In an odd event, Apple (News - Alert) removed an app from the app store recently on the basis of it having malware. The strange part was that the malicious files were Windows, meaning that it couldn’t affect a Mac or any of Apple’s mobile devices. And luckily the virus didn’t harm Windows owners as well, since the file had to be manually extracted from the app.

The app, Instaquotes-Quotes Cards For Instagram" has been available to users since July 19. Issues were brought up by users, who posted on Apple Support Communities. The app was being flagged by the user's antivirus as a worm, which was quickly confirmed as the iOS package did include a threat identified as Worm.VB-900 by ClamAV and Worm:Win32/VB.CB by Microsoft (News - Alert).

There is no telling how many people downloaded the app, but there could have been an influx this weekend as the app went from $0.99 to free. But after being taken off the shelf, the app’s developer posted that it would try and work with Apple in getting an updated version back up, one that does not have the virus in it.

Personally, I don’t think the developers included the virus into the app. Considering the virus doesn’t activate by download and needs to be manually opened, it seems more likely that the developers accidently added it or that their own computer was infected by it.

Regardless, it is on the part of Apple to ensure that the apps it lets through aren’t harmful to its consumers. While it currently scans for viruses infectious to iOS and Mac OS, the company needs to start scanning for Windows malware in their apps as well. Many people own a Windows computer and have their iTunes account on it, an app like this could have been a potential threat to them.

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