Best Buy confirms it sold virus-infected Insignia photo frames, no recall in the works

As we noted a week back, Best Buy's house-brand Insignia photo frames are indeed virus-infected, but now it appears Best Buy is doing something about it. Unfortunately, info is still slim at the moment from company lips. Best Buy says it's "connecting with our customers who may have been impacted," and has pulled remaining inventory from the shelves, but there are no plans for a recall of the infected NS-DPF10A, and Best Buy won't specify what specific type of malware we're dealing with. Best Buy seems to think that anti-virus software should have no problem dealing with the old-ish trojan in the frames, and recommends customers plug the frame into a PC and run some current anti-virus software to eradicate the malware. Macs are unaffected, and Apple could be seen on the playground making smarmy remarks about the incident to anyone who'd listen.

[rock99rock @ Jan 24th 2008 9:52AM]

Haha he said smarmy. Awesome.

[Onetruebill @ Jan 24th 2008 12:29PM]

He meant to say MOMMY remarks...
Now I see why you guys get mad at Apple...
THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT YOUR MOTHERS!
Lets strike back, Steve Jobs Momma is SOOO fat... when she sits around the house...
No one knows, cause its a house on a Mac.

[Onetruebill @ Jan 24th 2008 12:30PM]

He meant to say MOMMY remarks...
Now I see why you guys get mad at Apple...
THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT YOUR MOTHERS!
Lets strike back, Steve Jobs Momma is SOOO fat... when she sits around the house...
No one knows, cause its a house on a Mac.

[Chebwa @ Jan 24th 2008 10:03AM]

How the hell does stuff like this even happen!? So pathetic.

[Arjan @ Jan 24th 2008 10:04AM]

With a trojan installed, it shouldn't be all that hard to "connect with their customers"?

Arjan

[Dave Dave Dave @ Jan 24th 2008 10:05AM]

in regargs to macs & viruses - it's no fun creating viruses for an operating system no one uses - replace "no one" with "under 8% market share." it's easy to become smarmy when you have been ignored by the general public for the greater part of your life... Of course I type this as I fantasize about my pre-ordered MacBook Air, so I guess I have a crush on the Daria of the computing world.

[Tamer Brad @ Jan 24th 2008 10:45AM]

Right, because there's no virus coders who would like to take those Apple elitists down a peg, right?

[Ignatius @ Jan 24th 2008 10:45AM]

At least someone who owns a Mac can at least admit something like that.

The OS is not widely used and therefore, who the hell would make a virus for it? Then again, if I was a programmer, it'd be a tempting way to make smug Mac owners run around as their system explodes.

[Michael LaFramboise @ Jan 24th 2008 10:47AM]

Does it really matter how you spin it and what excuses you come up with? It doesn't matter for what reason there are no viruses for macs, as long as we (the mac users) stay happy :)

[Ignatius @ Jan 24th 2008 11:40AM]

It's not an excuse, it's a truth. You're ignored by the people who create malware because you're not a big enough target. Congratulations.

[Paul Faget @ Jan 24th 2008 10:05AM]

You can actually bring the frame to Geek Squad to have it removed. I noticed a trojan removal tool to get rid of the virus on the infected frames.

[Labrador @ Jan 24th 2008 10:33AM]

Maybe it's me, but I really don't need a remote for my photo frames.

[NHAnimator @ Jan 24th 2008 10:51AM]

"Best Buy seems to think that anti-virus software should have no problem dealing with the old-ish trojan in the frames, and recommends customers plug the frame into a PC and run some current anti-virus software to eradicate the malware."

Wait a minute. They sell you a product that they KNOW is infected with a virus and they recommend that you connect it to your PC? Are they f'ing nuts? Sounds like their setting themselves up for much bigger headaches should ANYTHING go wrong.

[BigD145 @ Jan 24th 2008 2:40PM]

I caught that, too.

"This is poison. Drink it! Your body should be able to handle it."

[Ed @ Jan 25th 2008 2:30AM]

Talk about passing the buck.

My jaw dropped when I read that. They actually WANT you to connect a malware infected device to your computer? Puhleeeeeze.

That's the most irresponsible thing I have ever heard.

That is no different then a health safety expert from poison control recommending that you just pick up the rattlesnake and put it down your pants.... freaking idiots.

[dudeInAmerica @ Jan 24th 2008 10:59AM]

Not sure if they should be faulted for this. I ordered a bunch of mp4 watches from Chinavasion and every one of them came with th CN911.EXE virus on it. Symantec caught and deleted it as soon as it recognized it.

Its just cheap Chinese merchandise which you should note have great expectations for.

Practice safe USB sex, wear an anti-virus program.

[Peter @ Jan 24th 2008 12:27PM]

Uh, since Best Buy was selling it under their own brand Insignia, it's absolutely their responsibility if there are any defects in the product. That's like saying it's not Matel's fault that their toys had lead in them because they contracted the manufacturing to another firm. Using an ODM doesn't allow you to walk away from problems.

For Best Buy to say that this is not a big deal because users should just expect their anti-virus software to take care of it is also a bit ridiculous to me. Are they providing free anti-virus software now? If I don't have anti-virus software running (or its expired or not working or whatever) and the photo frame virus damages my computer/files, is Best Buy liable? I would bet that's a "yes".

Also, doesn't it seem odd that on one hand they say they're certain that the virus won't impact you if you have current anti-virus software (because that s/w will remove the virus) but on the other hand they say they're not yet ready to share a solution with customers who bought the product? Isn't the solution to give every customer a free anti-virus program then? Or at a minimum a free program that is designed to target that specific virus? Yes, giving something away for free will cost them money but it's not the same as saying they don't have a solution yet.

[jonouk @ Jan 24th 2008 11:11AM]

good use of the pic. a monty python flying trojan rabbit would have been better

"Run away!"

[scott @ Jan 24th 2008 11:47AM]

what

[NHAnimator @ Jan 24th 2008 12:07PM]

"hawaiianhumanesociety. info"

That's where I order my BBQ vittles during the summer up here. They come pre-packaged with a nice pineapple and raisin sauce. Cook up nice and tender after marinating all the way here to the mainland. Try the "Oahu Irish Setter Filets" with a Guinness on a hot day. Nothing beats it.

[Andy O. @ Jan 24th 2008 12:47PM]

How to get a FREE Adv. Diagnostics and Repair from Geek Squad. (Normally $199)

If you think your computer is full of viruses, find one of these photo frames, buy, it, bring your computer and the frame to geek squad, tell them you think you got a virus, show them the frame and computer, Free ADR! They'll check your hardware and fix any software issues for free, but you'll have to buy any failing hardware.

May not even have to buy a frame, just say you had one but already returned it or something.

[jeicrash @ Jan 24th 2008 12:50PM]

You'd think most of these frames would come with a photo management software built in, allowing you to format the card inside. Either way, its not a huge deal, plug in - scan - done. woot real hard.

A little research shows a lot of companies (Even large ones like symantec) have sold products that where infected at one point or another.

For me though. I'll stick to either paper photos or looking at them on my pc.

Jei

[toyotaboy @ Jan 24th 2008 1:56PM]

heh, geeksquad will charge you a fee for a "reinstall"

[Twitchy @ Jan 24th 2008 3:33PM]

Photo frames with computer viruses? I'd rather have roscks in an iPod package.

[Garst @ Jan 26th 2008 4:21AM]

So Best Buy is promoting the procreation of computer viruses now. Interesting.