FLocker Android Ransomware Makes Its Way onto SmartTVs

Ransomware has undoubtedly been a major annoyance for countless computer users across the globe. In the recent developments that we have witnessed during the evolution of ransomware, we have taken notice to FLocker ransomware making its way onto SmartTVs, ones that run the Android Operating System.

It hasn't been much of a mystery to the fact that SmartTVs are vulnerable to ransomware attacks. Most consumers of new SmartTVs are not aware that ransomware has made it onto such devices, ones that run a version of the popularized Android operating system. Many TV manufacturers have opted to power their TV's system by Android, essentially making the entertainment environment "connected" to the Internet and all of the apps that it has to offer much like the experience you have on your smartphone.

The Android operating system has long been a platform that hackers take advantage of to infiltrate devices with malware mostly due to its openness. Moreover, with SmartTVs steadily adopting the use of Android in a somewhat scaled down version, attackers are steadily on the hunt for new victims.

What has taken place in the recent months is the FLocker ransomware has taken hold of many SmartTVs that run Android where it locks up the TV in a way the user can no longer watch programming. Instead, the TV user is left to view a lock screen of a fake system update message that scares users into paying a ransom fee to unlock the TV.

Much like recent encryption-type ransomware infection processes on infected Windows PCs, SmartTVs infected with FLocker will display a ransom note on the entire screen and starts to encrypt files with a hard coded AES encryption key and algorithm. FLocker had its start many months ago but was primarily targeting smartphones running the Android OS. At the time, FLocker would display lock screens on infected Android smartphones, encrypts data, and then ask that a ransom fee is paid to restore access. Most of the users infected with FLocker ransomware at the time of its discovery were left with useless devices that may or may not be recovered by rooting the device.

When it comes to FLocker ransomware on SmartTVs, most affected users are completely unaware of the potential repercussions or how to apply a viable solution to the issue. With that in mind, FLocker is steadily pushing victimized users to the point of contacting the manufacturer of their SmartTV in hopes to get their TV repaired. Others have paid the ransom fee to restore access to their SmartTV, which is a demanded fee of $200 in iTunes gift cards.

Several security experts and computer security firms are predicting a major rise in ransomware attacks on other devices, such as SmartTVs. Symantec has released the following recommendation to all users who are infected with FLocker:

"If an Android TV gets infected, we suggest user to contact the device vendor for solution at first. Another way of removing the malware is possible if the user can enable ADB debugging. Users can connect their device with a PC and launch the ADB shell and execute the command "PM clear %pkg%". This kills the ransomware process and unlocks the screen. Users can then deactivate the device admin privilege granted to the application and uninstall the app."