Chinese PC virus in digital photo frames! Scary!!
Saw this article today about Chinese PC virus that collects passwords for online games.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/351670_picframevirus18.html
Another virus ... right? Wrong!
This one has bigger implications in my mind. Look at the source of the virus. Its in digital photo frames! How did it get there??
Was it introduced in the manufacturing process?? Now thats a scary though isn't it?
1. There is a proliferation of the consumer devices with software in them - bluetooth headsets, digital cameras, music players, digital frames, etc. Apparently more than 2.26 million digital frames were sold in 2007 and is expected o grow at 50%! How many other consumer devices could potentially be infected with such viruses?
2. Today we believe manufacturers to be honest, as long as we buy the devices from brand name retailers. And then we buy so many of them online from nobodys. If manufacturers can do this and get away with it, that makes me feel that we have to be more selective in choosing the products and brands. That scares me because I wouldn't want to spend so much time reviewing manufacturers for such commodity items.
Interesting times!!
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/351670_picframevirus18.html
Another virus ... right? Wrong!
This one has bigger implications in my mind. Look at the source of the virus. Its in digital photo frames! How did it get there??
Was it introduced in the manufacturing process?? Now thats a scary though isn't it?
How all this malware got onto the photo frames and what it's doing there is unclear. Trojans can download other Trojans, which is part of how botnets are controlled.That scares me at two levels.
While SANS is investigating the infections, the retailers are saying little.
Sam's Club said it has found no infected frames, and its distributor, Advanced Design Systems, did not return calls.
A few Target customers complained about frames distributed by Uniek, a store spokesman said. Target is no longer selling those frames, but that's because they didn't sell well over the holidays, he said. Target has found no infections, he said, but is watching for them.
Best Buy said one line of its Insignia frames -- also now discontinued -- was infected during manufacturing but would not provide details.
Costco did not return calls seeking comment.
1. There is a proliferation of the consumer devices with software in them - bluetooth headsets, digital cameras, music players, digital frames, etc. Apparently more than 2.26 million digital frames were sold in 2007 and is expected o grow at 50%! How many other consumer devices could potentially be infected with such viruses?
2. Today we believe manufacturers to be honest, as long as we buy the devices from brand name retailers. And then we buy so many of them online from nobodys. If manufacturers can do this and get away with it, that makes me feel that we have to be more selective in choosing the products and brands. That scares me because I wouldn't want to spend so much time reviewing manufacturers for such commodity items.
Interesting times!!
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