iPod Some iPods ship with a Windows virus

[suneohair]

I personally find it quite funny.

Everyone needs to lighten up.

 

[sjpetry]

dont like it, buy a mac or stick with your crappy pc and get viruses and dont buy an ipod

personally i kinda hope this means apple will drop ipod windows support completely, PC users can use their crappy microsoft Zune players

Ah, a beautiful display of arrogance. Or were you kidding?

 

[Swytch]

"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".

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.

Again, Apple is not required to do anything, or compensate its customers in any way, and most companies would do absolutely nothing.

The fact that Apple has provided such easy and detailed instructions on removing the virus, even providing links to free virus protection software for the idiots who have a PC with no virus protection, is above and beyond almost any company out there. If you have a PC without virus/spyware protection, you are ASKING for a virus, and you need to get one to learn a lesson.

This is one of the main reasons I am an avid Apple supporter, if something goes wrong, Apple will fix it. I even got the battery replaced on my 3G ipod for free recently, when i didnt even notice an issue until Apple sent me a letter and told me how to test my battery...

Also, yes Apple is responsible for thier product, the iPod. However, Apple did not create Windows, and is not responsible for how their product interacts with someone else's product.

I do agree that Apple messed up and shipped a product with a virus that they shouldnt have, but asking for something for nothing? you are just plain greedy like all the other morons in this country.

 

[hulugu]

"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".

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.

Are you always this shrill? This was a small gaffe, unworthy of a lawsuit or major compensation. This is time for a quick apology and amends to affected customers and a statement to that effect. While the Windows jab was unnecessary, if hilarious, there is a measure of truth to it as well.
Were you screaming for a pound of flesh when Sony infected thousands with their infamous rookit? Or more parallel to the iPod problem, Creative faced nearly the same problem, were your hackles raised in the same way?

 

[lkrupp]

You wish...

Ummm... OK. If I bought one of these infected iPods and spyware got installed on my PC, I do believe that the folks at the Apple Store would be refunding me 100% of my purchase price while allowing me to keep the iPod... the alternative being that they could pay the bill for someone to clean up the damage to my PC.

It's alright to dream I guess.

 

[nwainwright]

OK, Apple should remove the smug line...it's very insensitive and extremely cocky

http://www.apple.com/support/windowsvirus/

The line saying "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." is just bad PR and bad corporate image. It'll get quoted in the press a lot, and it'll put Apple in a bad light.

 

[Swytch]

Ah, a beautiful display of arrogance. Or were you kidding?

yes, just commenting on how ridiculous he is being by wanting something for nothing, when there are obvious alternatives if he doesnt like apple.

instead he just prefers to complain and sue everyone like everyone else in this country... its what americans do best

 

[iMeowbot]

"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".

Yep. It was entirely their choice to outsource production. Other companies manage to keep consistent quality building in China, but they operate the factories themselves.

 

[EricNau]

Really not cool.

...A BIG screw up on Apple's part.

 

[hvfsl]

Most MP3 players have had this problem at some point over the last few years.

I guess it can be annoying to the Windows users that get infected because of this. But then, if their AV software didn't pick it up, they would probably get infected anyway through an email or visiting a dodgy site.

 

[bdj21ya]

Most MP3 players have had this problem at some point over the last few years.

I guess it can be annoying to the Windows users that get infected because of this. But then, if their AV software didn't pick it up, they would probably get infected anyway through an email or visiting a dodgy site.

Email isn't a very likely method of getting a virus, since you have to open attachments to get infected. Browsing is much more likely. P2P networks more likely still. The only way I ever got a virus on a Windows machine was because of holes in Windows that made it simple for the worm to transmit itself without me doing more than connecting to the network. As such, I don't ever install AV software, because it is a waste of my time and/or money. I would have been very annoyed to have to install an antivirus just to get rid of a virus caused by something I was paying $249-$299 for.

 

[Swytch]

Email isn't a very likely method of getting a virus, since you have to open attachments to get infected. Browsing is much more likely. P2P networks more likely still. The only way I ever got a virus on a Windows machine was because of holes in Windows that made it simple for the worm to transmit itself without me doing more than connecting to the network. As such, I don't ever install AV software, because it is a waste of my time and/or money. I would have been very annoyed to have to install an antivirus just to get rid of a virus caused by something I was paying $249-$299 for.

Actually, e-mail is a very likely method of getting a virus, considering that 75% of the population is stupid enough to open the attachment.

AV software a waste of time/money? you would rather spend 10 times as much time and money to fix a virus after it has destroyed your computer?
you should know from your own experience you just described that you can get a virus by doing practically nothing, especially when you never know what virus might be on a software disc or any hardware you add to your computer...

and AV software takes like maybe 10 minutes to install and configure, then it just runs on its own, and most AV software you only really have to buy once, Norton for instance, if you buy it, not only can you get it for cheap with a rebate on your initial purchase, as long as you buy it every year youc an get it for free with "upgraders" mail in rebates.

