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posted by on Wednesday January 04 2017, @08:13PM   Printer-friendly
from the we-control-the-horizontal,-we-control-the-vertical dept.

It took a year from proof of concept to in-the-wild attack, but ransomware for Android-based smart TVs is now here. As one victim discovered this Christmas, figuring out how to clean such an infection can be quite difficult.

Ransomware for Android phones has already been around for several years and security experts have warned in the past that it's only a matter of time until such malicious programs start affecting smart TVs, especially since some of them also run Android.

[...] Kansas-based software developer Darren Cauthon reported on Twitter on Dec. 25 that a family member accidentally infected his Android-based TV with ransomware after downloading a movie-watching app. The picture shared by Cauthon showed the TV screen with an FBI-themed ransom message.

[...] Eventually LG provided Cauthon with a solution that involved pressing and releasing two physical buttons on the TV in a particular order. This booted the TV, which runs the now defunct Android-based Google TV platform, into a recovery mode.

The Register also has additional details on the recovery method:

With the TV powered off, place one finger on the settings symbol then another finger on the channel down symbol. Remove finger from settings, then from channel down, and navigate using volume keys to the wipe data/ factory reset option. ®

-- submitted from IRC


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  • (Score: 1) by nitehawk214 on Wednesday January 04 2017, @10:06PM

    by nitehawk214 (1304) on Wednesday January 04 2017, @10:06PM (#449556)

    Only moderating you up for the subject line pun.

    --
    "Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
  • (Score: 3, Informative) by rts008 on Wednesday January 04 2017, @11:09PM

    by rts008 (3001) on Wednesday January 04 2017, @11:09PM (#449581)

    Appreciate that, but be forewarned, I usually only post such ilk when I've been drinking.
    I've had a bad cold, and been under the influence of blackberry brandy mixed with blackberry tea, and honey. Old family recipe, and for medicinal purpose only, I (hic) assure you.