Does the Applecare Plan Cover Viruses?

Question

Does the Applecare Plan Cover Viruses?

Hi,

A friend of mine recently purchased one of the new MacBook's from Future Shop. The clerks talked her into buying the Future Shop plan.

Apparently, her computer now is saying it has a virus (haven't looked at it yet so not sure whats going on). When she bougth the plan, the gig was the Future Shop plan covered everything and mroe then what the Apple Care plan does. However, when she called about the virus, they said it would cost her $50.

So my question is, does the Apple Care plan cover the removal of viruses? I know it won't be much help if what he said isn't in writing, but it would be good to help build our case.

Thanks

MacBook

Posted on Jul 22, 2009 9:31 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Jul 22, 2009 9:33 AM in response to Micah Kowalchuk

Does the Applecare Plan Cover Viruses?

No. It covers hardware defects.

Besides there are no viruses that run on Mac OS.

Reply

Answer 2

Jul 22, 2009 9:35 AM in response to Templeton Peck

So then what she is seeing is a random popup or something? I will try and get some screenshots to see whats happening myself.

I was reading over the terms for the Apple Care Plan, and no where did I see it say under the limitations that it did NOT cover viruses, even if there are none for OS X. Am I blind?

Thanks for the information though.

Reply

Answer 3

Jul 22, 2009 10:04 AM in response to Templeton Peck

Haha wow popups are annoying. I saw the screenshot and the background in the window was a Windows Vista "My Computer" view. I would of hoped that would of given it away to her :S

Thanks for the help!

Reply

Answer 4

JasonFear

Level 5

4,965 points

Jul 22, 2009 6:01 PM in response to Micah Kowalchuk

Micah,

You're correct, the Terms & Conditions of Applecare do not specifically state anything in regards to virus infection. However a lot of the "verbage" used in the T&Cs are pretty broad and encompassing. I believe this portion best describes what you're looking for:

(xi) *Damage to, or loss of any software or data residing or recorded in the Covered Equipment*. When providing repair or replacement service, Apple will use reasonable efforts to reinstall the Covered Equipment’s original software configuration and subsequent update releases, but will not provide any recovery or transfer of software or data contained on the serviced unit not originally included in the Covered Equipment.

Namely the first sentence. A "virus" would be the modification of code on the computer to have the application, document or file operate in a malicious manner. Technically, I'm sure Apple legal could argue that a virus infection would be considered "damage to software." At least that's how I'd see the point if they argued it.

Reply

Answer 5

Jul 22, 2009 9:37 AM in response to Micah Kowalchuk

So then what she is seeing is a random popup or something?

Probably a pop-up banner ad from the internet.

Reply

Answer 6

Jul 23, 2009 12:51 AM in response to Micah Kowalchuk

It's not a virus, it's just from the websites you are viewing. 🙂

Reply