The iPad is the latest tech hit with its shiny, touch sensitive surface, crazy umber of available apps and viruses. Wait, what? Yeah you heard me. There have been reports of a virus going around targeting iPads that can do some serious damage to your device. It comes in the form of an iTunes update in your email claiming to give you the “…best performance, newer features and security”.
A link is inside the email and when clicked it will open up any sensitive data on your iPad for infection and exploitation. BitDefender, one of the leading anti-virus programs, describes the virus as such, “Identified by BitDefender as Backdoor.Bifrose.AADY, the piece of malicious code inadvertently downloaded injects itself into the explorer.exe process and opens up a backdoor that allows unauthorised access to and control over the affected system.”
“Moreover, Backdoor.Bifrose.AADY attempts to read the keys and serial numbers of the various software installed on the affected computer, while also logging the passwords to the victim’s ICQ, Messenger, POP3 mail accounts, and protected storage.”
That’s some pretty serious stuff for an iPad. Apparently this virus only affects iPads as Mac users have yet to report on this virus affecting their system. Only update via the Apple Auto Updates then.
[UPDATE]: It seems that some misinformation has happened during the reporting of this article. The virus is a Windows virus that targets people who have an iPad and does not target the iPad directly. More updates as it becomes available.
Source: TechRadar
This story sounds fishy. Perhaps the virus exists, but has it affected any users? Apple never sends out emails when iTunes needs updating. How would the virus writer get hold of your email in the first place? Is it targeted to MobileMe users?
It could just be a like those other emails that have false links. They may not know whether or not you have an iPad but it is built to target the iPad systems. No info on whether or not it targets Mobile Me.
It’s all based on a false press release from bitdefender.
In short, it’s just another clever email to get you to download something onto your PC from an untrusted source. Yes, it’s a windows virus. Only thing new in this one is that they changed “registry optimizer” to “iTunes update” in the email.
I love my PC and my Mac. It’s a pity that virus writers target the most popular platform (the PC) to have the greatest chance of spreading their malice. That won’t make me drop one tool for the other or avoid experiencing the innovation found on either device.
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