Linux Lite Forums

Hardware - Support => Hard Drives and SSDs => Topic started by: JanetBiggar on April 18, 2018, 07:35:58 AM

Title: Formatting a USB that has a virus on it
Post by: JanetBiggar on April 18, 2018, 07:35:58 AM

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,

Title: Re: Formatting a USB that has a virus on it
Post by: newtusmaximus on April 18, 2018, 10:13:25 AM

Should not be a problem.

https://www.linuxliteos.com/forums/other/how-to-format-usb/msg2659/#msg2659 (https://www.linuxliteos.com/forums/other/how-to-format-usb/msg2659/#msg2659).  Hope this helps

For your  future reference  https://www.linuxliteos.com/manual/tutorials.html#antivirus   might be of help.

Title: Re: Formatting a USB that has a virus on it
Post by: Sprintrdriver on April 18, 2018, 03:38:23 PM

Infected usb devices is capable to do infect bios regardless of OS.

Found this article from 2014
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/07/this-thumbdrive-hacks-computers-badusb-exploit-makes-devices-turn-evil/

Title: Re: Formatting a USB that has a virus on it
Post by: newtusmaximus on April 18, 2018, 04:10:31 PM

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/

Title: Re: Formatting a USB that has a virus on it
Post by: trinidad on April 18, 2018, 05:35:16 PM

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