by Playfuls Staff |
18th October 2006
"We recently discovered that a small number - fewer than 1 per cent - of the Video iPods available for purchase after September 12, 2006, left our contract manufacturer carrying the Windows RavMonE.exe[more] virus," reads a statement on Apple's website. There's no "Windows RavMonE.exe virus", but there are a few viruses which create an executable file called "RavMonE.exe". RavMonE.exe is the name of one of the executable files used by the RAV antivirus software.
Apple said since Sept. 12, less than 1 percent of Video iPods, which are pocket-sized devices that can play music files and video clips, left its contract manufacturer carrying the virus.
Interestingly enough, Apple chooses to partly blame Microsoft for the virus, which has been named by anti-virus vendors as "W32/RJump.worm". It affects only computers running the Windows operating system. The virus is a backdoor virus, creating the possibility of remote access to the infected system. It also opens websites without user action. Its other aliases are "WORM_SIWEOL.A" and "Backdoor-DIJ".
"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 says. Yes, it is Microsoft's fault for developing Windows, after all! Not to mention that pesky Zune...
It seems more like a guy somewhere in the production chain is browsing porn pages on a Windows machine, without antivirus software on. All corporate e-mail is scanned, so he didn't get it in the mail...
Another possibility is that some wise guy at the contract manufacturer tried to pull a prank, which actually seems the more likely scenario. What kind of serious company doesn't employ updated antivirus software?
Apple VP Greg Joswiak said the virus was discovered last week and added the company has been working around the clock since then to discover the root cause of the problem. Joswiak said it was traced to a particular Windows machine in the manufacturing lines of a contract manufacturer that builds the iPods for Apple. The company declined to name the maker, according to CNET.
"This known virus affects only Windows computers, and up-to-date anti-virus software, which is included with most Windows computers should detect and remove it. "So far we have seen fewer 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 says.
The virus needs to be cleaned using either a freeware/shareware anti-virus program or a commercial version, with the iPod connected to the computer. Also, any media used after the acquisition of the infected Video iPods must also be scanned for infection.
Apple's full statement can be read here:
http://www.apple.com/support/windowsvirus/
