Virus question.

[Moto]

Hi. My little brother was using Kazaa earlier (I told him not to by the way) and he ended up downloading a music file that contained a worm. Norton popped up and said that a worm was found on the computer. Leave it to my little brother to download a .exe file from a file sharing network .

Anyway, we are using a router. I have my own gaming PC and my brother has one that he plays toontown on. My question is this: If my brother's computer is infected with a worm virus, can it be transfered to my computer as well if we are on a router? I already quarantined the virus on my brother's computer, but I don't know if that will help.

The scary thing is that I have an extremely expensive computer and moments before he downloaded the hacked file, I pulled my internet cable out. The virus only made it on to his comp. So, can the worm go to my computer as well if I plug my internet connection back in?

On a side note, should I re-format his PC? If so, how do I reformat a computer, I have never done that before.

Thanks very much in advance.

P.S. I do not approve of the use of Kazaa.

EDIT: Oh and BTW, I am using his computer to type this, my computer is not plugged into the internet at this time.

 

[Shuzer]

If Norton detected the worm and cleaned/quarentined/deleted it, you should be fine.
Worms can spread over a network, but if your systems aren't networked (ie. one can access the other via Network Neighborhood), than the virus can't spread from one to the other.

Besides, most worms aren't self-replicating, so you don't even really need to worry about there being more than one instance of it on his system (let alone your system).

In short, you're fine to plug your computer back in on the router, it won't affect you. And there's definitely no need whatsoever to format his computer, unless, of course, the virus was unable to be cleaned/deleted/quarantined.

BTW, any idea what worm it was, and what affects it had on the user's security? I ask because there are ALOT of worms that are outdated and really don't do much anymore, and some that really don't even do anything in the first place.

 

[Scapegoat]

Yea, Norton's should of picked up the file when it finished downloading - not when he opened it so it should be okay.

 

[DiSTuRbEd]

The scary thing is that I have an extremely expensive computer and moments before he downloaded the hacked file

Unless you're using a new alienware,voodoo,etc. Its not extremely expensive :cheers:

Anyways, yes you should be fine, I mean my cuz and his sister probably have shitloads of viruses and worms on there pc's, never come touch mine even tho this pc has no anti virus scan, but I usually check it everyweek, good you have a router. :cheers:

 

[Frank]

Use Stinger!! Go search for Stinger Virus on Google, and download McAfee's version! It's awesome!

 

[Hazar]

BTW, even if it was an expensive computer, reformatting always gets rid of the worm. Worms can't do anything physical to your hardware.

 

[Ti133700N]

How did he manage to get a worm from a music file? You can't get a virus from an mp3.

 

[psyno]

...good you have a router.

What does this mean? :rolling:

BTW, even if it was an expensive computer, reformatting always gets rid of the worm.

Formatting may not get rid of a virus in the case of a boot sector virus, although these seem to somewhat uncommon now. It also won't help if there's another computer on the network that's going to cause it to get re-infected. Regardless, it's taking an awfully big hammer to the problem.

How did he manage to get a worm from a music file? You can't get a virus from an mp3.

Simply wrong. You can indeed get infected from an MP3.

 

[poseyjmac]

What does this mean? :rolling:


Formatting may not get rid of a virus in the case of a boot sector virus, although these seem to somewhat uncommon now. It also won't help if there's another computer on the network that's going to cause it to get re-infected. Regardless, it's taking an awfully big hammer to the problem.


Simply wrong. You can indeed get infected from an MP3.

router usually means you have a firewall, which is a good thing.

 

[Axyon]

How did he manage to get a worm from a music file? You can't get a virus from an mp3.

Read the first paragraph, it says his brother downloaded an .exe, thinking it was a music file.

 

[psyno]

Common misconception. Router in no way means firewall. NAT in no way means firewall. Some routers do offer some levels of security, and some may be configured to block traffic on certain ports... That's great, but the concept of a router and of a firewall are very different. A router, by definition, doesn't prevent communication between devices, but enables it. Assuming that a router is going to protect you is dangerous. This is my point. Never assume that you're safe because you're behind a router. This will be apparent to anyone who might live in apartments with a shared internet connection, in dorms at a university, etc.

 

[Hazar]

ost home routers DO have some sort of built in firewall that doesn't need to be configured. However, a software firewall along with the router firewall is the best.

 

[poseyjmac]

Common misconception. Router in no way means firewall. NAT in no way means firewall. Some routers do offer some levels of security, and some may be configured to block traffic on certain ports... That's great, but the concept of a router and of a firewall are very different. A router, by definition, doesn't prevent communication between devices, but enables it. Assuming that a router is going to protect you is dangerous. This is my point. Never assume that you're safe because you're behind a router. This will be apparent to anyone who might live in apartments with a shared internet connection, in dorms at a university, etc.

you talkin to me? cause i know what these things are. i never said a router was a firewall, i just said it usually means you will have a firewall if you have bought a router, and by default usually these routers don't let anything in. so yes if you have a router it is a big plus

 

[DiSTuRbEd]

My router here HAS a firewall

 

[Hazar]

Yep, most do. It's a good thing to also have a software firewall too.

 

[Moto]

Okay. Thanks for all of your help guys. I really appreciate it. Oh and we use a Linksys router that has a firewall.

Thanks again.

 

[bosox188]

Use Stinger!! Go search for Stinger Virus on Google, and download McAfee's version! It's awesome!

Stinger is a great program, I have it and I love it. It probably shouldn't be on his computer anymore if Norton caught it. But if you really want to be sure why not run a scan to make sure and if it doesn't find anything then you're fine. I have McAfee Virus Scan right now, and Stinger once found something that it didn't, and Stinger is free!

 

[bosox188]

Okay. Thanks for all of your help guys. I really appreciate it. Oh and we use a Linksys router that has a firewall.

Thanks again.

Speaking of firewalls, I would recommend downloading Zonealarm, it's a free firewall that I'm running because I didn't want to renew my McAfee one (not free) and it works great. It can really help if you're afraid about your gaming computer getting hit by something.