Google has initiated a lawsuit against 25 unnamed individuals in China, accusing them of compromising over 10 million devices worldwide to establish a botnet named BadBox 2.0, involved in various cybercrimes. The botnet includes infected AOSP-based TV streaming boxes, tablets, projectors, and car infotainment systems, representing the largest connected TV botnet uncovered to date. Google claims that BadBox 2.0 disrupts its user relationships and damages its reputation. The lawsuit aims to dismantle the operation by targeting its infrastructure and potentially sinkholing associated command and control domains.
"As of April 2025, BadBox 2.0 is comprised of more than ten million infected AOSP-based TV streaming boxes, tablets, projectors, and after-sale car infotainment systems."
"This lawsuit enables us to further dismantle the criminal operation behind the botnet, cutting off their ability to commit more crime and fraud."
"BadBox interferes with Google's relationships with its users, harms Google's reputation, and forces Google to devote substantial resources to investigate and combat the botnet's harmful activity."
"The first BadBox outbreak occurred in late 2022 after attackers infected around 74,000 off-brand Android-powered internet-connected TV devices with backdoors."
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