Hackers can target a wide variety of devices. They can sneak malware onto your computer, exploit a flaw in your mobile phone, but also many other devices you have at home connected to the Internet. And yes, it can also happen with a TV Box. As you will see, there is a malware that has infected hundreds of thousands of devices of this type. We are going to explain what you should do to avoid problems.
Specifically, the figure rises to 1.3 million TV Box devices worldwide. All of them run on the Android Open Source Project, and it is a backdoor malware called Vo1d. A cybercriminal who manages to exploit this problem could take control of the device and start using it as he wants.
New malware on TV Box devices
To watch television at home, a TV Box is a popular option nowadays. These devices are easy to use and offer many functions. It has been detected by security researchers at Dr.Web and they claim that it affects more than 200 countries. Therefore, we are basically dealing with malware that is present in practically all territories worldwide.
It affects different versions of Android firmware, such as Android 7.1. 2 R4 Build/NHG47K, Android 12.1 TV BOX Build/NHG47K and Android 10.1 KJ-SMART4KVIP Build/NHG47K. There are also different versions of the malware and this means that, depending on which one it is, it can modify different system files and act. However, the end goal is always the same, which is none other than to allow an attacker to gain control.
When the attack is launched, it is able to download and execute files and install APKs it can find. But how does this malware actually get there? Security researchers have not yet determined the motive, although they do suspect that hackers are taking advantage of victims running outdated software, full of vulnerabilities.
Another reason could be the use of unofficial firmware versions. They could also contain bugs, which will allow an attacker to use other initial malware to later sneak in this Vo1d backdoor and start gaining full access.
How to avoid this problem
If you have an Android TV Box, you could be a victim of this threat. What you should do, as a base of everything, is to make sure that you are using an official firmware version. Do not install modified versions that you can find on third-party sites, as they could be a trap or contain many vulnerabilities.
It’s also key to keep it up to date. As you’ve seen, one of the reasons why Vo1d malware can sneak in is because you have outdated software. Make sure you have the latest versions. This will help you achieve optimal performance, but also fix possible security flaws.
Please note that this issue does not affect devices running Android TV, which are licensed by Google, but rather the open source project or Android Open Source Project. Therefore, if you have a device running Android TV, this issue should not affect you. Always make sure to protect your home devices.
