Apple says some 5.5G iPods shipped with Windows virus!

We've alway known of Apple's hopes to wean the masses off of their Windows peecees through the elegance of the iPod, but we're afraid they've taken things a bit too far this time. According to Apple, less than one percent of their 5.5G iPod shipments made after September 12th have a little present in the form of the RavMonE.exe virus, which propagates via mass storage devices, and purportedly had infected a PC at the manufacturer where the iPods were produced. Apple has received 25 or so reports of the problem, which they learned of a week ago, and they've "been working around the clock to identify the problem and discover its root cause." Apple has instructions for removal of the virus on their site, but there's no need for full-blown panic because RavMonE.exe is "technically a worm, not a virus," meaning it lowers the security of your PC, but doesn't actual mess with your data itself. Of course, Apple is "upset at Windows for not being more hardy against such viruses," but they're "even more upset with ourselves for not catching it." As they should be.

[Big Fudge @ Oct 17th 2006 2:46PM]

Oh yeah, release a product with a serious flaw and blame the user's computer. Seems like Apple learned a few things from the Ford/Firestone debacle.

[Silver R. Wolfe @ Oct 17th 2006 2:47PM]

They did it on purpose. I mean, first they go after all of the products with 'pod' in them, now they are literally trying to destroy their competitors machines.

[tsunamii @ Oct 17th 2006 2:49PM]

Excess thermal gel, virus... Sounds like Quality Control is still and issue. God help them if 6Sigma shows up on their door steps to correct the behavior.

[narco @ Oct 17th 2006 2:48PM]

Even though it would be funny if Apple purposely released a virus (or worm, in this case) in order to get people to switch, I couldn't actually see that working. If people had problems after they installed the software, I think the user would put blame on Apple first and avoid their other products. Unless they preloaded one of the "Get a Mac" ads on a new iPod.

Fishes,
narco.

[Silver R. Wolfe @ Oct 17th 2006 2:50PM]

Alot of people who are buying iPods aren't computer savvy at all and I assume they wouldn't tie the iPod with the worm.

[jay.viz @ Oct 22nd 2006 1:11PM]

It's not a virus, it's a worm. It means that their won't be anything obvious about it's existence and it will make the PC's it infects more -susceptible- to viruses. Anyone who doesn't know about this will think it's their PC's fault.

[Gil @ Oct 17th 2006 2:53PM]

Your argument actually strengthens the "they did it on purpose" version. My money is on this version too.

[3rdsun @ Oct 17th 2006 2:53PM]

Why dont they create a virus and spread it to all Macs or better yet inject it up Steve Jobs a$$

[philip Zastrow @ Oct 17th 2006 3:09PM]

Impossible! Macs can't get viruses.

[rgraen @ Oct 17th 2006 8:11PM]

Macs can get virus'. I have one and have seen some built for macs.

[bob @ Oct 18th 2006 5:01PM]

mac rock im a comp. programer and mac make sense. microsoft is screwed up! so open up ur close minded fox news watching mind. @$$!

[Pinhead @ Oct 17th 2006 3:17PM]

"Apple is "upset at Windows for not being more hardy against such viruses."

Are you kidding me? What a bunch of little kids, "I swear It's not my fault for breaking the window, it's the companys fault for not making it sturdy enough!" They shouldn't try and pass the blame off onto M$ for this, even for saying that my very low amount of respect for Apple has gone to an all time low. They really should get off that high horse they've been riding for, well, ever and realize that the garbage they shove out the door everyday isn't pure gold. That comment was completely irrelevant to the situation and in my opinion was a very, very cheap shot.

[diulei @ Oct 17th 2006 3:02PM]

First Japan's McDonald's, now Apple. Ouch!

[dementedx @ Jan 25th 2007 12:44AM]

Of course they can, what do you call OS X?

[Jeff Lewis @ Oct 17th 2006 7:50PM]

Oh please.

Apple wouldn't intentionally release a product with a Windows virus on it. First off, let me introduce you to a little thing called 'liability' - if it ever got out that Apple did something like this intentionally, the lawsuits would flow fast and free.

No company in their right mind would do something like this and as arrogant as Jobs is, he's first and formost a businessman. He's not going to gamble his company on some stupid little 'haha' moment like this.

Apple is not going to intentionally put themselves in the position where people are worried about buying iPods for fear of infecting their computer with a virus.

