Google severs ties with and bans Android TV box maker Videostrong after discovering it intentionally preloaded a malware backdoor to control the XCPE botnet (Ben Schoon/9to5Google)
The punitive measures follow an investigation revealing that Videostrong deliberately preloaded backdoor malware directly onto its Android TV boxes before they reached consumers. The unauthorized system compromise was specifically configured to grant command and control access over the XCPE botnet. Consequently, Google enacted a total ban on the hardware vendor and severed all business relationships with the company to protect device ecosystems.
Key points
Hardware manufacturers face immediate bans if discovered preloading malicious threats ont…: Hardware manufacturers face immediate bans if discovered preloading malicious threats onto devices.
Backdoors hidden inside consumer electronics can actively feed and control distributed bo…: Backdoors hidden inside consumer electronics can actively feed and control distributed botnet networks.
Google enforces strict ecosystem policies by completely severing relationships with bad-f…: Google enforces strict ecosystem policies by completely severing relationships with bad-faith hardware partners.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Apple: |
Michael Acton / Financial Times: |
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch: |
Julie Bort / TechCrunch: |
Wall Street Journal: |
Ashley Capoot / CNBC: |
Bailey Lipschultz / Bloomberg: |
Rikiya Takehi: |
Financial Times: |
The Information: |
OpenAI: |
Jason Shubnell / The Block: |
Samantha Subin / CNBC: |
Kai Nicol-Schwarz / CNBC: |
Bruno Ferreira / Tom's Hardware: |
Jagmeet Singh / TechCrunch: |
Ben Schoon / 9to5Google: |
David Freedlander / New York Magazine: |
Samantha Kelly / Bloomberg: |
Ivan Mehta / TechCrunch: |
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