Security News Android Ransomware Infects LG Smart TV

[LASER_oneXM]

...some quotes from the article above:

Security firms have been warning us for more than a year about the possibility of Android malware jumping from phones and tablets to other Android-powered devices, such smart TVs.

The latest incident involving ransomware on a smart TV involves software engineer Darren Cauthon, who revealed that the LG smart TV of one of his family members was infected with ransomware right on Christmas day.

TV infected by installing mysterious app

Asked to detail how he got infected with the ransomware, Cauthon said "They [the relatives] said they downloaded an app to watch a movie. Halfway thru movie, tv froze. Now boots to this."

Ransomware on smart TVs is going to be a big problem

In November 2015, Symantec researchers conducted a test and installed ransomware on a smart TV. Even if the researcher who conducted the test was an expert on Android malware and was a very skilled professional, he found it very difficult to remove the malware from the infected TV, a task he said would be extremely difficult and nearly impossible for a non-technical user.

The same test was repeated three months later by researchers from Trend Micro, who arrived at the same conclusion.

Malware targeting smart TVs is not that common, but when it hits it's usually extremely difficult to deal with. For example, in January 2016, a user had a hard time removing a basic browser scareware (tech support scam). The infected TV was also an LG TV.

 

[giulia]

...some quotes from the article above:

hi
incredible news , and very scarry
so they can infect even smartphone
i hope they are only in the non legit software
i have only legit softwares/application in my phone , free and paid downloaded from google play (hope they will control deply the applications)
thanks for the information

 

[Solarquest]

It might help if you have a LG TV...at least it saves you 340 usd LG tech service would charge.

 

[Svoll]

That is disturbing news! Is anything safe from malware going forward in the future?

I can picture this in coming months, Sales Rep : TV is a great buy, but We highly recommend you buy said software to prevent it from viruses and malware and also an extended warranty in case said software is unable to repair TV. TV is $300, said software is $50 yearly, and warranty is $ 150.

I think the first thing i would try is restore the firmware on tv, and hope that the clear out the ransonware as that might wipe out the storage with master reset.

 

[frogboy]

Not a big fan of anything household IoT that can't be secured properly, having none of this in my household.

 

[jamescv7]

I think LG and other companies should have partnership with a security company in order to implement deep security mechanism in Iot and Smart TV.

Once a product connects to a wide range of internet then expect numerous issues.

 

[ant_gamal]

Video does not give solution as I saw

 

[soccer97]

That may be why some companies are developing/have already RTM their own 'thin' OS for SmartTv's (Tinzen). I never use the internet browser that came with the SmartTV. Its just too dangerous - as there is nothing protecting you. I am not sure why it is even included.