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Apple ships iPods containing virus

19 October 2006 4:37 by Ben "Lethal_B" Reid | 12 comments

Apple Computer apologized earlier this week for shipping some video iPods containing the Windows virus RavMonE.exe, which made its way onto a small number of the devices at one of Apple's manufacturing plants. Around 1 percent of units shipped after September 12, 2006 are said to be affected.

RavMonE.exe is a mass storage virus that only affects Windows users. It is, according to antivirus vendors, a Trojan that opens links to Web sites and allows others access to a computer.

After installation, the Trojan contacts several remote sites to report the infection and availability of the backdoor, according to security firm Sophos. All up-to-date antivirus applications should detect and remove the low-risk infection.

"So far we have seen less than 25 reports concerning this problem. The iPod nano, iPod shuffle and Mac OS X are not affected, and all Video iPods now shipping are virus free," Apple said in a statement on its support site.

The company couldn't resist taking a dig at rival Microsoft's Windows operating system for not doing more to safeguard customers from such malware. "As you might imagine, we are upset at Windows for not being more hardy against such viruses, and even more upset with ourselves for not catching it," Apple said.

iPod owners who might be at risk from the Trojan are advised to run antivirus software to remove it from their computer, and also to check any new mass storage devices. "Because this Windows virus propagates via mass storage devices, we recommend that you scan any mass storage devices that you have recently attached to your Windows computers such as external hard drives, digital cameras with removable media, and USB flash drives," Apple added.

Although Mac users will be unaffected by the mishap, the virus will still remain on the device, therefore Apple notes that customers should use the 'restore' option in iTunes 7 to wipe the iPod clean of the virus.

Source:
Betanews

Permalink to this article

Apple to teach the iPod how to fly (14 November 2006)

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Discuss this article!
Chavo (Member) 19 October 2006 11:18
Dumb [ + quote]
nghtpnshr (Member) 19 October 2006 14:42
ok how can such a huge company ship I-viruses whos suposed to be looking at those b4 shipping? shouldnt a company thats that big supposed to catch something that big? [ + quote]
carino (Junior Member) 19 October 2006 15:29
numpties. [ + quote]
cousin80 (Member) 19 October 2006 17:58
How does a virus get in them in the first place. [ + quote]
kepners (Junior Member) 20 October 2006 4:41
that is my question how does the virus get in tehre in the first place... one would either suggest that apple DONT have good enough anti-virus software on there pc's... or that is was purposely installed on to one of its pc that does the firmware. its really got me thinking... oh and the fact they have a pop at M$ superb ;-) [ + quote]
gogochar (Senior Member) 20 October 2006 6:50
Another reason to get a Mac. [ + quote]
Mr-Movies (Member) 20 October 2006 10:19
cousin80 � The programmers developing the player�s software as others have stated they either don�t virus scan well or it was intentional like the root kit virus they gave us. gogochar � Get real�. My guess is that this was a snafu and one or more of Sony�s employees screwed up. I�m waiting for the batteries to start blowing up like they have in notebooks. LOL :D [ + quote]
Lethal_B (Moderator) 20 October 2006 13:27
Quote: Another reason to get a Mac. Really? When Apple is the company which doesn't thoroughly check products for viruses before it releases them...? How does that work? [ + quote]
cart0181 (Junior Member) 20 October 2006 21:20
LOLOLOLOL!!!!!! Apple's master plan is out of the bag! They intend to sell small devices that play music in the little palms of the younger generation. Little do they know, each unit contains a virus to allow access to all of Bill's PCs. Once enough devices are out there, they plan to activate their master virus and take over the world! [ + quote]
adamafsar (Inactive) 21 October 2006 0:29
they probably did t intentially, funny how the virus did not affect their systems. [ + quote]
Speedy16 (Junior Member) 21 October 2006 19:40
Where did this thing come from, and how did it get into the ipods. Ummm I love your shot at BILLy... Lets attempt to pass the blame that it was Billy's fault for not providing better protection... Apple you are complete morons for that comment, and the fact u shipped poisonous iPods. Why should I fix my iPod which you sold to me as defect. The way i see it, its a defect, and I should send it back to and get a new virus free one... Wow... this ppl just get dumber and dumber. [ + quote]
procode (Inactive) 22 October 2006 5:44
So 'Apple', who manufacture the 'Mac OS', ship the Ipod with a virus that doesn't affect Apple's 'Mac Operating System' .. ?? And they claim it was accidental .. ?? Not April is it .. :D Procode .. [ + quote]