Since a virus ruined my computer early this year, I rarely go to any website on my computer that I’m not sure is safe. I use my iPod Touch to go to those sites. I also save some pictures from Google (not porn) to my iPod Touch. Is it possible for a Windows virus to be on my iPod and for it to jump to my computer when I plug it in?
a virus file could be downloaded to any storage media and possibly be transferred when it connects to your computer. That is how USB flash drives can be infected and try to transfer/infect your system when it is connected.
The autorun.inf files are treated in a special way by windows, when you connect a device with autorun.inf on it windows runs that file (unless you have it disabled) inside that text file are run commands to run malware on the USB, which can infect your system if it is malware that is undetected.
The iPod will not infect your Machine as the only files exchanged are music, contacts etc through iTunes. Any cookies, temp files, etc stay on the iPod
If as I said autorun.inf happens to get on to the ipod (no idea how) windows explorer doesn’t see an ipod but a media storage and would assign a drive letter for that storage so that you can examine/search it. So as far as I’m aware my comments still apply any storage media can carry malware and windows by its nature (and depending on your settings) can be exploited by autorun.inf files.
Hi DavidR,
I have an ipod touch also and it is not recognised as a media storage (like other ipods), it is seen as ‘scanner and camera’.
All you can do is access the images stored, but can’t write to it.
I wonder why apple have done it this way??
I am guessing here but am I right to believe that an autorun.inf file could not be created on this kind of drive?
-Scott-
First let me state I don’t have an ipod, not much of a music fan and if I were I would probably still not have an ipod as for me everything is restrictive.
That is the only thing that I don’t know how it might get on there in the first place as the ipod is effectively operating in a restricted environment (up to a point), itunes for downloads unless you can load files from your PC or another PC. If either were infected with the autorun malware it would be attempting to infect other drives connected to the infected system.
So when it sees it as a scanner or camera, presumably it still assigns a drive letter ?
If so the possibility I feel is still there assuming that the autorun.inf and any malware can get on the storage space (if able to connect to a PC to load music files).
Hi DavidR,
I understand what you mean on this topic, however I was referring to the fact that the ipod touch is effectively read-only (only images), and can only be written to through Itunes (or possibly if you hack it, but I’m not going there…)
With any other Ipods (not the phone, i think same software) it is possible to use it as media storage so I can understand the whole autorun thing for them (this is not an option for the touch.)
What do you think?
-Scott-
That is fine then if it is only able to go through itunes to load/buy music (the restrictive practice I mentioned as to why I wouldn’t buy one) and it hasn’t been hacked in any way, then it should be OK.
Ok then thanks for that, good to know 
I personally don’t mind itunes apart from the fact that it is a RAM hog, meaning I have to use it on another computer, and even on that it REALLY slows it down, but …new computer soon…
(although I don’t know how soon :()
-Scott-