Vo1d Botnet Infects 1.6 Million Android TVs Across 226 Countries

The Vo1d malware botnet has infected over 1.59 million Android TV devices across 226 countries, evolving into one of the largest botnets seen in recent years. Researchers from Xlab revealed that the botnet peaked on January 14, 2025, with 800,000 active bots, utilizing advanced encryption and sophisticated command-and-control infrastructure. Brazil is the most affected country, hosting nearly 25% of the infections, followed by South Africa and Indonesia. The rapid fluctuations in infection rates, such as a spike from 3,900 to 217,000 in India within three days, suggest that Vo1d may be renting out its infrastructure to other criminal groups for various illicit activities. The malware's resilience and stealth capabilities make it increasingly challenging to detect and disrupt. Experts recommend purchasing Android TVs from reputable sources and regularly updating their software to mitigate the risk of infection.