{"id":50265,"date":"2021-10-01T09:59:30","date_gmt":"2021-10-01T13:59:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=50265"},"modified":"2021-10-01T09:59:30","modified_gmt":"2021-10-01T13:59:30","slug":"looking-for-firmware-files-dont-download-unless-you-know-the-source","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/10\/looking-for-firmware-files-dont-download-unless-you-know-the-source\/","title":{"rendered":"Looking for firmware files? Don’t download unless you know the source!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A quick PSA from SWLing Post HQ…<\/h1>\n

Many of our modern receivers, transceivers, and SDRs allow us to perform firmware updates in order to upgrade product functionality and even fix known bugs. I try to keep the latest firmware on all of my radios.<\/p>\n

With that said, always go to the original manufacturer or authorized retailer’s website to download firmware files, drivers, and firmware installation tools.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The internet is chock-full of deceptive sites offering “firmware files” for a wide variety of products that are nothing more than viruses and malware.<\/p>\n

Never follow a firmware file link from a radio discussion forum, for example, unless that link can be verified as authentic and supported by the manufacturer or product designer\/developer. It’s too easy for someone to pose as a discussion member and drop a link to a malicious bit of code!<\/p>\n

I was contacted by two different SWLing Post<\/em> readers recently who found links to malware posing as firmware files for radios in discussion groups. Obviously, I’m not going to share those links, so I simply ask that you double check the authenticity of the site before downloading.<\/p>\n

That is all! Have a wonderful weekend and good DX!<\/p>\n

-Thomas<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A quick PSA from SWLing Post HQ… Many of our modern receivers, transceivers, and SDRs allow us to perform firmware updates in order to upgrade product functionality and even fix known bugs. I try to keep the latest firmware on all of my radios. With that said, always go to the original manufacturer or authorized […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[545,3,43],"tags":[8707,9473],"class_list":["post-50265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ham-radio","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-firmware","tag-malware"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-d4J","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":54400,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/10\/new-icom-ic-705-firmware-update-version-1-30\/","url_meta":{"origin":50265,"position":0},"title":"New Icom IC-705 Firmware Update (version 1.30)","author":"Thomas","date":"October 22, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Uli Zehndbauer, who notes that Icom has released a new firmware update for the IC-705. Here are the details\/notes about this firmware version from Icom: Changes from Version 1.27 - Displays the Receiving (or Transmitting) route icon (RF or TM: Terminal mode) on the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/South-Mountains-MM0OPX-EFHW-IC-705-5-1024x768-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/South-Mountains-MM0OPX-EFHW-IC-705-5-1024x768-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/South-Mountains-MM0OPX-EFHW-IC-705-5-1024x768-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/South-Mountains-MM0OPX-EFHW-IC-705-5-1024x768-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14050,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/07\/new-firmware-and-software-for-the-commradio-cr-1a\/","url_meta":{"origin":50265,"position":1},"title":"New firmware and software for the CommRadio CR-1a","author":"Thomas","date":"July 15, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post reader,\u00a0Grzegorz Jasionek, who notes that CommRadio has just released a firmware update for the CommRadio CR-1a that includes a new Graphic User Interface (GUI) with a 3D spectrum display. The CommRadio Dropbox site has an 18 minute video showing how to operate the GUI and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"CommRadio-SpectrumDisplay","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/CommRadio-SpectrumDisplay-e1436970878134.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/CommRadio-SpectrumDisplay-e1436970878134.png?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/CommRadio-SpectrumDisplay-e1436970878134.png?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18363,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/04\/avion-av-dr-1401v-firmware-v1-2-now-available-for-download\/","url_meta":{"origin":50265,"position":2},"title":"Avion AV-DR-1401V firmware v1.2 now available for download","author":"Thomas","date":"April 18, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post reader,\u00a0Harald Kuhl, who notes that a new firmware update for the Avion\u00a0AV-DR-1401 DRM receiver is now available for download via the following link: http:\/\/www.avionelectronics.in\/support.html","rel":"","context":"In "DRM"","block_context":{"text":"DRM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/drm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"81-58a+inIL._SL1500_","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/81-58a-inIL._SL1500_1-1024x465.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/81-58a-inIL._SL1500_1-1024x465.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/81-58a-inIL._SL1500_1-1024x465.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":43842,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/06\/latest-elecraft-kx2-firmware-includes-am-reception-improvements\/","url_meta":{"origin":50265,"position":3},"title":"Latest Elecraft KX2 firmware includes AM reception improvements","author":"Thomas","date":"June 17, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"As I've noted in the past, I love my Elecraft KX2 and routinely use it for SWLing. I just learned that Elecraft has published a new KX2 firmware update that even includes some minor tweaks for AM mode reception. A proper nod to the SWLs in the Elecraft community. From\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Elecraft-KX2-PK-Loop-RX-Antenna-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Elecraft-KX2-PK-Loop-RX-Antenna-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Elecraft-KX2-PK-Loop-RX-Antenna-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Elecraft-KX2-PK-Loop-RX-Antenna-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46170,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/10\/how-to-find-the-tecsun-pl-330s-firmware-version\/","url_meta":{"origin":50265,"position":4},"title":"How to find the Tecsun PL-330’s firmware version","author":"Thomas","date":"October 25, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jaap de Goede, who shares the following note: Thanks for posting the hidden feature table to the Tecscun PL-330. I see more and more videos of the PL-330 popping up on YouTube. I\u2019m wondering what firmware they run. It\u2019s easy to identify the firmware\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How To"","block_context":{"text":"How To","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/how-to\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Tecsun-PL-330-Firmware-rotated-e1603630945990.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Tecsun-PL-330-Firmware-rotated-e1603630945990.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Tecsun-PL-330-Firmware-rotated-e1603630945990.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Tecsun-PL-330-Firmware-rotated-e1603630945990.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8405,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/12\/kaito-able-to-update-pl-880-firmware-in-house\/","url_meta":{"origin":50265,"position":5},"title":"Kaito able to update PL-880 firmware in-house","author":"Thomas","date":"December 24, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Earlier we posted that Tecsun PL-880s being sold by Kaito Electronics had an older firmware version (#8819) than those being sold by Anon-Co on eBay\u00a0(#8820). Fortunately\u00a0SWLing Post reader, Tim, has been working directly with Kaito in California. Yesterday, he visited their headquarters where they updated his PL-880 from firmware version\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Products"","block_context":{"text":"New Products","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/new-products\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Click here to learn how to display your PL-880's firmware version.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Tecsun-PL-800-Firmware-101.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Tecsun-PL-800-Firmware-101.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Tecsun-PL-800-Firmware-101.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50265"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50265\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}