possible for external device to be a virus carrier?

[junjun]

I heard that it is not possible for viruses to infect two device with different platform(e.g windows, Android, Mac).

but is it possible for one of them to not be infected but become a carrier and infect another when they are both connected to the same network? (this is in the scenario where no file is being transferred between the two)

 

[UsernameIssues]

I heard that it is not possible for viruses to infect two device with different platform(e.g windows, Android, Mac).....

Of course that is possible.

You might be thinking about the fact that the same executable cannot* run on different platforms (except within a virtual machine like Java), but an app running on Windows can definitely write a file to an Android device.

The Windows malware can:

1) Create an infected app on the Android device

2) Infect an existing app on the Android device

3) do all of the above.

Connecting an Android device to a Windows device via USB makes it easier for the infection to go either way. Transmitting/transferring the infection between platforms across a network is a bit harder because there are authentication features to overcome.


*perhaps someone will find a way around that too someday.

 

[junjun]

From what you say it is very easy for windows to create something that will infect a connected device but is it possible for a external device (eg. Android, Game console) to not be infected but contain a file or executable that will infect windows when both devices are connected to each other? if so how to prevent? Android at lesst have anti virus software but game console have no anti virus.

so when a device is connected to the PC it is easier for either to infect each other even though they are of different platform however, it is harder if it is across a network.

If so does that mean that it is easier to be infected across the network if it is between two similar platform (eg. Windows&windows or Android&android)?

 

[Layback Bear]

To put it simple.
Any thing can infect a computer if it gets hooked up to the computer and that includes wifi.
Never under estimate the ability of the bad guys to wright infections and make them do anything they want them to.

 

[UsernameIssues]

If connecting the device to a Windows computer causes a drive letter to appear, then autorun/autoplay comes into play. Windows could automatically run the file specified in autorun.inf file. If that file is infected, then Windows is running an infected file. Disabling autorun/autoplay should prevent that method of infection.

There could be other ways for a device to infect a Windows computer - I only know about the ones that I've read about.

Spreading an infection from one Windows computer to another Windows computer via a network still involves authentication/credentials... so, it is harder.

Android's uses a Linux kernal, but there are lots of Android variations. I really cannot say what these modifications do to security... so, it might be easy or hard for an Android based phone to infect an Android base Kindle across a network. Kindles use a heavily modified Android OS.

 

[junjun]

Thank you for taking your time to explain, it is very informative.

Thank you.