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Author Topic: Can virus/malware infect offline disks?  (Read 11580 times)

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CuriousCautious

    Topic Starter


    Newbie

    • Experience: Experienced
    • OS: Windows 10
    Can virus/malware infect offline disks?
    « 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

    SuperDave

    • Malware Removal Specialist
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    • Experience: Expert
    • OS: Windows 10
    Re: Can virus/malware infect offline disks?
    « Reply #1 on: April 02, 2019, 10:43:09 AM »
    More information about that topic here.
    Windows 8 and Windows 10 dual boot with two SSD's