So maybe your computer is doing something odd, or you have a little warning flash up from your anti-virus software that makes you think, can a hard drive have a virus?
A hard drive can have a virus, it is known as hard drive malware and comes in many forms, usually attached to software or files stored on a hard drive. Hard drive malware cannot damage your hard drive but can disable it.
Hard drive malware can be subtle or can be very malicious and there are different types with different objectives. In this article, we will have a look at the main types, how to detect them, and how to remove them.
What is hard drive malware?
Personally, I think the name hard drive malware is somewhat confusing seeing as most viruses are hard drive viruses because they need to be stored somewhere. With that in mind, I define hard drive malware as affecting an external hard drive.
An internal hard drive is usually a system drive and is connected via SATA or another port that isn’t easily accessible. I consider these viruses as “Computer Viruses” because the drive is intrinsically linked to the computer itself.
An external hard drive is any drive that you can easily plugin and remove from your computer. Typically malware stored on an external drive is not fussy about what type of drive it is stored on so this also includes USB sticks or memory cards etc.
Ok, so we have a definition, and in my opinion, there is some grey area, but moving forwards we will be using an example of an external hard drive as the steps are the same for that as they are for an internal backup drive or a USB stick.
What does hard drive malware do?
Hard Drive malware is a term used to describe any number of viruses that could be stored and run from an external hard drive. There are several types all with their own objectives. Some simply want to make your computer slow, some create endless pop-ups, some scan your computer for credit card information and some hold files hostage this is known as ransomware. The main characteristic of the type of virus that affects hard drives specifically is that it can self replicate and attach itself to other computer files.
Hard drive malware needs to be loaded by the user. This is why it is attached to program files so that when you open that document or program it is launched alongside and can work in the background attaching itself to other files on other drives or even other computers on the network.
You may be wondering what you have to worry about… I often find myself explaining to people the importance of strong passwords and being highly suspicious of any links in your email inbox… It occurs to me that most people aren’t aware of the scope of the damage that a computer virus can do.
When this question arises I encourage people to imagine the worst thing they could theoretically do with access to someone else’s computer if their end goal was to extort them. After a while, they soon come to some pretty terrible ideas, unfortunately, people who know how to make those ideas a reality have done just that and that is the intention of hard drive viruses. Data is king on the internet and they will get as much of it as they can in order to extort you.
Offline these sorts of crimes are highly targeted and are unlikely to affect you unless a very organized crime outfit thinks they can get away with it. Online the game is different, the criminals can use a scattergun approach because using malware is so easy.
How to tell if a hard drive has malware?
There are a few telltale signs if a drive is infected.
- Sluggish read/write speeds and response times.
- The hard drive randomly crashes.
- You are seeing a lot of pop-ups.
- Warning messages.
But some viruses can go completely unnoticed unless you find them first, to do this you will need to scan the hard drive. There are a few essential steps to ensure that this is done effectively.
1. Close all programs, unplug the drive, and reboot.
This will close any host files that the virus is attached to. Remove the drive to ensure the virus cant be relaunched and reboot to clear it out of the system memory.
2. Upon restart, disable autorun.
Autorun is a windows feature that automatically runs software launched from an external drive. Disable this in order to prevent the virus host file from being launched automatically.
hit the windows key, type settings, and press enter. Click on devices and then navigate to autoplay, from there you can disable it.
3. Plug in the drive.
Once autoplay is disabled you can safely plug in the drive. Just be sure not to open any files from the drive.
4. Run a virus scan.
Use your antivirus software to check the hard drive for malicious files. To do this navigate to “My Computer” or “This PC” depending on which windows version you have. Then right-click on the drive and click “scan with (anti-virus software)”.
5. Let the antivirus software do the rest.
If you are using good antivirus software it should be able to take care of the problem pretty easily. Let it do its thing and scan again to make sure any malware has been located and destroyed.
How to Tell If Your Computer Has a Virus and What to Do About It
Everyone is (and should be) concerned about computer viruses, especially with new variations of this malicious software emerging each year. But what does it mean for your data and device if it becomes infected with a virus and what damage can it do?
A computer virus works similarly to the flu virus: it’s highly contagious, you feel run down, you need more sleep and rest than usual and it’s difficult to perform even the simplest of daily tasks. Likewise, a computer virus interferes with the performance of your device by replicating itself and spreading throughout the operating system. A virus can damage programs, delete files and reformat or erase your hard drive, which results in reduced performance or even crashing your system entirely. Hackers can also use viruses to access your personal information to steal or destroy your data.
As society becomes more dependent on technology, it’s important to educate yourself, family, friends, employees and co-workers about safely navigating the internet. Here’s a quick guide on everything you need to know about computer viruses – from what they are and to how to spot one, to what you should do if your device is infected.
How a Computer Gets a Virus
There are several ways a computer can get infected by a virus and most of them involve downloading – either intentionally or unintentionally – infected files. Pirated music or movies, photos, free games and toolbars are common culprits, as are phishing/spammy emails with attachments. Viruses can also be downloaded by visiting malicious websites or clicking links or ads to an unknown/unsecure website. Even connecting to an infected external drive (like a USB) can introduce malicious software into your system.
How to Spot a Computer Virus
If you notice any of the following issues with your computer, it may be infected with a virus:
- Slow computer performance (taking a long time to start up or open programs)
- Problems shutting down or restarting
- Missing files
- Frequent system crashes and/or error messages
- Unexpected pop-up windows
- New applications (toolbars, etc.) that appear without you downloading them
- Overworked hard drive (the fan makes sounds and seems to be whirring and working hard when you aren’t doing much)
- Emails that send autonomously from your accounts
- Browser lag or redirects
- Malfunctioning antivirus programs or firewalls
Protecting Your Computer Against a Virus
While hackers are continuously creating smarter and more advanced viruses, there are several ways to protect your device and files.
