If two computers are connected to the same network. One has viruses and one is completely clean. If I only use one computer at a time and never have them both online at the same time can the virus infested computer still spread its virus to the clean computer? Please explain your answer. Thanks!
2007-06-14 16:16:56 · 9 answers · asked by Bill 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Computer Networking
It is a wireless network. Both connected to the router but not sharing any files. Sorry thats a pretty important fact I left
2007-06-14 16:32:38 · update #1
Possible ... yes.
Probable ... no.
The router you use to connect them to the Internet uses firmware instructions that CAN be compromised by advanced forms of malware. This router (being accesed by both PCs even if exclusively) will, if infected, spread the virus to the other PC.
Again ... possible = ABSOLUTELY.
Likely .... I doubt it.
2007-06-14 16:23:06 · answer #1 · answered by Philip T 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if two computers utilize the same network(which by the way means share) then they also share the good with the bad(meaning viruses).even if your infested one does not get put online just the fact they share a network connection makes it(clean one vulnerable).try disconnecting the bad one from the(your) network that should solve one problem.you will still have to deal with getting the infested one cleaned up and some kind of Firewall/anti virus for both put in place.in fact going online without some kind of AV or firewall is not smart to begin with
2007-06-14 16:43:47 · answer #2 · answered by Mark 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, viruses can spread through networks. Doesn't matter if one is online at a time. Once a virus is downloaded into a network it stays there and when the next computer downloads from that network it gets inffected. A virus is composed of algorithims, and algorithims can be stored in a subscript.
2007-06-14 16:21:08 · answer #3 · answered by demiser55 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on what kind of virus.
If the infected computer has your e-mail saved on it somewhere, it could send itself to that e-mail address and anybody else's. When you open your e-mail, it could spread to the clean computer. So don't open any e-mails that come from yourself and tell other people who's e-mail addresses are somewhere on that computer (e.g. MSN Messenger) to not open any e-mails from you unless they ask you.
Plus, there are other more advanced viruses that have the ability to spread itself across a home network. Look out for these ones...
If it's not that kind of virus, you're fine.
2007-06-14 16:23:58 · answer #4 · answered by 54JH12043 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OH Yes and in more ways than I care to list. But one would be to email the other computer with the virus, the other opens the mail and virus transeffered, another is to transfer it by disk. their are many more.
2007-06-14 16:22:34 · answer #5 · answered by DOUGLAS M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, of course - this happens on networks all the time.
Without being technical - here is my explanation - imagine that a group of people are in a circle and they want to hold hands to pray - the prayer sneezes and coughs into his hand and rejoins all the hand holding. What do you think would happen? That is what happens on a network!:)
2007-06-14 16:21:45 · answer #6 · answered by sosguy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. When they are networked together they are connected. Being on the internet would not need to come into play.
2007-06-14 16:20:25 · answer #7 · answered by Jon Paul B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Explain?...well, depending on what "virus" it is, it can be shared acrossed a LAN.
Simple enough?
2007-06-14 16:19:48 · answer #8 · answered by nevermore 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
depends on how you have your network set up
2007-06-14 16:19:39 · answer #9 · answered by essentiallysolo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