August 6, 2025 | 11:23 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) revealed cybercrime activities exploiting numerous Internet of Things (IoT) devices connected to home internet networks. Cybercriminals are using the BADBOX 2.0 botnet to infiltrate various devices, including streaming TVs, digital projectors, in-vehicle infotainment systems, digital photo frames, and other IoT devices, which are mostly manufactured in China.
The malware can infiltrate devices in two ways: it can be pre-installed during production, or it can be downloaded when users set up their devices and download applications containing backdoors. "Once these compromised IoT devices are connected to home networks, the infected devices are susceptible to becoming part of the BADBOX 2.0 botnet," wrote the FBI on the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) webpage, managed by the FBI on June 5, 2025.
BADBOX 2.0 is the second version of the malware identified in 2023. At that time, BADBOX mainly targeted newly manufactured or unsold Android devices. BADBOX 2.0 is found to be evolving as it can also infect devices when downloading harmful applications from unofficial markets.
"The BADBOX 2.0 botnet consists of millions of infected devices and maintains numerous backdoors to proxy services that cyber criminal actors exploit by either selling or providing free access to compromised home networks to be used for various criminal activity," announced the FBI.
Therefore, the FBI urges the public to evaluate the IoT devices in their homes. They are asked to watch out for indications of infiltration or hacking and consider disconnecting suspicious devices from home internet networks.
The FBI stated that they have identified potential indicators of the presence of BADBOX 2.0 intrusion. These include the origin of suspicious downloaded applications and requests for Google Play protection to be stripped from certain devices. Other indicators, such as uncertified Play Protect Android devices and suspicious or unrecognized internet traffic, are also mentioned.
For mitigation, the FBI advises all users of IoT devices to safeguard and monitor their home internet network traffic and to always check their connected devices for suspicious activity. Additionally, avoid downloading applications from unofficial digital markets or applications offering free streaming content.
Furthermore, users should update all operating systems, software, and firmware. "Prioritize patching firewall vulnerabilities and known exploited vulnerabilities in internet-facing systems," wrote the FBI.
In this public notice, the FBI does not endorse the commercial products of specific companies. References to specific business entities do not imply endorsement by the FBI.
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