i mean if i 'know' that a file is virus infected and i still download it from a website (or my email) or i copy it from a friend's hard disk (or cd/dvd) on to my computer, is there any theoretical possibility of my computer getting infected with that virus *assuming that i do not execute/open that file*
2006-12-13 04:04:24 · 3 answers · asked by Rishabh Singla 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
No, merely copying the virus cannot activate it. But you have to be *extremely* careful not to open accidentally the file containing it.
2006-12-13 08:51:59 · answer #1 · answered by Vesselin Bontchev 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The virus would need to be activated somehow. Either by you opening the file (as in a visual basic script) or running the program (by double clicking it).
If the process of downloading or copying the file causes the virus to activate, then again you could be infected. For example the script needed to download the virus might also activate it on you computer or the virus might be linked to autorun on the CD (assuming you copied from friends HD to CD) so when you insert the CD, autorun is activated and the virus is then activated.
But basically, the virus has to be activated somehow.
2006-12-13 12:12:06 · answer #2 · answered by dm_gsxr 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, depends on the virus. Some viruses infect everyfile when you boot for example.
2006-12-13 12:07:59 · answer #3 · answered by holla 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