Kodi has released an updated version of its popular open-source app to fix a number of bugs and security issues.
The makers said the latest update – Kodi 17.3 – has some important fixes after cyber security firm Check Point claimed hackers could easily gain access to people’s computers and devices using the Kodi app.
Kodi 17.3 now includes a patch to prevent malicious zip files from infecting and harming people’s devices and media players, its makers added.
Kodi wrote in a statement: ‘Our developers fixed this secuity gap and have added the fix to this v17.2 release. As such we highly encourage all users to install this latest version!
‘Any previous Kodi version will not get any security patch. We have began the roll out of this version and Android Play Store as well as Windows Store have this update pending and will roll out as soon as possible.’
Here is how to download the new version as well as a little more information about Kodi and FireStick.
What is Kodi?
Okay, back to basics. Kodi is an app designed to allow users to stream films, shows, games and programmes free of charge.
It’s an open-source bit of software that was originally designed for Xbox but has gone on to grow from there. It is owned by the not for profit organisation XBMC Foundation.
It can be live-streamed on Amazon Fire TV Stick.
What is the FireStick?
FireStick looks a bit like a flash drive.
It can plug into the HDMI port of a television to enable the television to stream content over wifi. This might include Netflix, YouTube, HBO Ho and others.
You can get them on Amazon here.
Why is Kodi controversial?
There’s a recent legal case where a trader in Middlesborough was found guilty of selling ‘fully-loaded’ TV boxes modified to allow any user to gain access to paid-for television services for free.
The trader was ordered to pay £250,000 after selling the boxes to bars and pubs.
However the software itself isn’t illegal nor are the boxes – the trader was only prosecuted as his boxes were ‘fully loaded’ with plug ins and add ons that allowed access to pirated television shows and this is in breach of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Installing Kodi on your Firestick is perfectly legal as long as you are not downloading any pirated content or paid-for subscription content, according to The Daily Mirror.
How to update Kodi on FireStick
1) Go to the HOME screen on your FireStick device
2) Enable ADB debugging through SYSTEM / SETTINGS
3) Go to SEARCH on the FireStick HOME screen and type ‘DOWNLOADER’ to search for the downloader app
4) Select ‘APPS AND GAMES’ in the search results and click to download and install
5) After it is installed, open the app and tap in http://bit.ly/kodi173arm then download it
6) If the downloader app doesn’t open the file automatically, click OPEN FILE to open the file and select install
7) Click OPEN APP to open and start Kodi
MORE: Kodi crackdown continues as major video add-on shuts down over jail fears
MORE: Kodi box users ‘could face up to 10 years in jail’ under new piracy laws
[“Source-ndtv”]
