It's has been more or less public knowledge for years that the maps which TomTom supplies with it's Navigator software for PDAs can be easily exchanged among users. This was a lot more difficult with the maps for the company's PNDs like the TomTom GO and TomTom ONE. By linking the product code of a map to the unique device code of a GO, ONE or RIDER, TomTom managed to avoid piracy of their maps for a very long time.
Until...

Hack

For the last few weeks, a little piece of software (most likely of Spanish origin) has been circling the internet. This tiny piece of code, an .exe file of no more than 60 Kb, enables users to simply avoid the TomTom map security altogether, and thereby use any new map on any TomTom GO, ONE or RIDER. By using a smart trick, the software generates a new activation code, which can then be used to activate (the widely available pirated versions of) the maps.

This security hack will be a severe setback for TomTom. No more than two weeks ago, they have started supplying new maps for the European region. Even though the company makes most of their turnover from hardware sales, this will undoubtedly mean a hefty financial loss. And not only for TomTom: this is also very bad news for Tele Atlas, TomTom's regular map supplier.

Reaction

Of course we asked TomTom for a reaction. Their response:

"We at TomTom take our intellectual property very seriously and do not shy away from enforcing our legal rights when we come across piracy and other types of illegal intellectual property infringement. Furthermore, we diligently police the marketplace and Internet in search of such offenders. In addition, we often introduce software updates directed to hindering the use or effectiveness of these so-called "cracked software versions". Finally, we encourage the public to come forward with any information that would help us combat this illegal activity."