Virus question / information?

orion23

Platinum Member
Oct 1, 2003
2,035
0
71
Hi!

Can a virus attack a router?

I a computer connected to a router and network is infected, will it infect other computers in the network automatically? (infected computer is not being accessed or used in the network at all)

TIA!
 

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
321
136
There are tons of variables ... what you are asking and your example are two different things.


If I think what your asking is true: "Will an infected computer plugged into a network attack other computers in the same network?" then the answer is yes.

In the other instance of a virus actually going after a router, this is also a 'yes' if it is some sort of arp attack... though it's not really a virus just an attack.
 

nweaver

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2001
6,813
1
0
it also depends on the router, and configuration. IF an infected internet machine finds a box in the DMZ that is venerable, then it could infect it.
 

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
29,556
431
126
Viruses do not attack they infect the system.

Routers are mini computers with CPU (many use 486 class of CPU), memory, and some kind of OS. Most of the OS? are propriety, but some (like the Linksys WRT line, use a subset of Linux).

I doubt that the general Viruses that are ?Flying? around can infect a Router since the OS is Not a general OS, and the Router does not Execute (Run) external code.

However, I would not be surprise that a specific Virus can be written to act on a specific Router.

:sun:
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Yes, virus and worms can attach a router.

The simplest form is a worm that overloads a routers resources/processing capacity.

There have been buffer overflow attacks on routers that could lead to running malicious code.