Highly reviewed speaker can be hacked over the air to infect connected devices

Key points

• Operating system makers take many steps to prevent their wares from accepting commands from remote devices.
• The safeguards, designed to thwart malicious attacks, typically require hackers to jump through all kinds of hoops to bypass the measures.
• But what if remote code execution were as simple as being within Bluetooth range of a speaker connected to the targeted device?
• It turns out it can, at least when the speaker is a Sound Blaster Katana V2X sold by Singapore-based Creative Technologies.
• The speaker, which sells for $280, is widely acclaimed with numerous reviews showering praise on its sound and performance.