Is Your Generic Android TV Box Compromised?

Find a Legit Box on Amazon: lon.tv/3gbd2 (compensated affiliate link) - Some recent reports suggest that many generic Android TV boxes are compromised with malware. Is your generic box legit? Here's how you can find out. See more TV boxes: lon.tv/settopbox and subscribe! lon.tv/s
Onn 4k review: • Walmart ONN Google TV ...
Buy one here: lon.tv/cu4nx (affiliate link)
VIDEO INDEX:
00:00 - Intro
00:58 - Techcrunch Article
02:12 - Google Blog Response
03:01 - How to Check
03:31 - PlayProtect Certification
05:33 - Potential Consequences
06:31 - Name Brand Options
07:25 - Conclusion
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[@dorkultra]

This is why I have a dedicated google account for my streaming devices, if it gets compromised there's nothing for them to really take

[@Sloppyjoe96]

this is what i was referring to in your ONN google tv review, why its nice they made that cheap option thats officially licensed

[@CommodoreFan64]

Stuff like this is why the only low cost Android TV boxes I personally tell people to get are the ONN boxes if they don't want to go with an official Chromecast.

[@tomscurlock3]

Lon, you did a great job. There are more ways to know if the device is safe. The security level is one way of knowing. It a device is Wide Vine Level 1 certified, it is safe. You nailed it with the certified Google ODM's. Linus did do a video on this topic. I had a few of the devices in question. They are one of the reasons I decided to build my own device.

[@drawsirhc]

Built your own? Please share.

[@MrPir84free]

@@drawsirhc Consider getting a SBC and roll your own with either Android, or Linux; or better yet, there are a ton of quad core 16G ram mini-computers that run Windows if that's your favorite flavor. Personally, there's a bunch of android boxes that should be avoided like the plague. The $200 Nvidia Shield is not that great of an option nowadays; pretty outdated hardware, with Nvidia doing very little for the platform; can't get a decent web browser on it for example, like Chrome, Firefox or Edge; games and such are limited in the Play Store to what Nvidia OK's. Most generic apps/browsers, etc in the Play Store aren't that well vetted anymore anyways. SBC= single board computer, like an Orange Pi 5 / Raspberry Pi 4, etc.

[@drawsirhc]

@@MrPir84free Thanks!

[@RBzee112]

Great info as usual. Longtime subscriber. Have you ever looked at travel routers? There are a few videos on YT already, but would love your take.

[@alliejr]

Great PSA!!! Thanks!!!

[@IMDABROWN]

very informational. thanks!

[@UlrichRyddle]

Great video and info. One reason I think a lot of these no-name Android boxes are so popular is because many of them promise unlimited free access to paid content. From what I've seen of reviews of these devices, they all seem to be accessing servers hosting pirated versions of the content (whether it's from Netflix or Disney+ or even movies that just released in theaters). "Free" and "available instantly" are powerful advertising words for those who don't know or don't care to ensure that they are using devices that are certified secure. Over the last several years, I've had to dissuade family members from buying and using no-name Android boxes that promise free access to paid content and are clearly security nightmares. The conversation usually goes something like, "Streaming services are too expensive. I just want to watch what I like, and this box says I can do it for free." I counter with, "That content isn't free, and the price you are paying to access it that way is the security of your data." Eventually I convince them, but then someone they know down the street gets a Nightmare Box, and I have to explain all over again.

[@GadgetAddict]

I use Google TV (Chromecast) and I'm still amazed by how "dumb" the voice feature is. Just like Google voice assistant in general. Everything has to be in just the right way, before it can work out what to do. With so many people talking to Google voice assistant every day, you'd think it would at least get good at the media stuff 🤷‍♂️

[@KabukeeJo]

What is stopping these pirates from putting in a fake "Google Play Protect Certified" screen to fool people?

[@burnzy3210]

My 2017 nvidia shield is still going strong and getting updates.

