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I'm hoping someone knows the answer to this. A friend has a USB that picked up a virus, he is using a PC running windows (not sure what version). While I have a Mac computer I am reluctant to reformat it on my personal Mac just in case...
I still have one of the donated computers running LL 3.8 and wondered if I can reformat the virus infected USB on it without causing a problem on this computer. This computer is only running LL 3.8 and NOT dual with a Windows OS.
IF I can safely do this on the computer running LL does anyone have any good clear instructions on how to do so?
Thanks,
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04-18-2018, 02:13 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-18-2018, 02:31 PM by newtusmaximus.)
2006 - HP DC7700p ultraslim Desktop Intel 6300 cpu 4GB Ram LL3.8 64bit.
2007 - Fujitsu Siemens V3405 Laptop 2 GB Ram LL3.6 32bit. Now 32bit Debian 9 + nonfree.
2006 - Fujitsu Siemens Si1520 Laptop Intel T720 cpu 3GB Ram LL5.6 64 Bit
2014 - Fujitsu Siemens Lifebook E754 Intel i7 4712MQ 16GB Ram LL6.6
2003 - RETIRED Toshiba Satellite Pro A10 1 GB RAM LL2.8 32bit
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So back to the original post. How do you know the usb is infected? What "scanner " found the virus/malware and what was reported.
If the "infection" is a known identified virus, then look up it mode of action. Will it have infected the firmware of the USB. If so Sprintrdrivers comments are valid. If however the "infection" is just on the usb as an entity. then formatting should not be a problem. If in doubt, install clamav/clamtk on the LL computer, and scan the usb for yourself. Then report back??. Otherwise use one of the online scanners using a Windows OS PC i.e
https://www.eset.com/uk/home/online-scanner/
2006 - HP DC7700p ultraslim Desktop Intel 6300 cpu 4GB Ram LL3.8 64bit.
2007 - Fujitsu Siemens V3405 Laptop 2 GB Ram LL3.6 32bit. Now 32bit Debian 9 + nonfree.
2006 - Fujitsu Siemens Si1520 Laptop Intel T720 cpu 3GB Ram LL5.6 64 Bit
2014 - Fujitsu Siemens Lifebook E754 Intel i7 4712MQ 16GB Ram LL6.6
2003 - RETIRED Toshiba Satellite Pro A10 1 GB RAM LL2.8 32bit
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It is extremely unlikely that any harm will come to your Linux Lite system reformatting the USB, however without fully zeroing it is possible to pass some nasties back to your MAC or Windows box even though you reformatted the drive with Linux. Not particularly likely but not impossible. It really depends on the type of code and application base vulnerability. Most things won't pass at all. Be best to know your definition, and AV provider.
TC
All opinions expressed and all advice given by Trinidad Cruz on this forum are his responsibility alone and do not necessarily reflect the views or methods of the developers of Linux Lite. He is a citizen of the United States where it is acceptable to occasionally be uninformed and inept as long as you pay your taxes.
