Transmitter virus (?)
 

Can "modern" transmitters acquire viruses, for example when they are connected to computers?

Thank you in advance.

RE: Transmitter virus (?)
 

they can if they have windoze on them:D Or even worse a bluescreen in the middle of your flight.

RE: Transmitter virus (?)
 

Many devices, including RC Tx's, cell phones, etc., have Operating Systems. Windows, Linux, etc. If you interface them with a PC that has a virus, and the virus is compatible with the OS on the device, it is possible to transfer it to the device. Perhaps someone who has actually seen this happen will respond.

RE: Transmitter virus (?)
 

Thank you, Rich. I also would be very interested in learning about any well documented case, of which I've never heard about.

RE: Transmitter virus (?)
 

I would say you have a VERY SLIM possibility.

In the spirt of never say never with technology I won't say it's impossible but I do computer security for a living and I don't loose much sleep over getting a virus in the firmware of my transmitter.

RE: Transmitter virus (?)
 

[link]http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_10016320/anchors_10016320/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#10016320[/link]

Rafael

RE: Transmitter virus (?)
 

One of the reasons viruses are written to attack computers running Windows (and not Mac or Linux) is because there are a lot of users to disrupt.

Anything is possible but I would not worry about any RC transmitter because the number of users who could be disrupted is so small.

RE: Transmitter virus (?)
 

I understand that. However, for a competing manufacturer, these numbers would not be exactly small and a virus could be a gold mine, particularly in light of the apparent power of internet forums in spreading panic after a putative radio glitch...

RE: Transmitter virus (?)
 

I'm much more concerned about my transmitter powering up in the middle of the night and stealing my car.<div>
</div><div>Right now and for the foreseeable future, this is a silly concern.</div>

RE: Transmitter virus (?)
 

While it may be possible to create a virus to operate within a transmitter, I think it is very unlikely, RC transmitters would make a very poor target for a computer virus, especially considering how many transmitters actually can be connected to a computer.

And connecting a TX to a controller hooked to your computer that is operating a flight simulator is an insufficient connection for any code to make its way to your transmitter.

RE: Transmitter virus (?)
 

Holy Crap.. my TX can steal my car???

I better post this on every forum out there!!

;)

RE: Transmitter virus (?)
 

HunkaJunk, I was thinking more of the Tx connected to a computer for backup/transfer of model setup. Many radios offer that option nowadays. I understand that this would still be unlikely, given that it would demand a cross-platform virus, but not impossible. Again, while rare and improbable, I was wondering whether any such a virus has ever been documented.

RE: Transmitter virus (?)
 

A computer virus is software meant to disrupt your system and spread itself. In any RC transmitter, the only way a virus could get is is via a corrupt model file, but that's not an executable. If you get a corrupted update file, then you did not get it from an authorized Futaba source. If someone wrote such malevolent code, how will they get you to spread it? If you get a virus, it would be easy to get rid of. Just download the update file from a trusted source and update your transmitter. Worst case? Send it in to the service center for a memory wipe and cold restart.

By the way, the Futaba 14MZ is the only transmitter that used any kind of Microsoft code, using Windows CE, which is NOT the same as the Windows code you have in your PC or laptop. They are not inter-compatible, so a virus on your PC cannot infect your transmitter.

RE: Transmitter virus (?)
 

OH Great and Powerful Transmitter, please steal my car tonight. Amen

P.S. Make sure my wife is in it too.