[@EugeneM-Lawrence]

I remember when the OS back in 2010 was called Google TV (Discontinued SDK and was removed in June 2014) after rebirth as android tv at June 25, 2014 now the new interface (skin) is also called Google TV since 2020 when they released de Google Chromecast with Google TV (4K version) the devices (TV Box and Dongle) that not certified the OS name is aosp (android open source project) Some of them a pretty good having hardware way better than some that bring android tv PS This Operation System keep evolving and by far is one of must use in the word.

[@EugeneM-Lawrence]

BTW... Most of the television, TV Box and Dongles companies with android tv/Google TV do not manufacture the devices in the case of Walmart, the manufacture of the 2021 model was manufactured by ASKEY and this year's 2023 SMDC.

[@_GarethRossUK]

Trouble is the Xiaomi Mi Box Gen 2 TV box still has SPDIF 3.5mm jack but no longer puts out a DTS or Dolby Digital sigbal on that port. My gen 1 still does others have started to report this as well. Android TV was based on android tv 9 now it's based on Google TV 11 but since android version 10 optical out isn't so well supported. I've since purchased a Windows 11 mini pc and a usb soundcard instead. I think it was GMKtec you've covered them before.

[@BaronOfHell666]

So to verify you are safe you have to hook the box into the internet. I guess that is okay if it doesn't do anything before you do the check but what do you do if it infects your network before you do the check?

[@michaelrousseau4373]

the Sheild and Apple TV 4K are my goto streaming devices

[@saysbadman]

I ended up grabbing a mi box s for the ability to use usb external storage. USB expansion seems to be hard to find nowadays in an adroid tv box.

[@matthewjbauer1990]

I like my Onn Google TV 4k. I use it in my bedroom. I wish I could get it to do 4k HDR on my Vizio 4k HDR TV in the living room. That said, I did some digging and found that Walmart sources its Onn branded electronics from Durabrand, who currently has a contract with Funai to rebrand their products for sale at Walmart. Its safe to assume Funai made the Onn Google TV devices. Funai is on the Google TV Partner list.

[@Jabid21]

After doing some searching, the new onn box is made by SDMC although I haven't seen that particular name on the android tv partners list, the previous one was made by Askey, which is a subsidiary of ASUS.

[@rockykhan6338]

im using tv boxes since 2018...before that i was paying huge money in cable bills but after i cut the chord in 2018 shifted to android tv boxes i havent paid a single penny to cable rent...furthurmore i also installed tv boxes in my various rooms ...personally using them since 2018 i havent got anything like this or scam etc .....on other hand its true i saved lots of money fr cable rent lol

[@warwagon]

The one thing these "Cheap Legit" Android TV boxes are missing is a USB port. That is a deal killer for some people. It's sad, because you have to spend a lot more money to get the USB port as even the Nvidia shield mini doesn't have it.

[@coreybabcock2023]

Yep definitely stick with name brands

[@MrMartellSincere]

Thankful fot brand name android boxes like Nvidia Shield

[@artdoyle9599]

The ONN TV android box is certified per play store.

[@LonSeidman]

Yes as was demonstrated in the video :)

[@domshiu157]

I have a dumb question, if i turn off the wifi on it and use it as a file server for TV, is that safe?

[@coreybabcock2023]

Only get Google certified or onn ones not that t95 thing it's junk I would never use anything but genuine and certified boxes

[@pinballdan]

I just bought the Nvidia Shield Pro and never looked back..1000% worth it !!

[@markverhoeven7518]

Lion site? Who can finally clear this up to me,, the name he calls out when closing

[@jessragan6714]

Well, at least my Xiaomi box seems safe. I have an MXQ I bought from a yard sale for a ridiculously low price, but it's never gotten enough use to become a malware vector. I've never been able to use it for ANYTHING, really. It's so old, I think Fred Flintstone might have used it on his stone television set. It's yabba-dabba-dookie.

