Ad-free. Influence-free. Powered by consumers.
Skip to Main ContentThe payment for your account couldn't be processed or you've canceled your account with us.
Re-activateThe 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.
Build & Buy Car Buying Service
Save thousands off MSRP with upfront dealer pricing information and a transparent car buying experience.
Get Ratings on the go and compare
while you shop
