Some iPods let virus in through Windows

Stan Beer
Wednesday, 18 October 2006 05:26

Your IT - Home IT

Apple Computer has publicly admitted that a small percentage of its fifth-generation video player iPods have been shipped loaded with a virus called RavMonE.exe that affects the Windows operating system.

Apple Mac OS X are not affected by the vuirus but the majority of iPod and iTunes customers are Windows users because of its dominant marketshare.

In a statement on its website, Apple publicly apologised for letting the virus slip through but also took a swipe at Microsoft by criticising the vulnerability of Windows to viruses.

"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 in the statement.

A saving grace for both Apple and Microsoft is that only a small number of iPods were affected and standard anti-virus software should detect and remove RavMonE.exe. According to Apple, less than 1% of Video iPods that were available for purchase after September 12 had left its contract manufacturer carrying the virus.

The virus is not considered amongst the more virulent as it does not affect the data of infected user systems. However, RavMonE.exe does spread through storage devices, such as cameras and USB memory sticks attached to Windows computers, so they should also be scanned.

Apple recommends that affected Video iPod owners restore their software on their newly purchased players using iTunes 7.