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iPod Some iPods ship with a Windows virus
- Thread starter BoyBach
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So... Apple aren't used to dealing with spyware, adware, trojans, and viruses because of Mac OS X, so they're also not used to locking down QC PCs to make sure they don't get infected, either? This could have easily been prevented by making sure that the QC PCs were offline (which would be my choice: why does a QC PC need to be connected to the Internet or any sort of network?) or by making sure they had up-to-date antimalware software installed (Norton Security, Windows Live OneCare, etc.).longofest said:
Ultimately, the marketing slogan that could be derived from this is: "Mac OS X... for those of you too dumb to properly secure a system. Which, apparently, includes us here at Apple."
Yikes! This is bad news for Apple. Just what they need, another PR nightmare. I bet it was done by a Microsoft spy to help sell the Zune units over Christmas. 
I can see it now. Microsoft launches an "I'm an iPod and I'm a Zune" ad campaign commenting on how iPods come with viruses.
I can see it now. Microsoft launches an "I'm an iPod and I'm a Zune" ad campaign commenting on how iPods come with viruses.swingerofbirch
macrumors 68040
Swytch said:
That type of attitude you espouse is exactly how Apple got into bad shape in the mid nineties. License agreements are standard protection. Any company that used caustic approaches in everyday practice that are outlined in licenses would be despised.
And that Apple software agreement and $4.34 will get you a venti 6-pump raspberry mocha at Starbucks. Any lawyer could reasonably argue that no one who buys an iPod expects to have it come preloaded with a virus, worm, or trojan. Apple can't absolve themselves of liability for inadvertant, unrelated-to-primary-functionality damages caused by their product simply by printing "we're not responsible for damages caused by our product" in the license agreement.Swytch said:
BTW, for what it's worth, Microsoft used to (don't know if they do anymore) avoid the possibility of viruses getting into their software manufacturing process (duplication, boxing, etc.) by using a foreign OS (XENIX) in said process. Once a gold master was completed and verified, its files were transferred into a XENIX system that was virus-proof. All manufacturing occurred there.
how can you ship ipods out the doors with viruses?
maybe a conspiracy to spur the holiday switchers!
maybe a conspiracy to spur the holiday switchers!
Stridder44 said:
Considering the iPod is Apple's tojan to get more market share, it is rather funny. Still, bad PR for comparatively small Apple.
I can sympathise
Many years ago I used to design and develop OS distributions for OS/2. At one point we nearly did the same thing when copying OS's onto hard disks (using a disc blaster), we spotted this prior to dropping them into machines - but it was a close call and a couple of hundred hard disks down. We never actually shipped on - phew ! So, we had to re-rip the disks. That was a long night in a German factory.
Many years ago I used to design and develop OS distributions for OS/2. At one point we nearly did the same thing when copying OS's onto hard disks (using a disc blaster), we spotted this prior to dropping them into machines - but it was a close call and a couple of hundred hard disks down. We never actually shipped on - phew ! So, we had to re-rip the disks. That was a long night in a German factory.
Seriously, after the multitude of bugs in iTunes 7.0, this is really not great for Apple's image. I'm not sure why they are outwardly joking about it. I'm sure a few iPod users aren't laughing right now.
jessica. said:
Apple themselves don't make the iPods, they don't supply the computers that load software or check the iPods. The contractor does that. The contractor's pee cee had the virus.
I think the "jab" at M$ is great, I bet it'll piss off many pee cee people though. Har!
autrefois
macrumors 65816
Apple said:
Is there any possibility this was sabotage at the factory by either someone who dislikes iPods or dislikes Apple / like Windows better?
Either way, since iPods are an Apple product, they should apologize whether or not it is directly their fault.
Elijahg said:Apple themselves don't make the iPods, they don't supply the computers that load software or check the iPods. The contractor does that. The contractor's pee cee had the virus.
I think the "jab" at M$ is great, I bet it'll piss off many pee cee people though. Har!
The jab is lame. As the seller, Apple is the responsible party here (they are the ones "in privy" with the consumer). You could sue the manufacturer, but the party "in privy" is usually the first target. Apple's contracts with the manufacturer ought to cover this sort of thing (demanding an agreement that all computers the iPods are connected to be off the network and protected with a trusted Anti-virus program should about do it). I'd be disappointed to find that they didn't have such a stipulation in the contract, and I think it's lame to be making jabs at competitors when you make a mistake like this.
Bad form Apple, bad form.
PHP:
clayj said:
Well, how about a lecture from someone who's been around the block a few times?
