LinuxPPC CD ships with AutoStart virus: LinuxPPC Inc. replies

Numerous readers confirm that the LinuxPPC R5 CD-ROM is infected with avariant of the AutoStart worm. Current antivirus utilities can detect it and prevent it from infecting your drive. (Thanks, Gil Becerra, Ed O'Briant, and others.)

Update [6/17]: LinuxPPC Inc. has replied: "We have confirmed that the LinuxPPC 1999 Installer disc contains an inert (non-infective) version of the AutoStart A worm. LinuxPPC Inc. has concluded that the AutoStart worm cannot spread from R5 CDs to users. All user reports indicate that having the disc in the machine does not cause the machine to become infected, and it is safe to use the disc, albeit at your own risk. We will have a new pressing of the disc available in about two weeks for users who would like to receive a new, clean copy of the disc. If you want to use the disc in the meantime (and remain concerned about the risk), we recommend downloading the Mac OS utility "Autostart Hunter." This program can detect and eliminate the AutoStart worm from infected hard disks and other volumes."