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1 of the articles needed because too long.
 
Sojourna (talk | contribs)
Clean-up; pass on style; added cargo.
 
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{{IncidentCargo
{{IncidentCargo
|Company=McDonald's
|Company=McDonald's Japan
|StartDate=2006-08-04
|StartDate=4 August 2006
|EndDate=2006-10-16
|EndDate=31 August 2006
|Status=Resolved
|Status=Resolved
|Product=McDonald's MP3 Players
|ProductLine=
|ArticleType=Product
|Product=
|Type=Privacy, Security
|ArticleType=
|Description=had an competition of 10,000 winners who received mp3 players, however it contained Malware that leaked customers information.
|Type=
}}
|Description=McDonald's Japan, in collaboration with Coca-Cola, ran a promotion in August 2006 where customers would peel a code from a cup and type it into the website for a chance at a free USB-stick MP3 player pre-loaded with ten songs. Those that won had their computer infected with a trojan horse that captured password information if the user was running QQ Instant Messenger.
{{Ph-I-Int}}
}} [[File:McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase.png|alt=McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase from the advertisement. |thumb|McDonald's Japan MP3 Player showcase]]
==Background==
{{Ph-I-B}}


==[Incident]==
On 4 August 2006, [[McDonald's]] Japan in collaboration with [[The Coca-Cola Company|Coca-Cola]] ran a promotion that lasted until 31 August. Customers would peel a code from a cup and type the code onto their website, with selected winners of 10,000 individuals obtaining a USB-stick MP3 player loaded with ten free songs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sayer |first=Peter |title=Worm eats its way into McDonald’s MP3 player promotion |url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2183448/worm-eats-its-way-into-mcdonald-s-mp3-player-promotion.html |website=InfoWorld |date=16 Oct 2006 |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222055606/https://www.infoworld.com/article/2183448/worm-eats-its-way-into-mcdonald-s-mp3-player-promotion.html |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Loof |title=McDonald's Mp3 Virus {{!}} Info Comp |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV4rxKhiEKo |website=[[YouTube]] |date=18 Jun 2023 |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=vV4rxKhiEKo |archive-date=7 Mar 2026}}</ref>
{{Ph-I-I}}


===[Company]'s response===
==Incident==
{{Ph-I-ComR}}
Winners who received the McDonald's MP3 Player would be infected with an malware called QQPass Trojan that would affect computer's running [[Microsoft Windows|Microsoft operating system]], disabling anti virus protection system and capturing password information if the user is running {{Wplink|Tencent QQ|QQ Instant Messenger}}, sending it via e-mail to a third party.<ref>{{Cite web |last=deVilla |first=Joey |title=Superspyware Me! |url=https://www.globalnerdy.com/2006/10/16/superspyware-me/ |website=Global Nerdy |date=16 Oct 2006 |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250806085622/https://www.globalnerdy.com/2006/10/16/superspyware-me/ |archive-date=6 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=Chris |title=McDonalds' free Trojan: "Would you like malware with that?" |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/mcdonalds-free-trojan-would-you-like-malware-with-that/ |website=CNet |date=17 Oct 2006 |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250821060514/https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/mcdonalds-free-trojan-would-you-like-malware-with-that/ |archive-date=21 Aug 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Leyden |first=John |title=Spyware infection prompts McDonalds MP3 recall |url=https://www.theregister.com/2006/10/16/mcd_spyware_mp3_recall/ |website=The Register |date=16 Oct 2006 |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260123185302/https://www.theregister.com/2006/10/16/mcd_spyware_mp3_recall/ |archive-date=23 Jan 2026}}</ref>
 
[[File:McDonald's Japan 2006 Cup Advertisment.png|thumb|alt=McDonald's Japan 2006 Cup Advertisement]]
 
==Lawsuit==
{{Ph-I-L}}
 
 
==Consumer response==
{{Ph-I-ConR}}


==Company response==
On 7 August 2006, McDonald's issued a public apology for any consumers infected from the incident. The company offered a web link that removed the malware from computers and allowed winners to return their MP3 players for a free replacement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomson |first=Iain |title=Free malware from McDonalds |url=https://www.itpro.com/95790/free-malware-from-mcdonalds |website=ITpro |date=17 Oct 2006 |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250710015215/https://www.itpro.com/95790/free-malware-from-mcdonalds |archive-date=10 Jul 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=McDonalds Unwittingly Distributes Contaminated Prizes |url=https://www.spamfighter.com/News-6650-McDonalds-Unwittingly-Distributes-Contaminated-Prizes.htm |website=SPAMfighter |date=26 Oct 2006 |access-date=6 Mar 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260213213750/https://www.spamfighter.com/News-6650-McDonalds-Unwittingly-Distributes-Contaminated-Prizes.htm |archive-date=13 Feb 2026}}</ref>
<gallery>
McDonald's Japan 2006 Google Translate Page.png|McDonald's Japan 2006 Google Translate Page apology and request for Mp3 players
McDonald's Japan Customer Support Page.png|McDonald's Japan Customer Support Page in 2006
McDonald's Official Statement.png|McDonald's Official Statement regarding 2006 Japan malware incident
</gallery>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Ph-I-C}}
[[Category:2006 incidents]]
[[Category:McDonald's]]