Apple: Small Number of Video iPods Shipped With Windows Virus

Whoa. From Apple:

We recently discovered that a small number - less than 1% - of the Video iPods available for purchase after September 12, 2006 left our contract manufacturer carrying the Windows RavMonE.exe virus. This known virus affects only Windows computers, and up to date anti-virus software which is included with most Windows computers should detect and remove it. So far we have seen less than 25 reports concerning this problem. The iPod nano, iPod shuffle and Mac OS X are not affected, and all Video iPods now shipping are virus free. 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.

First, the cheap shot about Windows’s “hardiness” is uncalled for: everyone knows this is what Windows is like; it’s not like anyone is forcing Apple to sell Windows-compatible iPods. Windows certainly is a cesspool, but it’s no one’s fault but Apple’s that these iPods shipped with a virus.

Second, it should be “fewer than 25 reports”, not “less than 25 reports”.

(Thanks to Jesper for the heads-up.)

★ Tuesday, 17 October 2006