My home network got hit with a crypto miner last month

I was at my place in Phoenix when my internet got really slow. I checked my router logs and saw weird traffic to an IP in Russia. After digging, I found a hidden process on my old smart TV using 90% of my upload. I pulled the TV offline, ran a full scan, and changed all my passwords. Has anyone else found a miner on a smart device?

4 comments

4 Comments

angela_harris2mo ago

That "old smart TV" is the real problem. Those things stop getting security updates long before they stop working.

michaeltorres2mo ago

But honestly @angela_harris, I just keep mine off the wifi and use a streaming stick instead. The TV itself doesn't need updates that way.

ellis.faith1d ago

Whats the point of having a smart TV if it becomes a security risk after a few years? You end up with a big screen that's basically a liability unless you keep it off the internet forever. That's why I just bought a cheap dumb monitor and a Fire Stick I can swap out when it stops getting updates.

allen.kai2mo agoMost Upvoted

My old Samsung smart fridge tried to mine Monero in 2021. I guess the TV wanted a piece of the action. MichaelTorres has the right idea, just use a dumb screen with a separate streaming box you can actually secure. These old smart gadgets become dumb security holes the second the company stops caring about them.