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    will virus jump from externall hdd just by plugging in?

    Discussion in 'Security and Anti-Virus Software' started by londez, Jan 26, 2015.

  1. londez

    londez Notebook Evangelist

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    Hi guys,

    I recently got some awful virus when I tried downloading open office. I can't really do anything with the computer without it freezing up. Something called vosteran that's makeing it impossible to do just about anything in windows. I was thinking about puting my hdd in an external enclosure and scrubbing the virus out without having to reformat.

    If I plug the hdd into the other computer, right click on the external drive and scan with virus software, will Ihave to worry about the virus jumping onto the clean computer?
     
    londez, Jan 26, 2015
    #1
  2. MrDJ

    MrDJ Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    MrDJ, Jan 27, 2015
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  3. londez

    londez Notebook Evangelist

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    So.... will the virus jump? Nobody knows?
     
    londez, Jan 27, 2015
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  4. valeron

    valeron Notebook Enthusiast

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    Well, you got to know whether the virus jump or not, only when put your hddto another computer.
     
    valeron, Feb 7, 2015
    #4
  5. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    The only way a virus will move is if the virus is either active in RAM (and any decent anti-virus should detect and clean it), or you run a program that activates it. Viruses are just like programs that have to run just like any other.
     
    HTWingNut, Feb 9, 2015
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  6. pete962

    pete962 Notebook Evangelist

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    There are viruses that can exploit autoplay function of MS windows (for example if you insert dvd disk into drive, it can start play movie or run setup automatically, which could be a virus), so in general it's possible. In this particular case I don't think so, since it seems the virus wasn't programmed to spread that way, but you can never be 100% sure without looking at the code or your computer setup (is autoplay on?), but I would probably take a chance. Also it seems it may take more than one antivirus program and some manual tinkering to fully remove everything.
     
    pete962, Mar 23, 2015
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  7. James D

    James D Notebook Prophet

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    Connect device while holding Shift button - that should prevent everything from autoplay.
     
    James D, Mar 23, 2015
    #7