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Question about infected computer

OILFIELDTRASH

OILFIELDTRASH

Lifer
I am doing someone a favor. I'm going to install some software and a couple other things to it. I need internet to do this and I was wondering if this guys computer has malware would just hooking his laptop up to my home network damage my computers on the network. I was going to run the said laptop up to my network and unplug my computers from the network. Is there anyway it could mess up my network as far as unsecuring hardware firewall or anything else.
 
Originally posted by: OILFIELDTRASH
I am doing someone a favor. I'm going to install some software and a couple other things to it. I need internet to do this and I was wondering if this guys computer has malware would just hooking his laptop up to my home network damage my computers on the network. I was going to run the said laptop up to my network and unplug my computers from the network. Is there anyway it could mess up my network as far as unsecuring hardware firewall or anything else.
Click to expand...

If your own computers are unplugged, the main thing would be that it could theoretically attack your router &/or modem and try to subvert them. This would be a good time to

1) update your router's firmware to the latest version

2) set a strong password on the log-ins for your router and modem, since the default password (if any) is public knowledge

3) confirm that Universal Plug 'n Play is disabled on both of them, unless you actually use UPnP for something


The likelihood of this type of attack isn't very high, but since you're asking... there ya go.
 
I agree with the above but you could download the software onto cd, dvd, memory stick and install it without connecting to your network.

pcgeek11
 
To OILFIELDTRASH,

Lets call a spade a spade, you suspect the computer you are about to connect to your network is infected with malware. And now wonder if the act of connecting it to your network can infect your computer's. And the short answer is always maybe. Why risk it.

But pcgeek11 has answered your question, assuming the computer in question can boot and has a cd drive or a usb port, you can clean it without connecting it to your network. And step one is to pull a hijacklog from the suspect computer, and add various malware scanning programs to hedge your bets.
 
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