Kaspersky Lab today claimed discovery of the first virus designed to infect iPod portable media players. “The virus, which has been named Podloso, is a proof of concept program which does not pose a real threat,” Kaspersky Labs reports.
“The virus is a file which can be launched and run on an iPod. It should be stressed that in order for the virus to function, Linux has to be installed on the iPod. If the virus is installed to the iPod by the user, the virus then installs itself to the folder which contains program demo versions. Podloso cannot be launched automatically without user involvement,” Kaspersky Labs reports.
Kaspersky Labs reports, “Once launched, the virus scans the device’s hard disk and infects all executable .elf format files. Any attempt to launch these files will cause the virus to display a message on the screen which says ‘You are infected with Oslo the first iPodLinux Virus.'”
“Podloso is a typical proof of concept virus. Such viruses are created in order to demonstrate that it is possible to infect a specific platform. They do not have a malicious payload. Additionally, Podloso is unable to spread. The user has to save the virus to the iPod memory for the device to become infected. Podloso has no malicious payload, and does not present a real threat; it simply demonstrates that it is, theoretically possible to create malicious programs for such devices,” Kaspersky Labs reports.
Full article here.
So, first you install Linux on your iPod, then you find this virus file and run it, and then your iPod has a “virus” that’s unable to spread itself? If so, here’s the first Mac OS X “virus:” write an AppleScript that trashes a file, folder full of files or maybe even a whole drive – on your Mac. Save it as an app. Run it. Voila! Alert the headline writers and get the clueless AP reporters on the case!
Give us a break.
Let me follow the logic of our Kaspersky’s Lab
1. You have to install it yourself.
2. You have to run it.
3. It will display the message that your computer has been infected.
4. It may damage your files or make you mad by performing other malicious actions.
5. It cannot spread by itself
Hmmmmm…. Is Vista a virus than?
MW: “bacause” it meets the above criteria
This reminds me of the old Steve Martin comedy bit:
How to get a million dollars and never pay taxes.
First… get a million dollars….
Stupid beyond comprehension. Stupid stupid stupid.
iPod = Apple manufactured hardware + Apple installed software.
If you install Linux on that hardware, it’s no longer an iPod. I guess that’s too obvious for the likes of Kapersky et.al.
I laughed out loud when I read the “first install linux” part.
That is soooo funny. But I think this is a linux Proof of Concept virus, not the iPods.
@Dr. Mark
> 5. It cannot spread by itself
Damn right, it can’t be squirted!
There is one mildly and briefly concerned dorm room out there . . . somewhere . . at least until they read the entire report.
Remember folks, even a rabbit can be deadly if you sharpen its teeth, inject it with adrenaline and hurl it at your enemies exposed veins. Repeatedly. One day your enemy will die guaranteed.
This guy should research another proof of concept…”The ability to put a pineapple up his ass”
Well hell, using this logic there are thousands of Mac viruses out there.
Just install Windows XP on your Mac and watch it get infected.
Same friggin logic as this iPod crap.
have you ever interupted your sleep by snoring too loudly?
boredom…. ipod linux sausage factory with too much time on its hands.
“Remember folks, even a rabbit can be deadly if you sharpen its teeth,”
Get out The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch!
And the Lord spake, saying, “First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.
Have you heard? Thousands of viruses* have been discovered for the Mac!!! It’s shockingly easy to get infected!!! Millions may already be at risk!
Procedure:
1. Get a Mac
2 . Install Windows XP via Bootcamp.
3. Connect to the internet…
I smell a class actioon!
-c
*(I know it’s ‘virii’, piss off. When you say ‘virii’ out loud to someone, they look at you in the exact same way as they do when you pronounce Ayn Rand’s name correctly, or you pedantically correct someone who says Oxy-Moron by snobbliy barking “It’s Ox-im-er-on, you pre-pubescent ignoramous.”)
So much for Cory Doctorow’s desire to have iTunes for Linux!
@Zune Tang
> Let me remind you that Zunes have no executables or virii.
And Saint Attila raised the Holy Hand Grenade up on high
saying, “Oh Lord, Bless us this Holy Hand Grenade, and with it
smash our enemies to tiny bits.”
We have brought you your shrubbery. May we go now?
No doubt Microsoft, desperate for negative news about iPods, paid Kaspersky Labs to come up with an iPod virus.
After struggling for months they just said feck it, installed Linux and wrote a linux program to work on the iPod and look like it owned the OS.
After the news release, the iPod is still safe, idiot journalists do the free, negative iPod publicity for Microsoft, Kaspersky Labs gets paid and several bloggers, including MDN, get lots of hits.
Looks like a win, win, win, win, win, win to me.