The arrival of Android into the set-top box domain has brought both enthusiasm from consumers and new challenges to operators wanting to use them to deliver pay-TV services.
In a new white paper, Securing Android in Pay-TV Operations, Security specialist Conax says its important to separate the broadcast-OTT elements from pay-TV operations.
“Any end-user can always put his/her STB in a malicious home networking environment, and probe the STB’s networking interface for vulnerabilities. Although no miracle cure for network threats, a properly protected walled garden environment will drastically reduce the STB’s exposure to network attacks.”
Android TV for smart TVs is based on the Android 5.0 mobile operating system, dubbed Lollipop in line with Android’s love of confectionary-based technology. Android TV was first announced in June 2014 and has since been built into several smart TVs from e.g. Philips, Sony and Sharp and hybrid STBs.
Between 300 – 600 TV & media related apps are available from the Google Play store depending on market area, including those from YouTube, Netflix and HBO.
Conax has developed a security evaluation that has been designed to account for the increasing complexities of STB environments that result from providing both broadcast and OTT services in the STB.
It’s then possible to harden the security to a level well beyond the security requirements from both content owners and operators.
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