One of Google’s Android partners turned 1.3 million set-top boxes into a botnet
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Google says one of its Android manufacturing partners secretly built a backdoor in 1.3 million devices and turned them into a botnet. The company says it has now dismantled the backdoor and "cut ties" with the manufacturer, the Shenzhen, China-based Videostrong Technology Co., which has been banned
The one-panel cartoon
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A high-end home theater room with a large TV and a sleek set-top box labeled 'Videostrong' in the foreground, with wires and cables neatly arranged around it, a remote control and a pair of headphones lying beside it.
Caption: Your home entertainment just got a taste of the dark web.
Read the full 3-panel strip
Based on the original story on theverge.com.
Editor's note
Who knew your TV could throw a mean temper tantrum and take down websites? It's like finding out your smart toaster is plotting world domination on the sly. But hey, at least now we know it's not just our gadgets being quirky; they can be downright rebellious too!
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Panel 1
(a) The subject of this story is an Android device manufacturer, Videostrong Technology Co., which produces set-top boxes running on Android. The irony lies in the fact that a company that makes devices designed to stream and display media content secretly built a backdoor to turn those devices into a botnet, which is the exact opposite of what these devices are meant to do. (b) The real absurdity is that a company that builds devices meant for home entertainment and ease of use instead chose to turn them into a potential threat to internet security. (c) The highlight is the contrast between the devices' intended purpose and their actual use as a botnet. ### Script
Panel 2
*Setting: A cozy living room with a large TV, a set-top box connected to it, and a family gathered around the TV watching a streaming service.* *Characters: FAMILY (father, mother, and kids)* *Father:* (pointing at the screen) *Mother:* (smiling)
Father: Check out this new streaming service, kids. It’s perfect for our weekend movie marathon.
Mother: That’s right. We can finally watch all those films we’ve been meaning to see.
Panel 3
*Setting: A dark, crowded server room with rows of humming servers. A hacker is sitting at a desk, staring at a computer screen showing a network diagram of millions of devices.* *Characters: HACKER* *Hacker:* (to himself, typing furiously)
Hacker: Looks like I’ve got 1.3 million Android set-top boxes at my fingertips. Time to unleash a little chaos.
Panel 4
*Setting: A courtroom with a judge's bench, a prosecutor, and a defendant. The defendant is wearing a collar and handcuffs, and the judge is holding a gavel.* *Characters: JUDGE, PROSECUTOR, DEFENDANT* *Judge:* *Defendant:* (sheepishly) *Judge:* (rolling eyes)
Judge: Mr. Videostrong, you’ve turned 1.3 million devices designed for entertainment into a botnet. Care to explain why you thought that was a good idea?
Defendant: Your Honor, I thought they were just really good at streaming media.
Judge: Let this be a lesson to all: don’t build backdoors in devices designed to keep families entertained.
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