These things happen. And not just to PCs. I remember when a major Mac software developer (whose company's name starts with A) released disks with the nVir Mac virus on it. It wasn't a conspiracy to destroy Macs.

"Never attribute to malice that which is more easily explained by stupidity..."

It was an error. Get over it.

[Paul @ Oct 17th 2006 3:09PM]

Big Fudge, you are exactly right, the arrogance of apple never ceases to suprise me. Its called accepting that you made a mistake, not trying to pawn the issue off on someone else. Apple is, and always will be the king of taking low and childish blows at its compeditors, instead of telling consumers how it is. And i dont forsee that changing too soon.

[Dman @ Oct 17th 2006 6:03PM]

Did they not acknowledge their mistake?
And it still wouldn't have happened is Windows had better security.

[friko @ Oct 17th 2006 3:36PM]

Mine has it!

When i first connected it, Norton recognized it as a virus, but I ignored the warning because my iPod was a new "inmaculated" one.

Now, When I click on it through the My PC window, it launches the "Windows can not open this file". I think it has something to do with an autorun file, because if I browse the iPod rightclicking it and selecting "open", it works fine.

[Stephen @ Oct 17th 2006 4:00PM]

Does anyone else find it funny that they are even using windows computers in their fabrication plant? I don't really know what that says about their confidence in their own products.

[shirizaki @ Oct 17th 2006 3:15PM]

Wait, Windows makes the iPod, a mac product? So the spawnning of the most successful piece of hardware, from Apple, is thanks to Windows?


Universe Asplode.

[Sean DL @ Oct 17th 2006 3:21PM]

The factory that amkes the iPods runs windows..which in this universe sounds about right..

Which means that factory has a(many?) Viruses.....

[Keaton @ Oct 17th 2006 3:19PM]

Yes finally!!!!
I was waiting for this day...
I knew there'd be one day that Apple products would get virus!
And I'd Laugh!!!!
Norton start your engines!
Get ready for Norton Antivirus 2007... Mac Edition!!!
Shipping free with all those "Mac's don't get virus's promotional videos"
Just for a laugh!
MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.soggycowdesigns.com

[todd @ Oct 17th 2006 3:21PM]

Why not just buy a mac and hook it to that then you don't have to worry about ANY viruses jackasses.

[3rdsun @ Oct 17th 2006 3:23PM]

philip Zastrow i bet if u walk in Cupertino's doors you might get a virus. I hear its flu season.

[todd @ Oct 17th 2006 5:21PM]

And Microsoft developed the 360 on a mac, go figure.

[Darrell @ Oct 17th 2006 3:31PM]

Lets be honest guys, that jab at Windows was good and funny. Some people here need to grow a sense of humor instead of puckering up a certain part of the body in pride and hostility...

Learn to laugh.

[L. M. Lloyd @ Oct 17th 2006 6:15PM]

"Lets be honest guys, that jab at Windows was good and funny."

How is that funny, much less "good and funny?" It is a snarky, petty comment made in the typical sort of snide manner I would expect from some teenager who just got caught sneaking in a window at 2:00 AM smelling like beer. I think that before the audience's sense of humor is even an issue, something needs to be said that is humorous. This is just another "playing to the base" pandering comment. The only humorous thing about the comment, is how utterly stereotypical and predictable it is coming out of the mouth of some Mac PR weasel (or would that be iWeasel?).

[Andrew @ Oct 17th 2006 3:33PM]

wasn't there a virus or worm that went around macs not too long ago?

[rip @ Oct 17th 2006 4:08PM]

yeah, about 15 years ago.


FYI, Mac OSX, since it's release, has had ZERO virus attacks.

There have been a few proof of concepts, and I believe one attempt at a worm, but that's about it.

[L. M. Lloyd @ Oct 17th 2006 3:33PM]

So let me get this straight, they don't scan for viruses on the computers that load the software to the iPods, and it is Windows' fault that this happened? Classic! I find it hard to believe that anyone could even say that! How about this: I guess PCs aren't as vulnerable to viruses as Apple would have you believe, since apparently you can manufacture 50 million iPods using Windows computers without any anti-virus software, before you will catch a virus. Not too bad really.

This just reeks of a really cheap publicity stunt so that Apple has an excuse to jump up and down saying "see how bad Windows is!"

