Google bans Shenzhen partner after 1.3 million Android boxes became a botnet
Google has banned Videostrong Technology Co., a manufacturer based in Shenzhen, China, after discovering that the company secretly turned 1.3 million of its set-top boxes into a botnet.
Intentional malware deployment discovered
Google states that the manufacturer intentionally developed and deployed a backdoor in these devices. The infected hardware was used without owner knowledge for malicious activities including ad fraud and data theft. Google claims the operation was conducted for financial gain by selling access to criminal affiliates.
Devices repurposed as botnet
The company says it has dismantled the backdoor and cut ties with Videostrong Technology Co. Affiliates loaded additional malware modules onto the compromised devices to route unauthorized network traffic. Google also took action to disrupt the command and control domains operating these affiliate modules.
Reported by one outlet
Only one outlet has published this. Nothing here has been checked against a second report, so read it as that outlet's account and follow the link below for the original.
Reported by
1 independent outlet. Headline as published. Links open the original report.