Elecrow ThinkNode M9 VIRUS: What You Need to Know About the SD Card
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About this video
If you own an Elecrow ThinkNode M9, here's what you need to know, and the good news first: the radio itself is safe, and most owners are not at risk.
Elecrow emailed me to let me know that the microSD (TF) cards in certain batches of the ThinkNode M9, both Meshtastic and MeshCore versions, were infected with a worm virus during the factory process of loading map data. The virus can't run on the M9 itself. It only affects Windows computers, and only if the card is removed from the device and put directly into a PC.
When I told Elecrow I'd be letting my subscribers know, they asked me not to share it to avoid unnecessary panic. I understand that concern, and I'm not trying to scare anyone. But over 13,000 of you watched my original review, and some of you may have bought one, given it to a family member, or missed Elecrow's email. You deserve the facts so you can check for yourself.
In this video:
✅ Elecrow's email, read in full
✅ How the virus got on the cards
✅ Who is and isn't at risk
✅ What Elecrow is doing to fix it
✅ My honest thoughts on the sponsorship going forward
🛡️ AM I AT RISK?
Most likely not. If you've only used your M9 normally or plugged it into your PC with a USB-C cable, Elecrow says you're safe. Your computer sees it as a radio, not a storage drive, so it never touches the files on the card. The risk is limited to people who removed the microSD card and put it in a Windows PC (like I did in my review) or copied its files to a PC over Wi-Fi/FTP. Even then, it usually needs autorun enabled or someone double-clicking a disguised shortcut file, and up-to-date antivirus will normally catch and remove it.
✔️ SIMPLE STEPS FOR M9 OWNERS
Keep using your M9 normally
Leave the microSD card inside the device
Keep Windows Defender or your antivirus turned on
If you've already put the card in a Windows PC, run a full antivirus scan
Want a clean card? Elecrow is offering a free replacement, a cleanup guide, or a refund
🔗 Elecrow's official advisory:
elecrow.com/Thinknode-M9-Security-Advisory…
🔗 Return/replacement registration:
📧 Elecrow support: order@elecrow.com
🔗 My original ThinkNode M9 review:youtube.com/watch?v=UcDtkbGj1pI
🔗 TID Radio video: youtu.be/v6cP75P_Nm4
Disclosure: Elecrow provided the ThinkNode M9 for review. They had no input on this video.
Have an M9? Let me know in the comments if you got Elecrow's email. 👇
