Google bans Videostrong from certified Android devices over alleged backdoor

Google says it has banned Videostrong and its future subsidiaries or affiliates from building or selling certified Android devices, or supplying software to other certified vendors. Google's threat intelligence team alleges the manufacturer deliberately installed a backdoor that enrolled more than 1.3 million set-top boxes into a botnet. Google says the malware loaded criminal affiliates' modules for advertising fraud, proxy services and additional malware. It also changed its device review process after finding that Videostrong concealed malicious code until after the first boot. Google and partners dismantled the backdoor last week, but affiliates distribute their malware through other channels too.