Internet security firmSophos has
warnedTomTom users of a
Trojan virus that can infect their PCs when the satellite
navigation system is connected to their machines.
Media reports say TomTom has admitted that a batch of the
devices have been shipped with the offending malware, although the
company does not mention the issue on its website.
Sophos says the Linux-based devices cannot run the Trojan threat
within their own systems, but if the device is connected to a
Windows PC users face their machines becoming infected.
Last year, Apple Computer admitted that an unspecified number of
its new iPod video players were shipped with malware, and
McDonald’s in Japan was forced to recall thousands of MP3 players
it had given away to customers after discovering they too were
infected.
"There are a number of postings on the internet from TomTom
purchasers asking for advice about the viruses, going back as far
as September 2006," said Graham Cluley, senior technology
consultant for Sophos.
"But they are the lucky ones who were running an anti-virus
product and caught the infection before it could cause too much
harm.
“What's more worrying is that there may be many innocent
consumers out there who are unaware they have passed an infection
onto their Windows PC," said Cluley.
Productivity challenge: working with the iPod
generation
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