will virus atatck my Laptop??
 

Hi guys,
do anyone have an idea about a virus attack on my laptop when I copy certain file(non-virus) from command prompt??

You need to provide more info. What operating system are you running? Are you running antivirus software, and if so what? Did your antivirus software detect a virus, or are you just being cautious/suspicious? Where are you copying the file from and to, and with what command?

Here is more info:

I am running window vista home edition on my laptop.

There is no anti virus software installed on my laptop except the USB Disk Security. Actually the virus(like ghost.exe, autorun.inf) are present in my pendrive.

My USB Disk Security detected the above stated viruses.

Now, I think you can understand from-to where I am copying the file(non-virus). Obviously, from pendrive to my laptop.

I am using the "copy" command to copy that file.


HTH,

autorun.inf itself I'm pretty sure can't carry a virus, but it would be used to automatically run a trojan. ghost.exe would normally be Norton Ghost, disk imaging software, but it's possible that it's a trojan or is virus infected.

(A trojan is a malicious program disguised as a desired one, in order to trick the user into running it. A virus is a program that is concealed within another program, or within a data file to exploit a vulnerability in a legitimate, but buggy, program, and that has the ability to replicate itself.)

Provided that your system is not already compromised, and the files you are copying truly virus-free, copying them will not result in any virus being transferred to your PC. (If your system IS compromised already, then to be honest anything could happen.)

Thanks for providing me inf about trojan and a virus.
Can you make it clear what actually you meant by "compromised"? Does it mean that my laptop is not infected with any sort of viruses before I connect the pendrive to my laptop?

Go here and download your language version of antivir personal (free) and find out. We can't tell you if you have a virus.

this is not a windows forum :)

Yes it is.....Non *Nix = all other OS's

Yes. If a system has any malware running on it, its security is compromised. The creator of the malware can then do what they wish on your computer.
Personally I would not use a compromised machine, or even attempt to clean it - I would reinstall, and be extremely cautious about my treatment of any data files I keep. This is a practical attitude on Linux systems, where being compromised happens rarely if ever.

Would anyone like to add up more to this?

Run a virus scan, doesn't seem that there is much to add until you know if you have an infection.

linuxquestions.org != windowsquestions.org :)

true, but linux users, being the generous souls that they are, generally take pity on their poorer brethren and help them out while said windows user cogitates on the merits of moving to a real os.

OK, as this is LinuxQuestions, I'd advise boot the laptop from a Linux Live CD, mount your Windows drive and do the copying you require. Unless the file you're copying is in some way infected, you'll be in no danger of interference from malware using the above method.

Here's a few tips... and they apply to all kinds of systems including Linux:

1. Never run your system as an "all-powerful" user. Unfortunately, that is exactly what Windows Home Edition does do by default. You need to define a "limited user" for yourself and to use it exclusively. The computer then understands that (for example...) "you are not authorized to tamper with 'Windows itself,'" and it will thwart any attempt to do so, e.g. by a rogue program operating without your knowledge and consent.
2. Never run your system without meaningful passwords. Unfortunately, "Home Edition" by default doesn't require one.
3. Never enable "guest" accounts. Unfortunately, "Home Edition" has several of these and does not tell you about them.
4. "Anti-virus" software is a useless, false sense of security: You can never prevent a piece of software from executing without your knowledge. But you can impose limits upon yourself to limit what the rogues can do. When you actually want to be Superman, you put on your Superman suit, save the universe, and then go back to being Clark Kent again.
5. Use regular, automatic backups: Even Windows has a 'backup utility.' (Well, I don't rightly know if "Home Edition" does.) It can back-up your system to a protected directory on an external hard-drive and do it every hour. Apple of course makes it easy, with their "Time Machine," but Windows can do it too.
6. Stop using the term "virus": Use "rogue program." The word "virus" was introduced into the common vernacular for marketing reasons. But computers are not biological organisms; they don't "get sick." They are machines, ruled by "ones and zeroes" and by bright-line, either/or choices. The reason why ... the only reason why ... a "rogue program" succeeds in doing mischief is because you have imposed no limits upon your own abilities from the point-of-view of the computer. The rogue makes a clandestine, outrageous request, and the computer (having been given no instructions to the contrary) obeys.

The notion that "Windows is plagued by Viruses and OS/X isn't and Linux isn't" is actually a myth. :eek:

Windows suffers because it is "mis-configured by default." OS/X and Linux effortly resist things which bring Windows systems to their knees, just because the computer says: "'No'... (and by the way, rogue program, you are now dead.)"

Microsoft could change the status quo at any time. But I think they enjoy their mutually profitable working relationship with McAfee and Mr. Norton. (Steve Jobs has good reason to appreciate it, too. Nothing beats a competitor who willingly hands their business to you.)