Apple iPod's First Virus Detected

It seems like iPod users should now be extremely careful as Security vendor Kaspersky Labs has recently announced it has detected the first virus designed to infect iPod portable media players. The virus has been named Podloso and users need not be too concerned as this is simply a concept program which does not pose a real threat.

‘Podloso is a file which can be launched and run on an iPod’, the company said in a statement.

The virus can only function when Linux is installed on the iPod. If Podloso is inserted by the user, it installs itself to the folder which contains program demo versions. It cannot be launched automatically.

When launched, it simply scans the iPods hard drive and infects all executable .elf format files. If these files are accessed, the virus will display a message on the screen - "You are infected with Oslo the first iPodLinux Virus".

The company stressed that Podloso is a typical proof of concept virus, which is created in order to demonstrate that it is possible to infect a specific platform.

The good news is the virus cannot automatically spread and infect other devices without users installing it first. So rest easy, for now.