Apple Blames Microsoft After Accidentally Shipping iPods With A Preloaded Virus

Apple Computers has issued a statement admitting that a very small number of its best selling MP3 players shipped with a malicious worm onboard the devices.

And in what some are calling a not so subtle swipe at its competition, the company is blaming Microsoft’s Windows for the problem.

The bug, believed to be either the RavMonE, QQPass.worm or the RJump.worm, apparently got on the machines when a Windows PC used in one of the computer giant’s manufacturing lines became infected and passed the code into the players.

“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,” Apple notes in a statement.

The virus attempts to steal information from a user’s machine and opens a secret ‘back door’ that can allow a hacker to gain access to a computer.

Part of the problem in fixing the trouble is that virus fighting companies, like Norton and McAfee, aren’t quite sure which version of the bug they’re dealing with.

“While the QQPass.worm and the RJump.worm have both been around for a while, they are still making their way into the hands of consumers through MP3 players and video iPod devices that were initially infected with the virus,” notes McAfee’s Joe Telafici

“Today’s multi-function devices, like MP3 players, cell phones and digital cameras, with their much larger storage systems, and consumers’ tendency to plug them into multiple computers, can be a vector for slow-spreading threats.”

It’s not the first time computer users have detected an iPod virus. Word of the problem originally surfaced in the summer. But it’s the first time the maker of the product ever accidentally shipped some of the devices to users with a virus already on it.

Still, Apple believes the vast majority of owners have nothing to worry about. Only machines sold after September 12th are affected. And the company is quick to point out that even then, there aren’t many of those.

“So far we have seen less than 25 reports concerning this problem,” Apple’s statement assures.  “The iPod nano, iPod shuffle and Mac OS X are not affected, and all Video iPods now shipping are virus free.”

What should you do to be sure? The computer maverick has some suggestions on that front, too.

“Because this Windows virus propagates via mass storage devices, we recommend that you scan any mass storage devices that you have recently attached to your Windows computers such as external hard drives, digital cameras with removable media, and USB flash drives.”

The problem doesn’t affect those using Apple computers, which fiercely loyal users love to point out are rarely afflicted with the same kind of virus problems that plague Microsoft’s operating system.