The German-language newspaper published a follow-up article today that quotes the Fortinet statement saying the toothbrush botnet wasn’t real. However, Google Translate’s translation indicates that Aargauer Zeitung’s new article maintains that Fortinet originally described the toothbrush botnet as a real example and not a hypothetical.
Given the doubts about whether the scenario even makes sense as a hypothetical, we reached out to Fortinet to ask for details on how a toothbrush botnet could work if hackers were determined to make it happen. We’ll update this article if we get an answer.
“What’s next, malware-infected dental floss?”
In addition to Tom’s Hardware, ZDNet spread the fiction in English with a story titled, “3 million smart toothbrushes were just used in a DDoS attack. Really.”
“What’s next, malware-infected dental floss?” ZDNet asked. ZDNet acknowledged that it didn’t really happen in an updated version of the article that insists the attack “could happen.”
The Independent, a British online news site, backtracked in a similar way. Its original story was titled, “Millions of hacked toothbrushes used in Swiss cyber attack, report says.” The Independent’s new version is titled, “Millions of hacked toothbrushes could be used in cyber attack, researchers warn.”
Graham yesterday praised Fortinet for “doing the right thing” by clearly stating to media outlets that the botnet story was false. Though he faulted journalists for the misinterpretation, Graham also previously criticized Fortinet for making “vague, unsubstantiated claims” about “something that could happen.”
“The entire story is crap,” he wrote.
This article was updated after publication to note that Aargauer Zeitung’s new article states that Fortinet originally described the toothbrush botnet as a real example and not a hypothetical.
