Malware Found Preinstalled on 30,000 Android Devices in Germany

A concerning cybersecurity issue has surfaced in Germany, where investigators uncovered that nearly 30,000 Android devices were sold with preinstalled malware.

The malware, dubbed “BadBox,” resides in the device firmware and affects various internet-enabled devices, including digital picture frames and media players operating on outdated Android versions, according to the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).

“In all cases known to the BSI, the BadBox malware was already installed on the respective devices when they were purchased,” the agency confirmed in its report.

Once active, the malware can repurpose infected devices into tools for cybercriminals, enabling them to exploit home internet networks to launch attacks. It can also download additional malware and conduct fraudulent activities by accessing websites and ads in the background.

To mitigate the threat, the BSI has employed a method called “sinkholing,” which redirects internet traffic from compromised devices to servers controlled by the government. This measure prevents the malware from connecting to the hackers’ command systems.

“There is no acute danger for these devices as long as the

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