Worm in your iPod

Malware does not spare even the video iPod. Ask 28-year-old Rohni who realised her video iPod was infected when the anti-virus programme threw up a warning after she plugged her iPod into her (Windows XP) computer.

The W32/RJump.worm, discovered in June 20, 2006, reappeared on video iPod devices released by Apple late September. The W32/RJump.worm transforms into a Windows portable executable file and attempts to spread by copying itself to mapped and removable storage drives, opening a backdoor on an infected system.

"While the QQPass.worm and the RJump.worm have both been around for a while, they are fast making their way into the hands of consumers through MP3 players and video iPod devices," notes Joe Telafici, director of operations, McAfee Avert Labs.

"The worms currently treat music devices like dumb memory devices, like a pen drive, but someday we will see a scary virus or worm that actively infects both computers and music players," predict security chieftains.

There is some respite available, though. McAfee has released Stinger that targets the two dominant Windows-based threats that have been identified on video iPods and similar MP3 devices. "McAfee's Stinger is a standalone utility tool that detects and removes specific viruses, including the W32/RJump.worm and the W32/QQPass.worm," informs Kartik Shahani, director (Sales "� India and SAARC), McAfee.

Stinger is a standalone utility used to detect and remove specific viruses and is not a substitute for anti-virus protection, Mc Afee insists. "It's a tool to assist administrators and users when dealing with an infected system. Stinger uses next generation scan engine technology, including process scanning, digitally signed DAT files and scan performance optimisations," explains Shahani.

Worst case scenario, the worms can open a back door on infected PCs that criminals can use to gain access to the machines. "These worms may act as keyloggers and easily gather your banking details," cautions Shahani.