FUJIFILM testing antivirus kiosk software - and so should retailers

Photo retailers have been advised to check virus protection programs on their kiosks following reports of consumers infecting machines via USB and SD cards.

Following our story last week that a "small number" of self-serve FUJIFILM photo kiosks in Big W stores have been exposed to malware (malicious software), FUJIFILM told PIN Online that it is now liaising closely with BIG W and is currently testing a solution in-store.

“FUJIFILM is also in the process of rolling out a ‘read-only’ capability for the USB port which is available to complement all retailers’ existing virus strategy,” according to a company spokesperson.

Kodak and Sony had earlier contacted PIN Online to inform their retail customers that their respective photo kiosks and printers are “virus free”.

Luke Valentine from Valentine’s Camera House in Fremantle (WA) said his store has both HP and FUJIFILM kiosks.

“The HP machines have supplier installed antivirus, the Fuji kiosks are managed by the antivirus that we have installed ourselves,” he said.

“However, we have recently had to completely reinstall Windows on a PC in our store after a customer’s SD card was inserted into it,” he said.

“The SD card infected our machine with the most destructive virus that I have ever seen. The customer was adamant that she had never used her card with any computer, but had used a photo kiosk in a mass merchant store (not Woolworths or Big W). I can not verify which chain would have been the source as the customer was not very forthcoming with information,” he said. 

“The infection cost us a few hundred dollars to repair, and we are now looking for a more robust anti-virus solution. It will make our kiosks run much slower, but at least it will be protecting our customers and our equipment from viruses,” he added.

Brisbane’s Fotofast owner Phil Gresham was one of number of retailers who commented on last week’s story.

“We run virus and malware software on our kiosks after we experienced problems years back and took immediate action,” he said.

“I know that Eastmon always were very virus aware and took steps and I am amazed that this didn't follow through to the experts at Fuji."