Over 1.3 million Android devices TV is involved in a large cyber criminal network, as their producer allegedly installed malicious programs deliberately to benefit financially from criminal activities. The network has been discovered and disabled by Google in collaboration with several cyber security companies and Japanese authorities.
According to Google report, the network known as ʹ XCPE) involved more than 1.3 million equipment, mainly Android equipment T-type TV V Box, scattered over 200 countries.
Following this operation is allegedly the Chinese company Videostrom Technology Co., the producer of Android equipment, which Google says had deliberately developed and installed a malicious program hidden in the equipment system.
This program, known as The XCPE) was integrated into basic equipment software before they went on sale. As a result, users bought and connected equipment to their Internet without knowing that they were part of a network controlled by other people.
Google estimates that Videostrom had benefited by selling criminal groups access to infected devices that were then used for various illegal activities.
These included advertising fraud, data from equipment, and networks that allowed other people to use the network of victims to hide their online activity.
Infected equipment was also exploited for installing other malicious programs without the knowledge and consent of their owners.
According to Google, the program was designed to avoid security checks. The manufacturer had used techniques to install the malicious code after the first lighting of the device, exploiting a weakness in the security verification process.
After the case was discovered, Google took legal action to disable domains and servers that controlled the network, and stopped working with the VideoRang Company. The latter was prevented from producing and selling certified Android devices with pre-included Google applications.
The company announced that joint action with its partners could cut access to at least 10 million other compromised devices, which were linked to other criminal groups that used the same infrastructure.
Japan’s National Police Agency and the company Lumen, HUMAN Security, Plume, Synthient and TrendAI also participated in the operation.
Google has also announced it will strengthen security controls for Android equipment TV, in order to prevent similar cases in the future.
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Source Layer: Signal
