Author Topic: AVG/iTunes Virus (Read 7054 times)

Weegee · « **on:** July 24, 2009, 06:59:33 PM »

Smooth one, Apple.

Upon attempting to open iTunes earlier today, I was greeted by a message stating that required components of the program were missing and that it would have to be reinstalled. This was followed by an AVG Anti-Vurus warning which claimed that hundreds, if not thousands of iTunes-related files were infected with a mysterious "Trojan horse small.BOG". Attempting to reinstall iTunes only produces that ever-ominous "fatal error" warning, and attempting to quarantine the infected files seems pointless since they replicate faster than one can manage them.

This "small" trojan has been spreading like wildfire amonsgt iTunes users; particularly those with AVG. As depicted by several Apple Forums disussions, even only the most technically-savvy among us can offer even temporary solutions. Has this affected anyone else in TMK?

Turtlekid1 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 24, 2009, 07:01:19 PM »

I have AVG but not iTunes, so not me. My dad's computer might be a different story...

WarpRattler · « **Reply #2 on:** July 24, 2009, 07:07:11 PM »

"lolololol itunes is already a virus"

Doesn't surprise me that someone would attack the client, as popular as Apple's whole music line seems to be.

Chupperson Weird · « **Reply #3 on:** July 24, 2009, 07:56:44 PM »

Yeah, I don't use iTunes.

Turtlekid1 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 24, 2009, 09:42:58 PM »

Strike that, neither does my dad. I guess everyone I know is alright (not that I know many people).

ShadowBrain · « **Reply #5 on:** July 24, 2009, 09:50:46 PM »

I've got both AVG and iTunes. While I generously update the former I've long since ignored updates for the latter, as they can take at least an hour (slowing everything down in the process) and rarely add anything more than behind-the-scenes tweaks while simultaneously pushing superflous crap like Safari and Genius. The last version that added anything decent was the one that made albums, etc. viewable on a separate screen instead of just a whole list of songs.

Weegee · « **Reply #6 on:** July 24, 2009, 11:12:58 PM »

Interestingly enough...

I uninstalled iTunes.dll when the sadly-mistaken folks at AVG prompted me to do so, but thankfully my (and everyone else's) music files are still intact. At any rate, it's apparent that the problem is on the anti-virus system's part, not Apple's as was previously speculated. The best part is that both companies are probably losing millions of dollars and credibility points as we speak.

Glorb · « **Reply #7 on:** July 25, 2009, 06:36:42 AM »

Yeah, I use iTunes all the time. No problems for me.

SolidShroom · « **Reply #8 on:** July 25, 2009, 11:40:51 AM »

You should use this opportunity to go ahead and switch to Winamp.

Glorb · « **Reply #9 on:** July 25, 2009, 12:07:43 PM »

Yeah, no. I uninstalled Winamp when I realized how hard it was to do simple things like make playlists and sync up my iPod.

Chupperson Weird · « **Reply #10 on:** July 25, 2009, 12:40:03 PM »

i.e. things losers do

Honestly though, it isn't hard to make playlists in Winamp. At all.

Glorb · « **Reply #11 on:** July 25, 2009, 01:09:14 PM »

Quote from: Chupperson Weird on July 25, 2009, 12:40:03 PM

i.e. things losers do

Losers like to listen to music?

Weegee · « **Reply #12 on:** July 25, 2009, 02:27:10 PM »

Well, AVG has issued an announcement stating that their latest update mistakenly read iTunes files as viruses. Most iPod owners, with myself included, have things back up and running without a hitch.

Glorb · « **Reply #13 on:** July 25, 2009, 06:03:42 PM »

Ballin'.

Koopaslaya · « **Reply #14 on:** July 26, 2009, 06:43:49 AM »

iTunes is lame. I buy all my music in hard form. CDs are nice, but even better are Vinyl records. I truly detest the modern trend to allow people to only buy the "songs they like" from iTunes (i.e, the songs they hear on the commercial radio stations). It is lamentable that with time, the album as we know it may no longer exist.

Glorb · « **Reply #15 on:** July 26, 2009, 07:43:20 AM »

Dude, it's all about freedom of choice. Just because you have an elitist attitude doesn't mean everyone else should have to pay fifteen bucks for one or two songs they want. Music as an art form is evolving, deal with it.