[hchute @ Oct 17th 2006 3:36PM]

Hmmmm. They're mad at "Windows". They should be madder at their own quality control personnel.

hchute
http://www.zunerama.com

[Tex @ Oct 17th 2006 3:35PM]

Um, is there a comment here with a clue behind it?

(a) The fact that mass storage device mounting under MS-Win can cause infection of users' MS-Win machines doesn't mean there's a Mac virus; it's clearly explained as a MS-Win virus.

(b) The use of a MS-Win machine by a contractor making iPods shouldn't be a particular surprise, as there are some 90%+ of the market running an MSFT operating system; the surprise is that even in a manufacturing plant, these machines are getting compromised.

(c) Apple's comment pokes fun at MS-Win for its vulnerability while expressly stating that they're "even more upset with ourselves for not catching it." This isn't blaming someone else, it's telling it straight. MS-Win is so famously insecure Apple had no business failing to plan for it, and should be ashamed for letting this slip through.

(d) Apple probably can't depend on a simpler system for imaging iPods or verifying them if they want to test their use under the OS with which they're most likely to be connected.

(e) intentionally infecting users' machines with a mass-storage worm is probably the silliest idea I've seen attributed to a major corporation since Sony shipped malware on CDs; the difference is, of course, that Sony was using the malware to enforce DRM while there's no hypothesis yet offered to explain why Apple would deliberately do this, and Apple has already expressed its disappointment and undertaken to do something about the problem in mfg contractors' plants.

There are plenty of good criticisms to level against Apple; it's a pity you folks don't seem to have found any yet, despite your apparent hunger for it.

Take care.

[Vlad @ Oct 20th 2006 7:25PM]

Wow, all of the people in crying about this, you people need to stfu and get a life. And tex, you need to stfu the most.

[Joe @ Oct 17th 2006 3:35PM]

I would demand the manufacturer replace the PC with a Mac.

[Ahmed @ Oct 17th 2006 3:36PM]

I'm not an Apple fan boy at all, but it is pretty clear who is to blame in this matter. Apple engineers received the virus onto their Windows Systems from the fault of Microsoft for not securing it. The virus was programmed to be installed on removable drives, hence the iPods received it in testing. This is clearly another blow for Microsoft for throwing shit out the doors without properly testing and securing their products.

[Dp462090 @ Oct 17th 2006 3:43PM]

Wait, you're saying it's Microsoft's fualt, that Apple doesn't use anti-virus software on Windows machines, when they go on about how Windows get virus' all the time...

[liam @ Oct 17th 2006 3:39PM]

you realise that they were being sarcastic about the windows security thing, right? SARCASM.

it was funny.

[obm @ Oct 17th 2006 3:39PM]

This is not a new issue! My 5G black ipod was replaced due to an USB error some time ago, and the new unit came with a complement of infections which mcafee handled instantly. I warned the technical service in my country (Turkey), thinking that they used an infected computer to check the unit, however the mass storage option was not enabled. It is more probable that the infection came thorugh os intallation.

[Lord Mac @ Oct 17th 2006 11:24PM]

Wow guys way to way over react, if you read the support page then you can see it mearly looks like an attempt to make the usually bleak and boring support page a little more interesting to read. PLUS! as engadget also quotes they blame themselves more then they blame windows. "and even more upset with ourselves for not catching it." Also i will say this at least they are alerting people to this and attempting to fix it before there have been any reports by users of the problems vs. the current trend of tech companies these days waiting till every one complains about it before doing anything or admitting to it. Not they they deserve credit for this as that is how all companies should approach these kinds of problems, but as i said at least its better then some companies out that have been doing. So again everyone clam down there are far more concerning problems i would say out there for us to go crazy angry about this.

[Ian R-T @ Oct 17th 2006 7:29PM]

Well, good thing I decided to buy one a couple months before... although I do welcome the thought of a few more hours on battery and 60% more brightness...

[telepheedian @ Oct 17th 2006 3:49PM]

Actually...

It's the factory company that Apple contracted out's fault. The problem lies in the fact that they are using (untrustable) cheap chinese labor factories to make their products. The people running the place obviously don't know that its a BAD IDEA to network machines that are used for flashing and testing devices that can CARRY VIRUSES. The same thing happened to McDonald's MP3 players. They contracted out some chinese company to do it and they loaded them with trojans (the motives might have been different but the cuase/effect is the same). Apple probably doesn't have anything to do with it, firstly because if they were going to load viruses on the iPod they would have done it to all of them, secondly because they have a coporate identity to protect, thirdly because THEY WANT TO SELL PRODUCT. No company in their right mind would intentionally load a virus on a hot selling product just to sell something. With all of the bad PR this one is going to get, iPod sales will likely go DOWN.

