Sat-nav system targeted by Windows malware

IT HAD TO HAPPEN eventually: you know those Tom Tom gizmos that are all the rage with car nuts and the easily lost? Well, some of those satellite navigation wotsits have recently shipped with malware on board.

British technology journo Davey Winder made a post online containing a post by the Sat-nav makers confirming the incident - though as yet, there's no available advice on TomTom's website. Says virus watchdog Sophos, the TomTom SatNav gadgets are Linux-based and can't be infected by the malware, however, Windows users who connect the device to their USB port are at risk of running the malicious code.

The cases of infection go back to about September last year, and there have been several - luckily though, these users were all running antivirus software and caught the nasty code before it had a chance to cause all sorts of problems. "What's more worrying," says Sophos gent Graham Cluley, "is that there may be many innocent consumers out there who are unaware they have passed an infection onto their Windows PC."

As the tech savvy will know, it's pretty much a good idea to check external devices for viruses and malware before use, however, there will be many folks out there who could well be none-the-wiser. Be vigilant, people. µ