Computer Hope

Software => Computer viruses and spyware => Topic started by: CuriousCautious on April 02, 2019, 08:07:22 AM

Title: Can virus/malware infect offline disks?
Post by: CuriousCautious on April 02, 2019, 08:07:22 AM

As per the subject:

Can a disk that's been set to offline in disk management be infected by a virus?

(As far as I know, the disk is not seen in PC as a mapped letter drive e.g. D:/
however, it can easily be turned on in disk management)

Current situation:
Host OS running windows 10
Guest OS running windows 8.1 (can be upgraded to 10 if relevant) - Through a windows to go USB

Host OS disks have been deactivated in disk management when booted into Guest OS
Guest OS cannot access Host disks unless I go to disk management and turn the drives online
If guest OS is infected with a virus (testing suspicious files), can the Host OS offline/unmounted disks be infected?

(This process involves no physical detaching of the drives as it is a tedious solution if deemed unnecessary)
(Please also do not suggest simply not to test this at all. I would like to know hypothetically what level of risk this involves)

I have been informed that Evil Fantasy or SuperDave may be able to help with this question.

Thank you

Title: Re: Can virus/malware infect offline disks?
Post by: SuperDave on April 02, 2019, 10:43:09 AM

More information about that topic here. (https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/192864-will-malware-attack-offline-disks/)