Beware! Your Amazon Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Could Have Malware

Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick seem to be infected with cryptocurrency mining malware.

Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV stick users might have to worry about a cyrptocurrency malware in their hardware.

(Photo: iStock)

Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick users have something to worry about as their video streaming hardware might be carrying a cryptocurrency-mining malware, according to a report by AFTVnews.

More commonly known as the 'ADB.Miner' malware, it is installing itself on Amazon gadgets as an application dubbed 'Test' under the package name 'com.google.time.time.'

The bug isn’t only targeting Amazon gadgets but also going after Android-based operating systems as they have been found to be vulnerable against this cryto-mining bug.

What’s Bugging Your Device?

According to the reports, there is no app called ‘Test’ on the Amazon app store, yet it is installing itself on the Amazon Fire TV interface. Despite several attempts of removing the app, it still doesn’t budge and remains intact in the system.

Reports also suggest that the app is some sort of a bug which installs itself as a subsidiary to sideloaded apps on Amazon’s streaming devices. With the help of these sideloaded apps, users can download pirated content.

How to Know if Your Gizmo is Infected?

An infected device will lag, be slow to use and loading apps will take much longer than usual. Why? Because much of the device’s memory is being used to mine cryptocurrency.

A screen that says “Test” with a green Android robot icon will also occasionally appear if the device is infected. Most of the devices which have the default setting of the ADB Debugging and Apps from Unknown Sources in the Fire TV interface checked off, will be safe.

Check & Re-check

According to AFTVnews there is a way to check whether your device is infected. You will need to install an application called Total Commander from the Amazon app store. After the application is installed, select the Installed Apps icon where you will be able to spot whether the malware app has been installed or not.

If the coast is clear, you’re lucky!

Is There a Fix?

There is no easy fix to remove the bug from the device. You can get rid of it by opting for a factory reset, uninstalling the app or even installing a modified version of the Android malware.