On their web site Apple Computers warn that a small number of iPods available for purchase after September 12 have been shipped with a virus on board. The virus only affect users connecting their iPod to a Windows computer.

In the statement on the site Apple writes that "we are upset at Windows for not being more hardy against such viruses, and even more upset with ourselves for not catching it."

Less than one per cent of Video iPods shipped since September 12 are said to be affected. The iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle devices are not reported to be carrying the malicious file, which can only activate on Windows computers.

Incidentally, security company Sophos points out in a message about this that the name given the malware on the Apple site is incorrect. They call it the RavMonE.exe Windows virus. In fact RavMonE.exe is part of the RAV anti-virus system (now acquired by Microsoft). Malware writers occasionally use file names also used by anti-virus vendors to cause confusion, and several malicious instances of files called RavMonE.exe are known. Hence, it is not currently know to the editor which virus was in fact shipped with the iPods.

Related links: (Open in a new window.)
www.apple.com/support/windowsvirus/
www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2006/10/ipod-ships-with-virus.html

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