Apple said a certain number of ‘ video iPods’ constructed post September 12 had the virus called ‘RavMonE’.

A warning came from 'Apple Computer' on October 17, 2006 that some of its latest iPods moved out with a Windows virus. The company said a certain number of video iPods constructed after September 12 had the virus called 'RavMonE'. Fewer than 25 reports of the problem arrived, which Apple said does not influence the other models of the media player and Macs.

Releasing a statement on its website, Apple said this virus affects only computers with Windows OS. Thus anti-virus software, which comes updated with most Windows computers, should identify and delete it.
The statement further informed there were less reports concerning the problem. The problem has made no impact on the 'iPod nano', 'iPod shuffle' and 'Mac OS X', and all 'Video iPods' now shipping are free of virus. Apple is upset because Windows is not very tough in dealing with such viruses, and still more with themselves for not detecting it in the first place.

In the view of security vendor Sophos, Apple has not correctly displaced the name of the iPod Windows virus. . They are calling it RavMonE.exe, a file generally used in malware. Since different items of malware exist using a file called RavMonE.exe, it is not easy to determine exactly which 'Trojan horse' or 'virus' was shipped with the iPods, said Graham Cluley, of Sophos. The RavMonE.exe, in fact, derives its name from a legitimate program 'RAV anti-virus', so it would be wrong to call it a malware. For doing this could be like creating confusion when hackers swindle names of authentic programs.

Anti-virus firm McAfee calls the iPod threat a low risk. However, it rated it as "low profiled", which, according to the company, refers to viruses that although seem to be with low risk but calls for additional monitoring.
Security experts recommend checking any storage device attached to a computer for viruses and other malware. Devices like 'floppy disks', 'CD ROMs', 'USB keys'; 'external-hard drives' can be loaded with malicious code, so they should be cleaned before use.

Related article: Apple Patches QuickTime 13 Month Old Flaw

» SPAMfighter News - 10/23/2006