I recently bought a Thermal Camera (ToolTop ET692C) since it finally dropped to a reasonable price (around $100 for 192x192 resolution). After connecting it to my computer to transfer some video footage, my antivirus (Bitdefender) flagged two viruses: Win32.Sality.3 in a .pif file and Gen:Variant.Barys.321357 in the software that came with it. Thankfully, it was removed before causing any issues. I initially thought it might be a false positive, but I've come across other buyers of the same camera mentioning similar problems. Has anyone else experienced this? I couldn't find much online beyond some vague mentions. Normally, I love shopping for gadgets on AliExpress since they offer great variety at low prices, but this situation is really concerning.
3 Answers
I recommend quarantining those files and checking them with VirusTotal. There's a chance it was a false positive, especially with some of those Chinese software packages. It's good to be cautious, though!
It's definitely possible to get a virus like that, but ToolTop is generally a recognized brand. I’d lean towards the idea that it could be the seller's fault or someone along the supply chain who might have compromised the device. You could be fine, but it's still a worry!
Yeah, I’ve read that some companies have been hit by security issues at various stages. Just glad you caught it in time!
This isn’t the first time a product has shipped with malware. I mean, back in the early 2000s, FunLove got into all sorts of consumer products. It’s a real issue, and while it’s shocking in 2025, it sadly happens. AliExpress is like a marketplace now, so the responsibility falls on the seller, not the platform itself. You should definitely report it; maybe they'll take action against that seller!
Exactly! Reporting could help prevent this from happening to someone else. It's a bit of a wild west out there.
I've always felt if I had an issue, reporting would be crucial for accountability. Makes total sense!
That's a good point about supply chain issues. It's kind of scary to think about where these things come from.