Open Set-Top Box Platforms Face Growing Malware Threat, Says Irdeto

Growing ubiquity of Android TV as a set-top box operating system of choice is opening the door to the potential threat of malicious apps coming from the app store or side-loaded via USB and attacking the set-top, blogged Irdeto Friday. Malware disguised as legitimate apps, plus Kodi-style apps misused for piracy, need to be controlled on operators' set-tops beyond what Google does with the app store, it said. Blanket denial of Kodi apps or add-ons will send consumers to another service provider, and blocking such malware and piracy apps needs to be balanced with the open-source nature of Android TV, Irdeto said.