[@richardvacanti9428]

Do you think mecool is legitimate?

[@kamildouglas]

linus did a great video about this a few weeks ago

[@Wooster77]

Amazon should pull such items from the site.

[@MrPir84free]

The Nvidia Shield WAS GREAT - but in today's market, it is sort of mediocre. And that's the Achilles heel of the Shield; Without adding in complexity and risk, for example, it's nearly impossible to get a GOOD browser on it without going outside of the installed Play Store. If you stick to the certified Play Store functionality, well, Edge, Chrome, Firefox -- all are NOT an option. Adding in other games or apps, well, at the mercy of Nvidia, it seems. Let's not mention that it's using oldish hardware behind the scene; 3G ram, 16 G flash storage, etc. Not modern by quite a margin. In contrast, for LESS than a NVIDIA Shield with its premium price of $200, I can get a SBC with 16G ram, 8 cores, and 256GB+ storage for less that CAN. With that, I can go Android, Linux, Armbian, or something else perhaps. Heck, nowadays, one can buy a MINI-PC for about the same price, OR LESS, as a NVidia Shield ; yes, that's right, with Windows 11 Pro, quad core, 16 G ram, 500G nvme - on a full blown mini-computer. In my opinion, Nvidia is biding their time with the Shield; waiting to see how much they can milk their cash cow, out of the Shield, before moving onto something else. 5 years ago, I'd have recommended it; nowadays, not so much. Recommending it today is akin to recommending Windows 7 today, or Internet Explorer 8.

[@coreybabcock2023]

I trust the onn brand cause Walmart wouldn't wanna associate themselves with scamware or malware

[@gaming-zombie1392]

My Onn Tablet is Good to go...

[@stevebeef4818]

I suspect the Nvidia Shield is dead. I'd like for them to release a newer version.

[@epicexposure]

Oh my. What about Verizon's TV Sound Bar? Is that legit?

[@LonSeidman]

That should be fine - it's mostly the no-name manufacturers that you should be worried about.

[@MarkGoffee]

👍🙏❤️

[@saysbadman]

I think the onn box is made by dynalink.

[@matthewjbauer1990]

That was the old one. Durabrand is the sourcer and currently uses Funai as the manufacturer but Element as the "brand" and warranty.

[@zoran123456]

basically stay away from any chinese tv boxes (which usually do not come with android tv, but "normal" android). And if you have any, use it for retro gaming (batocera OS for instance), or just throw it in the trash :)

[@mdluk199]

Most people have them for pirated content. I have 2 but will remove my account on them now I think and make up another Google account I don't care about

[@aaaa7842]

Just save up money and buy nvidia shield

[@malizair]

What about Prime OS for x86? It comes with preinstaled Play store. Does it has Play protect for Play store?

[@user-qx3hr8tx1i]

But once you connect to your WIFI to confirm it's play protect certified it's already too late? Terrible advice.

[@jmr]

I had a no name stick years ago! Never trusted it with my actual Google account.

[@mavfan1]

Is your “actual” Google account different from your Google account?

[@jmr]

@@mavfan1 I use my inactual Google account you snarky ..... 🤣

[@daiwafrog]

There's always funny people talking about their spyware/malware concern while totally ignoring the biggest "spyware" out there is google service itself. Same like the biggest spy agency in the world always criticizing others is spying on them and others...and you know who are they🤣

[@larrysmith2608]

isnt android opensource by default? hence pron to this issue.

[@Hansen710]

I stopped selling them years ago.. Why are you guys still ising them 🤯 The nvdia i had was only used for its gaming side, the skin sucks to much to be used for any streaming purpose A slow chinese box is way faster when it comes to choose what stream to watch

[@2112earl]

Nvidia Shield all the way

[@Doktati]

I buy NOTHING from Chinese companies.

[@richardvacanti9428]

Do you think mecool is legitimate?