Virus on a thumb drive. Now what?

[Mbrooks420]

Well, it finally happened. I was using a flash drive I have at work, and apparently I gave the work laptop a virus. I can only assume that I have it on my current laptop.

I recently installed a virtual machine I didn’t create. I used this flash drive with the VM. Is it possible only the virtual machine has the virus?

I’ve tried scanning with all the typical free antivirus stuff and nothing comes up. What should I try next, as far as software? They were able to remove it from the work laptop without wiping it.

Thoughts?

 

[974X4BLACKSPORT]

If you dont already have a good anti-virus for your personal computers, get one, that means your going to have to pay money for it, it will be the best money you will ever spend for your electronics that are internet capable, and use components from other computers. PAying for AV is not money dont the drain.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Sure. I don’t mind dropping some cash. Good paid software recommendations?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Which program was used to remove it from your work computer?

 

[Mbrooks420]

I have no idea. I haven’t been in yet, and the IT guy is keeping it kinda hush for some reason.

 

[974X4BLACKSPORT]

I have had AVG for the past ten years and they have been great, and it is not expensive. Keeping your computer form getting viruses is crucial if you want them to last. Before I started paying for my anti virus software, (always opted for the "free" stuff), I would see a hard drive crash every 2-4 years. Diligently keeping my anti virus software current and up to date, I am on the same hard drive that came with my desktop pc I got in 2011 brand new, and I never turn it off, it has been on continuous for the past 9 years, thats over 70,000 hours!

 

[Mbrooks420]

AVG doesn’t find anything, unfortunately.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Well, one of the free virus software I downloaded picked up a file and quarantined it. It’s related to a USB to serial converter I have. I’ll have to email IT and ask what exactly was flagged, and go from there.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Did you try Malwarebytes?

 

[Mbrooks420]

Did you try Malwarebytes?

Yes, it doesn’t pick anything up.

I’ve had Malwarebytes and AVG installed and current since I installed everything.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Think I may have fixed the issue. I found the Brontok worm, and a few questionables on a virtual machine. Scans of the same do not show it affecting the host machine.


This makes sense as I copied a file from that virtual machine to the work laptop that flagged the virus.

it also makes sense as to why my normal antivirus stuff didn’t pick up on such an old virus.

My plan is to still pick up a paid antivirus software. Not sure on which. Kaspersky is what found the current issue.

I’m also planning on picking up an older iMac for some of my more “shadier” activities, and maybe I’ll try and keep my workhorse “cleaner”.