Kodi is a media server software for unlimited online streaming. It enables people to run a wide range of media from a smartphone, tablet, computer, games console or even your TV. It was originally only running on the first Xbox, but it was not authorized by Microsoft so only available if you were able to hack the console or add a modchip.
Since then, it has evolved thanks to work by many different coders and overseen by the XBMC Foundation. In 2014, the XBMC re-branded to Kodi. Kodi is a free resource and while it has opened up a wealth of fantastic entertainment for millions of people, it has also opened them up to malware attacks.
How to Protect Kodi from Malware
Here are some of the most common ways malware can attack this popular media center software and how you can protect your Kodi.
Cryptojacking
Cryptocurrency is becoming an increasingly popular and valuable resource which has also led to the rise of Cryptojacking as a form of cyberattack. Cryptojacking is when a hacker is able to mine cryptocurrency without your knowledge by hacking into your network or system.
While cryptojacking won’t release harmful viruses onto your device or steal your data, it can seriously impact the performance of the device and, in some cases, can cause it to crash. You are particularly at risk from cryptojacking if you have installed it on an Amazon Fire TV stick. To protect your Kodi device from being cryptojacked, you should install an add-on such as TVAddon’s No-Coin Scan.
DDoS Botnet Attacks
DDoS stands for Distributed Denial of Service. It is a form of cyberattack that tries to prevent traffic from getting to the targeted server or network by flooding it with traffic from lots of different computer systems or devices (which have been compromised by the hacker).
Essentially the high levels of traffic cause a jam which prevents traffic from entering or leaving the server, halting its ability to function. In 2017 an add-on for Kodi called Exodus made the server vulnerable to DDoS attacks as it included malicious code.
This means that other Kodi add-ons could be infected as well. To prevent a DDoS attack, it is highly recommended that you exercise extreme caution when downloading any add-ons and try to only use software known to be safe. Installing antimalware software such as McAfee can also help to detect and prevent such attacks from affecting your devices.
Subtitle Malware
Subtitle malware is a type of ‘exploit’ which hides in the subtitle files you download onto your device. The files are difficult to detect and may not cause issues immediately, but they lie in wait ready to attack your device. It is very difficult to remove subtitle malware once it has been downloaded.
According to Kodi, the vulnerability in the system which was allowing this exploit has now been fixed. You will only be protected, however, if you have updated Kodi since this issue has been addressed. Kodi does not update automatically, so if you are not using the most up to date version, you may still be vulnerable. Update your Kodi to the latest version to protect your device from subtitle malware.
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