2006-11-19 03:07:33 · 4 answers · asked by supreme 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
Yes, there are two ways: in the BIOS (if a hacker knows how to burn a BIOS chip and install it, then it can be done), and in the CMOS, which is the onboard RAM for the BIOS. It may be possible to hide one in the cache memory, but only if the cache memory is static --in other words, if it remembers what's in it after the power is shut off. Now, if the CMOS is cleared before the motherboard is used, then that'll take care of that problem and probably any chance of a virus hiding in static memory, but it won't remove one if it's in the BIOS chip.
Granted, these methods are rare and I doubt anyone is doing it, but yes it's possible. Hiding one on the BIOS chip is the most undetectable method I can think of. It's kinda like having a root kit installed, which can be very difficult to find. Peripheral cards can also be infected through BIOS chips, as some of them have those. A cracker could also hide a virus (as has been suggested by the previous poster) in a BIOS image, which could be flashed onto the BIOS. Most flash BIOSs have safeguards against software from automatically doing that, but that doesn't mean you can't be duped into setting the BIOS settings to allow a BIOS image to be flashed and having it done that way.
Now, it's also possible to do the same thing with a CPU... but that's a much more difficult task than burning a custom BIOS chip. The person doing it would have to be able to create a CPU, including the hidden code, then somehow smuggle it into the computers being used... not likely... but possible.
2006-11-19 03:24:26 · answer #1 · answered by Roasted Kiwi 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is possible. Once I had to reinsatall complete system. You insatll a standard antivirus soft ware such as Norton, AVG , Avast ( free antivirus software and Ad-aware, Ewido ( free spyware removers). You can download free softwares at
http://fixit.in/antivirus.html and http://fixit.in/spywareremover.html
2006-11-20 14:05:33 · answer #2 · answered by RAS 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its verry rare although if you try to flash the bios and the flas program has a virus in it it is possible
2006-11-19 03:17:43 · answer #3 · answered by bsmith13421 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thought a virus was a program...how can that be on your motherboard?
2006-11-19 03:15:06 · answer #4 · answered by Sandie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