The best way to deal with a virus is to prevent it in the first place by using antivirus protection and antispyware software. It’s important to keep these applications up to date, as well as regularly updating your operating system and making sure that your browser’s security settings are current. Regularly back up your files (to the cloud or safe external hard drive) in case they become corrupted, ransomed or are deleted. Use a security tool to evaluate your device and find out how vulnerable it might be.
When you’re surfing the internet, don’t click questionable links or pop-ups. Your browser may warn you about suspicious websites, or you might see a red unlocked lock to the left of the URL at the top of the webpage if it is unsecured. This doesn’t always mean a website is dangerous, but you may want to think twice about browsing or entering your information.
Another good rule of thumb is to never open an email or attachment unless you know and trust the sender. Oftentimes, hackers will use a friend’s name as the sender or use “Re:” in the subject line to trick you, so double check the actual email address to see if you recognize it. If you open the email and still aren’t sure, even if it’s from a trusted source, it’s still best to delete.
Be very careful when downloading software. Only download programs, movies and music from legitimate websites or services.
Many people connect using public Wi-Fi in cafes, restaurants or stores, but these unsecured networks can leave your phone, tablet or computer susceptible to viruses. Instead, consider using a personal hotspot to connect to the internet. If public Wi-Fi is your only option, use a VPN to better protect your device and data.
Finally, educate yourself about the types of threats out there and teach others to do the same. For instance, around 95 percent of teens use the internet, but 18 percent say they haven’t been educated about “good online behavior.” By taking the time to talk with your family about safe online habits, you can drastically lower the risk of devices being compromised.
What to Do If You Get a Virus
If you think your computer has been infected, start by running a full system scan using your antivirus software and an anti-malware program. Review the threats and take any action that you can (the software should guide you through this). If you are unable to delete the virus or infected files from your software, try restoring your computer to an earlier back-up before you began having problems.
Another strategy to try is deleting all of the temporary files on your computer. The method of clearing those files differs between systems but these processes are easy enough to research and implement for the average user. If your computer is malfunctioning and preventing you from accessing files to delete, you can try booting up in safe mode. Safe mode restricts certain programs so you can work to fix the issue without interruption.
In some cases, you may need to reinstall your operating system. If you aren’t familiar with how to do that, take your device to a local store that offers computer services and have a professional take a look.
All in all, prevention and education are the most effective ways to stop your computer from getting infected by a virus. Know the basics of staying safe online and share articles like these with family, friends and colleagues.
How to remove hard drive malware.
Some hard drive malware can survive a hard drive format, and some can attach themself to bootable files, which can make them very hard to remove.
Once you have established the hard drive has a virus as outlined above the best way is to let your preferred antivirus software do the rest. If your software can detect it, it can usually remove it too.
Failing that, formatting the disk may be necessary but you stand the chance of losing the data, and seeing as the data is infected already it isn’t advisable to back it up or if you do back it up, compress the data and scan it before opening any files.
How to protect your computer against viruses.
The first step is to understand that viruses exist and are completely unbiased. If you have a computer or mobile device then that device is at risk of getting a virus. In fact, you should use your device as if you are expecting to be targeted and to keep things secure.
Before we get to antivirus software let’s look at some stats and see how a virus is likely to find its way to your device.
9 out of 10 cyberattacks start with a phishing email. This means that the hackers who want to get malware into your computer are using social engineering to do so by manipulating users through legitimate-looking emails. You may well have seen this email but if in doubt here are a couple of rules to abide
by…
- Never click a link in an email asking you to log in.
- Check the actual sender’s email address, not their name.
- Report any suspicious emails to the legitimate company.
- Never send personal information.
- Never download from emails you aren’t expecting.
So even though you are rigorous in the links you click online it is still worthwhile to have a line of defense on your device to protect you from hackers.
Top Antivirus Software.
I have a few recommendations here. Firstly all of these come with free versions that will do enough to detect if a hard drive has a virus. Secondly, I recommend getting a decent premium antivirus installed on your computer. These are the three programs I recommend based on my own experience, research on testing, and brand confidence.
Panda comes highly recommended across the board. In testing, it detected 100% of the threats hidden on a computer. It has an easy to use interface that simplifies the whole process. The free version will do the job for you but using this link gives you 50% discount… so you can protect everything. I use it on my windows machine and it works very well.
Norton has been a long-standing leader in the world of antivirus. They are the best of the best. The only reason I don’t use them is that I prefer to have slightly more control over the software. However, I do recommend them to friends and family.
Kaspersky is a name you will see on most recommendation lists for antivirus software. It is a good choice for an all-rounder at a reasonable price. With all of these sorts of things, I recommend giving it a try and see which interface you like.
When to get in professional help.
There is one form of hard drive malware that is particularly bad and difficult to get rid of and that is boot sector malware.
These viruses affect the boot sector partition of a hard drive which controls the operating system and file allocation system essentially meaning that the virus has access to all of your data both on the device and on hard drives connected to the device. These viruses are extremely hard to get rid of and usually require a complete rebuild of the boot sector partition, while possible at home is usually better in the hands of a professional who can ensure that the sector is virus-free as this malware can survive a drive format.
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Conclusion.
Getting a hard drive virus needn’t be the end of the world. If you take measures to protect your computer and take steps to ensure you are aware of how attackers will try and infect your devices then you should be able to keep yourself safe.
If you think a hard drive has a virus hidden on it, use the steps outlined above and take extra care not to infect anything else.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. BACKUP! Always keep a backup whether in the cloud or in a hard drive locked away in a drawer, keep important files backed up and safe!
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