Apple Video iPods with pre-installed Windows malware

A number of Video iPods have been shipped containing Windows malware. In a statement on its website, Apple has confirmed that some Video iPods available for purchase after 12 September, 2006 left their contract manufacturer carrying a malicious file, RavMonE.exe.

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

“If you have bought a Video iPod in the last month there is a chance that it could have a Windows virus on it,” said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. “The good news is that if you have kept your anti-virus software up-to-date then your security software should have no trouble detecting it before it can do any harm. The even better news – if you own an Apple computer at least – is that the malware only runs on Windows, not on Mac OS X.”