Chupperson Weird · « **Reply #16 on:** July 26, 2009, 11:16:53 AM »

It's hip to think vinyl is superior, but current studies by me and my vast collection of both records and CDs tells me that CDs, if they aren't loudness wars victims, still sound better. Maybe I just need a $2000 turntable though.

SolidShroom · « **Reply #17 on:** July 26, 2009, 01:04:26 PM »

I've downloaded some nice needle-drops from the internet, yet I don't really think I'll find myself buying the high quality equipment required to play records nicely and/or record them nicely.

Weegee · « **Reply #18 on:** July 26, 2009, 09:19:55 PM »

Whoa... Deja vu.

Considering that this could easily have been the second time that iTunes crapped out on me, purchasing music in physical format could be considered a surefire means of backup for one's digital library as well. Unless your house burns down or your entire CD/vinyl collection goes missing, that is.

Glorb · « **Reply #19 on:** July 26, 2009, 09:21:26 PM »

Or your CD gets a nice fat scratch on it.

SolidShroom · « **Reply #20 on:** July 26, 2009, 09:58:32 PM »

In which case I believe it's legal to download a torrent (although I may be wrong (and I probably am)).

CrossEyed7 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 27, 2009, 12:32:42 AM »

Definitely not legal, and debatably ethical -- consider that when torrenting, you're not only downloading but also distributing to untold dozens of other people, most of whom probably don't own the original CD.

Also illegal, but more ethical IMO, and less likely to get you caught (don't forget that one woman who got fined like five million dollars for sharing 24 songs -- would you be able to afford a good enough lawyer to fight the RIAA?), would be to download it off of YouTube if it's up there and convert the resulting MP4 or FLV file with WinFF (this also has the benefit of letting you know exactly what song you're getting beforehand, and ensuring that it pretty much can't possibly be a virus). If you're an audiophile, you'll usually notice a drop in quality, but a true audiophile would already have five factory-sealed vinyls of the song down in their wine cellar and wouldn't have to worry about something like this anyway.

Rao · « **Reply #22 on:** July 27, 2009, 12:45:03 AM »

When did CrossEyed7 become Mr. Melee??

Chupperson Weird · « **Reply #23 on:** July 27, 2009, 01:32:21 AM »

And turn into a master of ridiculously overblown hyperbole?
Buy CDs and rip them yourself. If your CD gets scratched, take it and get it resurfaced. And be more freakin' careful with your stuff.

Glorb · « **Reply #24 on:** July 27, 2009, 09:21:52 AM »

Or the alternative: Obtain your music however you want and accept any consequences that may arise as a result. If the FBI tosses a gas grenade through my window, I'll know [darn] well it's because I've illegally downloaded a lot of music (and hopefully not because I've been framed for a real crime).

ShadowBrain · « **Reply #25 on:** July 27, 2009, 09:23:48 AM »

I once heard the odds of dying falling out of bed are greater than getting caught by the RIAA for music piracy.

Chupperson Weird · « **Reply #26 on:** July 27, 2009, 06:12:39 PM »

Actually Glorb, I'm with you there. If you're going to download music, at least don't pay for it. If I'm going to pay for music, I better get a physical manifestation of the recording.

Glorb · « **Reply #27 on:** July 27, 2009, 08:27:41 PM »

Oh, but I do often pay for downloaded music. Just when I can't get it off a torrent or if I feel it's especially deserving of my cashola (the vast majority of my indie/underground songs were downloaded legally).

SolidShroom · « **Reply #28 on:** July 27, 2009, 09:55:21 PM »

Man, I buy music sometimes, but I don't really care too much about ethics. I mean, mosts artists make money from merchandise and ticket sales anyway. Most money related to music sales go straight to the pocket of execs who choke the artists free of their creative freedom in most cases anyway.

Also, downloading music from YouTube is a terrible idea whether or not you're a total audiophile because it sounds like crap regardless. It's like putting this in the Louvre

ShadowBrain · « **Reply #29 on:** July 28, 2009, 09:20:45 AM »

Long ago, I was considering downloading a fan-made music video for Ignorance is Bliss... but then I decided to buy Jellyfish Best! off Amazon instead. 20-something songs and only about three or four I don't like.

Glorb · « **Reply #30 on:** July 28, 2009, 12:10:41 PM »

I've only loved every single song on an album twice: Discovery by Daft Punk (big surprise there, I know), and All-Pro by Z-Trip (actually kind of surprising for real).