Guru3D.com
  • HOME
  • NEWS
    • Channels
    • Archive
  • DOWNLOADS
    • New Downloads
    • Categories
    • Archive
  • GAME REVIEWS
  • ARTICLES
    • Rig of the Month
    • Join ROTM
    • PC Buyers Guide
    • Guru3D VGA Charts
    • Editorials
    • Dated content
  • HARDWARE REVIEWS
    • Videocards
    • Processors
    • Audio
    • Motherboards
    • Memory and Flash
    • SSD Storage
    • Chassis
    • Media Players
    • Power Supply
    • Laptop and Mobile
    • Smartphone
    • Networking
    • Keyboard Mouse
    • Cooling
    • Search articles
    • Knowledgebase
    • More Categories
  • FORUMS
  • NEWSLETTER
  • CONTACT

New Reviews
Fractal Design Pop Air RGB Black TG review
Palit GeForce GTX 1630 4GB Dual review
FSP Dagger Pro (850W PSU) review
Razer Leviathan V2 gaming soundbar review
Guru3D NVMe Thermal Test - the heatsink vs. performance
EnGenius ECW220S 2x2 Cloud Access Point review
Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora HPE 360 LCS cooler review
Noctua NH-D12L CPU Cooler Review
Silicon Power XPOWER XS70 1TB NVMe SSD Review
Hyte Y60 chassis review

New Downloads
AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 22.6.1 WHQL driver download
GeForce 516.59 WHQL driver download
Media Player Classic - Home Cinema v1.9.22 Download
AMD Chipset Drivers Download v4.06.10.651
CrystalDiskInfo 8.17 Download
AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 22.6.1 Windows 7 driver download
ReShade download v5.2.2
HWiNFO Download v7.26
7-Zip v22.00 Download
GeForce 516.40 WHQL driver download


New Forum Topics
Review: Palit GeForce GTX 1630 4GB Dual AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 22.6.1 - Driver download and discussion nvidia HD audio driver issues i-3 Processor upgrade According to Asus and Gigabyte, motherboard sales will fall by 25% this year. Nvidia shows signs ... Tensor Core equivalent Likely to Get Embedded in AMD rDNA3 AMD Radeon Software - UWP [3rd-Party Driver] Amernime Zone Radeon Insight 22.5.1 WHQL Driver Pack (Released) Samsung Starts Chip Production with 3nm Process Technology and GAA Architecture




Guru3D.com » News » Ransomware now targets Smart TVs

Ransomware now targets Smart TVs

by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 12/30/2016 09:21 AM | source: | 51 comment(s)
Ransomware now targets Smart TVs

Own a smart TV running Android ? Be warned, ransomware can also infect televisions. Twitter user Darren Cauthon has tweeted how the TV of a family member was bricked after it was infected by ransomware.

The infection took place when the family member downloaded an app to watch a movie reports myce.com. 

Ransomware asks for $500 to unlock device, LG asks for $340 to help

Cauthon says he tried to reset the TV to factory settings, but the reset procedure available online didn't work. When the software engineer contacted LG, the company told him to visit one of their service centers, where one of its employees could reset his TV.

This angered Cauthon because factory reset procedures shouldn't be secret, but also because the service center visit implied a $340 bill. The ransomware asked Cauthon to pay $500 to unlock his TV.

As one commenter on Twitter pointed out, it would be cheaper to buy a new TV. "Avoid these 'smart tvs' like the plague," Cauthon added following his discussion with LG.

Halfway the movie a fake FBI warning popped up stating, “Suspicious files have been found and your attendance of the forbidden pornographic sites has been fixed. For this reason your device has been locked. Information on your location and snapshots containing your face have been uploaded the on the FBI Cybercrime Department Datacenter.”
  

 
The ransom note then lists a penalty that has to be paid within 3 days, in this case $500. Similar ransomware was already found on smartphones and where it’s fairly easy to remove ransomware from a smartphone, on a TV it’s a much more difficult venture.

The affected TV in this case was a three year old and discontinued LG TV (50GA6400). When Cauthon called LG for a fix, the manufacturer didn’t want to explain how to reset the TV to factory settings and the ransomware prevented access to any settings of the TV. It was even impossible to access the section where the payment details of the ransomware are, in case a victim actually hoped the TV would be unlocked when a payment was made.

Nevertheless, after complaining on Twitter and after his Tweet was retweeted and favorited thousands of times, LG contacted Cauthon. His TV is now fixed, as the video below shows.
  



Ransomware now targets Smart TVs




« AMD Ryzen Processors can possibly OC to 5 GHz On Air · Ransomware now targets Smart TVs · BenQ releases W1600UST projector for Big-Screen Family Entertainment »

Related Stories

Ransomware offers free decryption key to victims if they infect 2 others - 12/12/2016 10:46 AM
Well, it's creative alright. A new ransomware is hitting the web with a twist. It offers its victims a free decryption key if they infect two or more other internet users with the malware that pay t...

Criminals give away universal unlock key for TeslaCrypt-ransomware - 05/19/2016 08:27 AM
I kind of bizarre story really, ESET released a tool that can unlock encrypted files that have been infected with the latest versions of TeslaCrypt-ransomware. Apparently that was possible as crimina...

Synology NAS servers plagued by Ransomware (updated) - 08/06/2014 07:00 PM
Multiple users of the popular Synology NAS are complaining that their NAS unit was infected with Ransomware, encrypting their data rendering it as inaccessible. A new malware called Synolocker encrypt...

Cryptolocker Like Ransomware Spreads to Android Devices - 05/08/2014 08:16 AM
Quick, pay this fine or the FBI will arrest you! That's how a new type of Android ransomware is tricking people into paying up. Once installed, the malware, dubbed "Koler.A," locks up th...


11 pages « < 8 9 10 11


PrMinisterGR
Senior Member



Posts: 8001
Joined: 2014-09-27

#5384563 Posted on: 01/24/2017 03:47 PM
Well, now I know I won't be buying any TVs from LG.


Hey, why not. At least they'll tell you if you Twittershame them.

11 pages « < 8 9 10 11


Post New Comment
Click here to post a comment for this news story on the message forum.


Guru3D.com © 2022