GPS viruses - Has your device been infected?
The threat of direct-from-factory viruses in portable GPS navigation devices lit up the tech message boards and blogs about a year and a half ago. The risk may have been overstated that a virus could be transferred between a GPS device and PC, though the possibility raises some interesting questions.
We have seen only one official reference to a unit shipping with a virus. TomTom states in a press release from January 29, 2007: "A small, isolated number of TomTom GO 910's, produced in one week in the last quarter of 2006, may be infected with a virus. The virus is qualified as low risk and does not affect the navigation performance..."
We have not seen other such cases reported, nor experienced a virus with the 100 or so GPS units we've tested since then.
However, a recent report on CNN.com sourced from the Associated Press "Electronic gadgets latest sources of computer viruses" got the CR GPS test team's attention. It seems other household electronic devices including digital frames have been found to ship from the factory with a no-extra-charge virus onboard. The article cites TomTom as having had a problem.
For a quick reality check, we wanted to reach out to see if our readers have experienced such problems with personal navigation devices. If you have, please describe the problem and name the device in the comments below.
Updated 4/4/08.
For more information on portable GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.
Posted by: michaelpo@gmail.com | Apr 2, 2008 9:27:40 AM
does this gps virus affects windows pc only?
does this gps virus also affects mac, unix, linux or bsd pcs?
Posted by: T. Kriesel | Apr 3, 2008 9:57:19 AM
4/3/08
I have had a 910 for about a year with no problems that I can see. Have hooked it up to three different computers. HTK
Posted by: J Moore | Apr 3, 2008 4:17:12 PM
After reading the report about viruses in TomTom units, I hooked my TomTom One up to my computer and scanned if for viruses using Norton Internet Security. None were found. Any electronic device that hooks to a computer and is seen as a drive could be scanned for viruses using a security program. Also, updated security programs would probably protect your computer from an attempt to download viruses from an electronic device.
Posted by: WRP | Apr 3, 2008 9:06:22 PM
Most users with viruses have enough trouble eliminating them, let alone determining the point of infection. The straw poll is a nice idea, but I don't expect you'll get much accuracy out of it.
Posted by: al | Apr 4, 2008 10:58:16 AM
The report about the virus was actually an accident in the factory, while programming in some cases a virus was installed, but the virus was years old so no real thread and definitely not a thread to the navigation device since it is LINUX based
Once this was found out all production was stopped and the one computer in the factory that caused the problem was removed.
For those who claim there is a virus on or for personal navigation devices this is not true, it is a story that can not be covered with fact.
Posted by: Arthur Brown | Apr 4, 2008 12:24:54 PM
I have a TomTom One XLS that was attached to my laptop when the battery failed due to a faulty AC adapter. After fixing the AC adapter and restarting my laptop, the wireless connectivity has stopped working. I don't know if this a virus, but I am still struggling with it. I already stopped and restarted my modem and router in the proper sequence - no help. My base desktop is working fine.
Posted by: Jerry Toney | Apr 6, 2008 11:14:47 AM
I have had a Garmin 5i for several years. There have been only minor misses with the map locations. Recently, I purchased the map update CD. I did not have a problem using it in March. However, yesterday, it took 30 minutes to locate the satellites. Then it asked me if I had moved hundreds of miles since the last use and if the date was March 30 instead of April 5. It finally acquired the satellites and I had no problem going on a 120 mile trip yesterday afternoon. On the return trip, I started having problems. For example, the road comes to a "T" intersection. You must go one way or the other. The unit gives no directions at all. Only when you choose the wrong direction does it say "recalculating". Also, it wanted me to turn onto a major highway 0.5 miles past the intersection.
Posted by: Jim | Apr 6, 2008 7:12:42 PM
Relax - this sounds seriously blown out of proportion. First off, this "news" first appeared on January 28th.
http://www.daniweb.com/blogs/entry1276.html
Secondly, while this is not good for TomTom's publicity, your risk is really very low. Because this virus was first detected by antivirus companies in June 2006 at the latest, any decent antivirus should detect and remove it in short order. Here's McAfee's writeup:
http://vil.nai.com/vil/content/v_139841.htm
Here's Symantec's writeup:
http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2003-121018-1953-99
News media tend to sensationalize isolated incidences (remember when a few iPods shipped with a Windows virus?), and while this is an interesting case, the odds of it happening seem astronomically low. Besides, if you're running Windows, you really ought to run a decent antivirus and keep it updated, regardless of publicized threats. Responding to another comment, I've never heard of a virus destroying hardware such as your wireless card (at least not outside legend or Hollywood). For what it's worth, I've had a TomTom One for about a year - no problem whatsoever and I love it.
Posted by: Joe | Apr 7, 2008 4:40:33 AM
I purchased my TOMTOM 910 in/around Nov 2006 and when I first connected it to my laptop, my Symnatec Antivirus program found and secured two files that were found with a virus. I since wiped my laptop's harddrive and then updated my antivirus program and haven't seen any virus since.
Posted by: Chuck | Apr 7, 2008 11:41:59 PM
I'm searching for answers to the problems I'm having with my factory installed GMC navigational device. The unit is off by anywhere from 300ft to 2 miles on addresses put into the unit. I have spoken with GMC and they offer no solution. Could this be a virus on the CD in the unit? I also have a portable Garmin unit that identifies all addresses correctly.
Posted by: Gab | May 1, 2008 1:52:40 AM
This is insane, now GPS with virus. Well I guess Anti virus company will be smiling a lot. What happens if the virus then decides to jump to another system in the car? This is going to far...