Viral code could drive unprotected users to danger

IT security firm Sophos has reminded users of the necessity to run up-to-date anti-virus software, as new reports reveal that a number of TomTom GO 910 satellite navigation devices for car drivers, have been shipped with malware pre-installed.

An Internet posting by British technology journalist Davey Winder contains a statement by the makers of the dashboard-mounted SatNav units acknowledging the incident.

According to Sophos, TomTom SatNav devices are Linux-based and cannot be infected by the malware.

However, Windows users who connect to the device via their USB port risk running the malicious code and infecting their desktop computers.

"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," Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos, said.

"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."

Experts at Sophos recommend that any storage device which is attached to a computer is checked for virus and other malware before use. Floppy disks, CD ROMs, USB keys, external hard drives and other devices are all capable of carrying malicious code that could infect the computers of innocent users.

Sophos explained that this is not the first time that manufacturers have accidentally distributed malicious code to their customers on hardware devices. In October last year it was discovered that some Apple video iPods had shipped with the Troj/Bdoor-DIJ Trojan horse, and that the Japanese subsidiary of McDonald's was recalling 10,000 MP3 players after discovering that a spyware Trojan horse was contained on the devices.

Sophos continues to recommend that companies protect themselves with a consolidated solution which can defend them from the threats of viruses, spyware and spam.

Sophos security solutions are available in Malta from Shireburn Software. For more information visit http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2007/01/tomtom.html.