Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Apple
    • Apple
    • Cybersecurity
    • IT Management
    • Mobile
    • PC Hardware
    • Storage

    Apple Shipped iPods Carrying Windows Virus

    By
    Matt Hines
    -
    October 18, 2006
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Apple Computer has reported that a small number of its popular video iPods were infected with a virus that targets Windows PCs before they were sold to consumers.

      According to a statement issued by the hardware maker on Oct. 17, roughly 1 percent of the iPod Video devices it has shipped since Sept. 12 were loaded with the RavMonE.exe Windows Trojan during manufacturing.

      The Cupertino, Calif.-based company said that it has received only 25 individual reports of incidents where the virus has been discovered by users who bought the handheld gadgets since that date, and reported that all of its products, including newly shipped models of the affected device, have been cleansed of the malware program.

      The RavMonE.exe code is an attack that only affects Windows computers and propagates itself via storage devices. Once infected, computers carrying the program can be forced to open links to malicious Web sites that may drop additional malware onto the machines. As a result, Apple encouraged users who may have infected iPods to scan any mass storage devices that they have attached to their Windows computers, such as external hard drives, digital cameras with removable media, and USB flash drives.

      Apple, who blamed a contract manufacturer for allowing the infected iPods to be shipped, said that since RavMonE.exe is a known attack, it is already covered by most popular Windows anti-virus applications. The company indicated that concerned users could also protect themselves further by updating to the latest version of its iTunes software.

      In apologizing for the situation, Apple officials couldnt resist the opportunity to take a shot at Microsofts Windows operating system, which holds a vast lead in worldwide market share compared with Apples Mac OS X. Apple has long touted the security of its software as a major benefit in comparison to Windows.

      “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,” the company said in its statement.

      The iPod-borne Windows virus could serve as another reason for enterprise IT administrators to ban users from bringing the multimedia players into the office. The entertainment devices have already been forbidden at many data-sensitive companies based on their perceived threat as a means for unauthorized downloading of valuable corporate information. Security experts refer to the use of the Apple machines in such a manner as “iPod slurping.”

      /zimages/3/28571.gifClick here to read about a trio of security flaws that put Wi-Fi-enabled Mac systems at risk of code execution attacks.

      Some anti-virus vendors, notably Abingdon, England-based Sophos, criticized Apple for referring to the attack as simply the RavMonE.exe Windows virus. That virus name could represent a range of different exploits, experts with the security company said.

      “There are a number of different pieces of malware that use a file called RavMonE.exe and so we dont know at the moment precisely which Trojan horse or virus may have been shipped,” said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. “The name RavMonE.exe actually comes from a perfectly legitimate program called RAV Anti-Virus so it would be wrong to call a piece of malware by this name. Hackers sometimes spoof the names of legitimate programs to cause greater confusion.”

      Cluley said that Sophos is investigating the issue further and expects to provide more specific details of the correct name of the malware on the iPods, but he said the program is most likely a member of the W32/RJump virus family.

      /zimages/3/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest security news, reviews and analysis. And for insights on security coverage around the Web, take a look at eWEEK.com Security Center Editor Larry Seltzers Weblog.

      Matt Hines
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Applications

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×