In point of fact, due to the nature of the worm:
And the fact that Apple immediately (i.e. as soon as they were aware of the problem) posted information about dealing with the worm, they would likely be liable for NOTHING. The protection offered by the license agreement would be quite sufficient, as, in most, if not all, cases, no actual damage would have been done. Yes, it would be a nuisance to remove the worm, but nothing more.
So, the question of getting Apple to refund the price of the iPod while letting you keep it? Not a chance. Even if you were to hire a professional to remove the worm from your computer and then take Apple to court for the cost of the technician (which, granted, could easily be more than the cost of the iPod), Apple could argue that this was an excessive measure, and they provided you with complete information on how to remove the worm yourself. Of course, if they were smart (for any number of reasons, not least of which being the fact that sending their lawyers to court to make such an argument would cost them more than paying claim), they'd simply pay you off quietly under a non-disclosure agreement.
As for everyone who's saying that Apple screwed up, read more carefully:
This wasn't under Apple's direct control. Sure, the idea of a foreign OS is a great one. Even OS X would do. But Apple doesn't control the factories where they're made. So gripe about that, instead...
It's downright embarrassing, not just bad for business, to pass along a virus. We did that to a customer once, when we gave them some files on floppy disks (remember those?), and it turned out that the blank floppies in a sealed box from a retail store were infected. We never knew we had to format or scan "blank" floppies.
bdj21ya said:
Quoting from someone at a different board:
"You can write anything you want into a contract, but as any lawyer will tell you, that doesn't mean that all the requirements will be fulfilled.
"The contracts are not there to guarantee that proper procedures will always be followed, but to give a legal basis for a lawsuit later, if it is found that they were not.
"It's the threat of the suit that keeps others in line, hopefully."
clayj said:
Of course you dont expect an ipod to come preloaded with a virus, that doesnt mean apple is responsible or is required to do anything other than provide you with information on how to remove it, which is still more than most companies would do.
By your logic, I could go after Microsoft for selling me a product that is prone to getting viruses simply because i didnt "expect" that any OS i buy would be susceptable to 40000+ viruses out of the box.
My point is simply this: If you own a PC, be prepared to deal with Viruses, and dont try to blaim apple for accidentally shipping ipods with a virus they didnt create.
age234 said:
Quoting my response on that same board:
Certainly. I am a former law student myself. I'm saying I hope that they weren't stupid enough not to negotiate that into the contract. Though their attitude reflected in this statement makes me doubt their forethought on this matter. If Apple didn't put this into the contract, then they bear a good share of the blame in this.
"Don't try to blaim Apple"? Whose name is on the iPod product box? Not the name of the Chinese subcontractor. It quite clearly says "Apple".Swytch said:
Apple is 100% responsible for their product, as far as customers (and the press) are concerned. If Apple wants to take out their losses by filing a suit against their subcontractor, they're more than welcome to do so.
Those of you who are defending Apple on this: Face it. Apple BLEW it in more than one way on this one. They didn't make sure their subcontractor did what is necessary to prevent viruses/worms/malware from getting into the manufacturing process, and then they committed a huge gaffe by even bringing up Windows' relative lack of protection. The smart thing for Apple to do would have been to say "mea culpa, mea maxima culpa", recall the affected iPods, compensate the affected customers, and promise it will never happen again... and no bringing up Microsoft or any Chinese subcontractor.
clayj said:
If you so strongly think it's Apple's fault, you try telling some Chinese contractor what they should and shouldn't be doing. They just try to get it done as quickly and cheaply as possible.
Would you like it if Apple had each iPod sent to them after being made and tested by QC to check it's virus free? I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you paid them $150 each time. In fact, I'm sure they'd be more than pleased. Why don't you ask them next time you buy something. Or with any other company's product for that matter. Anyone who has a pee cee and can't be bothered to get anti-virus software must be asking for a virus, whether it's on an iPod, download, CD, whatever.
Snowy_River said:
The iPod Software License Agreement covers the iPod and iPod software. A separate piece of malicious software that's been included (in gross negligence of due care) with said software is clearly not covered by the license agreement.
Yeah. And if you'd take a free iPod as your consideration, Apple'd be getting away from it cheaply.
Frankly, this is a case where a class action makes a lot more sense than scratches on the 1G nano. Apple deserves a real reaming for this particular screwup. It *should* cost them major money - there's no excuse for shipping malware, period. They need a serious boot in the butt to encourage them to not act so negligently in the future.
-vga4life
Indeed, most of what I said is already been mentioned. The 1st gen nano's broken screen only affected less, and they swapped 'em. They could offer a swap -- take the user's infected PC in and give them back a Macintosh.