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PC Alternatives, Inc.
Tip of the Month
May 2006
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In This Issue
-- Can a flash (e.g. thumb nail) drive carry viruses?
As an added value for our clients, we have started a digital issue of Tip of the Month. In this issue we want to give you some valuable information about viruses and how to protect your system. The best protection from computer viruses is good prevention. Are you practicing good prevention for all of your computer systems? If you have any additional questions on how to protect your computer, please do not hesitate to call us at 689- 2889. |
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Can a flash (e.g. thumb nail) drive carry viruses? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q. I purchased a flash drive for a
friend a number of months ago. He just informed me
that his laptop computer crashed. He said that he
took it to a computer shop and they said it was the
flash drive. They told him that this brand had
problems doing this to computers. Can a virus live on
a flash drive? If so, how do you find and eradicate it?
The flash drive is a Gizmo, by Crucial.
A. It is definitely possible to spread a computer virus via flash drives (also called thumb drives). However, there are other possible causes for your friend's recent problems. Computer viruses are programs. They must be purposely planned and coded like other programs. Unlike most programs, however, viruses are designed specifically to be annoying or harmful. Some are made to copy themselves into parts of other programs. Others can send copies of themselves through e-mail. I have heard of defective flash drives, but I doubt that a malicious program could make it through the production process. It's more likely that the drive became infected while it was connected to the laptop. If so, your friend has bigger problems. There is a slight possibility that the flash drive is compatible with the laptop. However, I was unable to find complaints about that online. And Crucial is a major brand. So I would discount that possibility. He could check with Crucial. Additionally, your friend may be using programs that don't work well simultaneously. Or, he might have installed a poorly made freeware or shareware program. It's difficult to tell without knowing what your friend has been doing with his computer. He can narrow the problem down with quick online scans such as AVG Vcleaner, Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool, and Trend Micro HouseCall. They don't require installation, but they typically remove only well-known infections. In the long run, your friend should install and use antivirus software. Copyright 2006 WestStar TalkRadio Network. Subscribe to Kim Komando's free e-mail newsletters at: www.komando.com
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