Just my two cents worth.

[kbiel @ Oct 17th 2006 4:01PM]

>>but there's no need for full-blown panic because RavMonE.exe is "technically a worm, not a virus," meaning it lowers the security of your PC, but doesn't actual mess with your data itself.

Who wrote this crap? The difference between a worm, a virus and a trojan horse is how they propogate, not the effect they may have on a machine. A worm is just as capable of causing serious damage as a virus.

[MD @ Oct 17th 2006 4:02PM]

Woah woah woah.... apple is referring to the 5.5G iPods as "Video iPods"?? The link on their site talking about the problem doesn't call them 5.5G iPods, they call them Video iPods.

[Ian Jardine @ Oct 17th 2006 4:05PM]

So Apple Inc is a MS user after all.

[Windows @ Oct 17th 2006 4:06PM]

Let's face it. It's a windows world. With such a large share of the market running windows, most of the viruses would be targeted towards a windows machine. It isn't the viruses are all the same and macs are better defenders. The writers of viruses target windows because it by far holds the most users. Macs are kiddy toys and for images and video. It's a rarity to find much else running on them in the real business world.

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 17th 2006 4:08PM]

I think we all can agree that a worm propagated via mass storage is wacky enough.

Maybe Apple can get off of their high horse now that they have as much crap to deal with as anyone else!

[Raskawa @ Oct 17th 2006 4:26PM]

I agree it was tongue and cheek from Apple, so as a MS fanboy I won't take offense.. I kind of like Apple too, even if you fan boys are a bunch of tree-huggers.. :P

As far as no OSX viruses, a quick Google search proves the more rabid Apple fan boys on the forum to be incorrect: http://news.com.com/Exploit+released+for+Mac+OS+X+flaw/2100-1002_3-6122015.html?tag=newsmap

-Rask

[CT @ Oct 17th 2006 4:38PM]

No wonder Stevey wasn't worried about Zune.

[Peter @ Oct 18th 2006 10:21AM]

Stevie will be when Microsoft starts selling Mac friendly zunes with a mac virus on it.

[Bardiel @ Oct 17th 2006 7:55PM]

OF COURSE Apple uses PCs and Windows in their corporation. If you think about it, it makes a LOT of sense that they do, because they make a number of software and hardware products that work either run on Windows OS's or have to work well with PC hardwware, including: iTunes, Quicktime, the iPods, the Mighty Mouse, not to mention the software products they develop for MacOSX that are used to provide interoperability with the Windows XP platforms and environments, not to mention Boot Camp, an Apple product which allows their Intel Macs to boot up from a Windows XP or Vista installation.

For similar reasons, Microsoft uses Macs in their corporation as well, ESPECIALLY in their Macintosh Business Unit (MacBU). Microsoft still sells a large quantity of software for the Mac, such as the MS Office Suite.

I'm an Apple user, and have been for 13 years, and i am also a WinXP user, and have more than enough experience with it to know that there are some tasks that each platform is better suited for. I'm a fan of Apple, and their products, but i'm not so much of a "fan-boy" that I'm going to assume that each platform and their developers live in worlds where they believe they are, or can function totally independently and still survive. And in that light, the fan-boys each, of both stripes, should try to realize that as well.

Yes, PCs are used in the manufacture of iPods. They are better suited for that task, (or at least, the manufacturer believes that to be so. (I don't know for certain myself, when it comes to making iPods). That the PCs being used were infected isn't the fault of Apple, or even Microsoft (not directly, anyway). it's the manufacturer's fault for failing to secure their systems, and even moreso, it's the fault of the person who created the worm in the first place. If you are going to try to point finger at anyone, look at those two.

At least Apple is taking responsibility for the issue, and is attempting to correct it. What has Microsoft done to secure their systems, to ensure that worms such as these can no longer affect their operating systems, and their users? And why should that job belong to a 3rd party, when it's within their power to make the fundamental fixes to begin with? If you are going to assign blame and point fingers, please point them in the right direction.

It's all that I ask, anyway.

- Bardiel