Google · Android · China · Japan · Tom's Hardware
Certified Android TV manufacturer put unauthorized backdoor in 1.3 million set-top boxes, Google shows
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Google shut down a massive botnet operation involving an OEM and ODM manufacturer.
Key facts
- According to the company blog, Videostrong Technology Co
- While Google did not mention when Videostrong started loading malware into its products, the company said that the pre-installed malware evolved into a complex, three-stage design in 2024
- This incident also shows how even the simplest of devices can be used to execute complicated attacks, like how a Chinese couple hid a PC behind a fridge in a Japanese hotel and targeted 2.4 million
- Google shut down a massive botnet operation involving an OEM and ODM manufacturer
Summary
“Videostrong monetized the backdoor by selling access to criminal affiliates and loading those affiliates’ malware modules onto infected devices,” the company said in the Google Cloud blog post. While Google did not mention when Videostrong started loading malware into its products, the company said that the pre-installed malware evolved into a complex, three-stage design in 2024. There have been supply chain attacks in the past, wherein a third-party compromises a trusted product to steal data, like some Ledger hardware wallets that have been sold by a reseller in Southeast Asia and Europe. Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.