A question about viruses...

trist007 · 02-04-2010, 01:15 PM

Let's say I have an avi file that contains a virus for ntfs windows xp sp3. I put that file on a linux ext3 partition. Then on a windows xp sp3 nfts computer, I connect to the partition over a network share via smb. I run the file within the share so the file is never physically on the windows xp sp3 computer. In this situation will the virus infect the windows xp ntfs partition?

Mara · 02-04-2010, 01:19 PM

Moved: This thread is more suitable in Linux-Security and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

It depends on the virus, but it's very likely that it would be able to infect that win machine. It is important when the virus executes, not where the code physically is (it's likely that it will be downloaded to some temporary file, btw).

Quakeboy02 · 02-04-2010, 01:19 PM

Yes. Why would you think it wouldn't?

There is nothing special about ext3 when it comes to malware. Nor is there anything special about where the malware resides. The only issue is whether Windows accesses a file with malware.

++nick++ · 02-04-2010, 03:37 PM

If the virus affects your computer when that avi file is stored locally , it will definitely infect your win machine regardless it resides physically in ext3

chrism01 · 02-04-2010, 07:16 PM

As above, its the cpu (more accurately the OS) that runs the virus that counts. Disk fs type is irrelevant.

Web31337 · 02-05-2010, 01:55 AM

As an example: does it matter if you run virus.exe locally from your HDD or directly from your browser, fetching it from an unknown system with unknown webserver hosts file in unknown way?
you will get pwned anyway.
since that it's not really linux related question.