices running an open source version of Android in almost 200 countries.

    • pandapoo@sh.itjust.works
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      2 months ago

      This is about the boxes you plug into the TV, like a Roku, or Fire TV, except it’s the cheap Chinese white box rebranded Android TV boxes you buy on places likeAmazon, Ali, and eBay.

      • burgersc12@mander.xyz
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        2 months ago

        So basically a non-issue unless you just plug the cheapest streaming box you can get your hand on into your devices.

        • pandapoo@sh.itjust.works
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          2 months ago

          I didn’t say they’re the cheapest, just that the boxes I’m personally aware of with this problem are white box rebranded ATVs.

          But I haven’t looked through the entire list, so it’s entirely possible that some other more well-known and “respectable” device brands are also compromised. If you have an Android TV box, you should probably search the list to find out.

      • BB_C@programming.dev
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        2 months ago

        They don’t even run Android TV. They run a modified (normal) Android. This is well known, but the article also mentions it.

    • BakedCatboy@lemmy.ml
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      2 months ago

      Isn’t the article about tv boxes that you use with your dumb TV so you can watch streaming stuff on it? I don’t think any TVs are affected