Imported Electronics Acting as Vectors for Viruses

This is an interesting article from the Dallas Morning News which reports that "From iPods to navigation systems, some of today's hottest gadgets are landing on store shelves with some unwanted extras from the factory – pre-installed viruses that steal passwords, open doors for hackers and make computers spew spam."

The infected gadgets include iPod's, digital picture frames sold by Target and Best Buy, and TomTom NV's navigation gear. There wasn't any mention of flash or hard disk drives but I'm sure they're susceptible to this method of infection as well.

Right now the infections are thought to be caused by lax quality control practices rather than an organized attack.

For example, a factory computer used to test gadgets is infected with a virus which transfers it to a music player; the device acting as a delivery system for the virus. When the customer plugs it into their home computer, the virus installs itself.

I always took it for granted flash drives and other electronic joy that I purchase is uninfected.

Nothing is sacred anymore.

CU