 

[uNext]

maybe is because im really good with computers or im lucky.
but i use windows without an av. And the computers on my network are clean no probelms what so ever-

im a 1 percenter i guess

 

[bdj21ya]

maybe is because im really good with computers or im lucky.
but i use windows without an av. And the computers on my network are clean no probelms what so ever-

im a 1 percenter i guess

Same here. Never had a problem. The one worm I mentioned didn't do any damage and I easily removed it.

 

[Lancetx]

I personally find it quite funny.

Everyone needs to lighten up.

No kidding. Seeing as how it was less than 1% of them anyway, this is certainly not a big deal. Besides, it's not like Apple is the only one that has had this kind of an issue with a subcontractor. Creative had a batch of Zen players that shipped out with a Windows virus preloaded just this time last year.

 

[bdj21ya]

Actually, e-mail is a very likely method of getting a virus, considering that 75% of the population is stupid enough to open the attachment.

AV software a waste of time/money? you would rather spend 10 times as much time and money to fix a virus after it has destroyed your computer?
you should know from your own experience you just described that you can get a virus by doing practically nothing, especially when you never know what virus might be on a software disc or any hardware you add to your computer...

and AV software takes like maybe 10 minutes to install and configure, then it just runs on its own, and most AV software you only really have to buy once, Norton for instance, if you buy it, not only can you get it for cheap with a rebate on your initial purchase, as long as you buy it every year youc an get it for free with "upgraders" mail in rebates.

Again, as I stated above, I've never had a problem with viruses on Windows. I'm a safe user. If I were going to manage computers that others were using, you bet I would take the time/money to protect them.

AV software running in the background annoys me. I know it's just that small amount, but I hate having something I don't use taking up system resources (like Seinfeld hating repainting his apartment because it got that much smaller).

 

[sushi]

It's downright embarrassing, not just bad for business, to pass along a virus.

Completely agree.

Apple needs to take full responsibility for their subcontractor's mistake (be it intentional or not). That is the action of a responsible company. Finger pointing is not.

Very disappointed in Apple in this particular case.

 

[balamw]

Am I missing something here?

Isn't disk access turned off by default with the iPods as shipped? With disk access turned off why should the USB mass storage drivers do anything with the iPod?!?

I guess they should go back to shipping the iPods formatted HFS+ and reformat them for Windows use.

B

 

[Porco]

Aw man, my stockbroker in Beijing told me to buy Burger King and Creative shares last week too!* D'oh!

*Joking

 

[cherrypop]

Lowest common denominator theory at work.

That marginally popular OS is dragging us all down ; - )

 

[clayj]

Were you screaming for a pound of flesh when Sony infected thousands with their infamous rookit?

Actually, yes. Fortunately for myself in both cases, I did not happen to buy anything that screwed up any of my computers.

And 1% may seem like a small number, but that represents THOUSANDS of customers. Certainly enough to qualify for a class action suit should they all get together and decide to file one.

Oh, and I never said I didn't like Apple. I like them just fine. That's why it's all the more disappointing when they pull a bonehead move like this one. If they screw up and it causes a problem on my end, I may reasonably expect compensation if it costs me anything (including my time) to resolve the problem. This time, it was a "harmless" worm; next time, it could be a full-blown disk-reformatting program.

 

[bretm]

You mean like when Avid shipped all of it's version 7.somehthing upgrade discs with a worm virus for OS9 on it? For years I was deworming edit suites where I freelanced.

whoa...

This is very bad news!
Luckily not many have gotten the virus, but could you imagine purchasing a device from a very reputable vendor, which contains a virus? This is indeed very bad PR.

OTOH...
I must admit, I did giggle for a moment there...

 

[iMikeT]

This is awesome news!

It's about time that Apple does something to further ruin Windoze.

 

[STLSigns]

Of course this is bad that it came from an apple product, but to repeat myself reguarding MP3 players...

"Oh, wireless sounds nice on a MS Zune.
Sharing my content with others around me, COOL...."

Until...

"what the F*$#, why is my new MS Zune not working. I guess I need to do a virus check, contact MS, downlaod new security updates and try again. Still not working..where are my songs...arrrrrrg."

This should be fun to watch MS deal with Bird Flu Zunes.
Maybe that is what the brown one is for.

 

[bommai]

Am I missing something here?

Isn't disk access turned off by default with the iPods as shipped? With disk access turned off why should the USB mass storage drivers do anything with the iPod?!?

I guess they should go back to shipping the iPods formatted HFS+ and reformat them for Windows use.

B

That is exactly what they should do to prevent these kinds of problems. What is wrong with shipping with HFS+. Just let iTunes format it to whatever the PC wants to read.