Android Ransomware Hits Smart TVs (trendmicro.com)

Reader Trailrunner7 writes: Security researchers have discovered a variant of the FLocker Android ransomware that not only infects mobile devices, but also can infect smart TVs running certain versions of the operating system. FLocker ransomware has been active for more than a year now, and it is many ways a typical piece of mobile ransomware. It is designed to scare victims into paying a ransom -- $200 in this case -- by locking the infected device and throwing up a screen that accuses the victim of some fictitious crime. The ransomware doesn't appear to encrypt files on an infected device, but it locks the screen so the user can't open any other apps or take any other actions until paying the ransom.

Researchers at Trend Micro said they have seen various versions of FLocker over the last year and the activity level of the ransomware has varied. The newest version of the malware, however, includes the ability to infect art TVs, many of which run Android.

Comments

Re:another reason to never connect a TV to etherne

[Grishnakh]

That's not an option with many new TVs: they require network connectivity or else they won't even work as a TV or display monitor.

This is probably a good reason to buy your TV from Walmart actually: it's trivially easy to throw stuff back in the box (poorly) and get a full refund at your local Walmart. With Amazon, they'll probably require you to pay for return shipping costs.

Sweet

[argStyopa]

And if you can imagine implementing the whole "internet of things" you could wake up every morning to find out something like this about all sorts of critical systems on your house!

The "internet of things" is a COMPLETELY stupid concept; I'm not sure why people seem to keep promoting it.

Place Smart Devices on an Isolated VLAN

[Sadsfae]

I've been unfortunate enough to garner a few IoT devices, including a Samsung Smart TV. With a little bit of effort and a decent Asus Router with Tomato firmware I've placed any questionable devices on isolated VLANs so they don't affect the rest of of my trusted network. I can also block or whitelist their outbound traffic if needed.