possible to check through firewire for viruses? at DVinfo.net

Mark Yang · June 28th, 2007, 10:24 AM

I recently installed premier express in a newly assembled machine, and I would like to keep the box clean of viruses. Unfortunately I don't have anti virus installed in this box.

I was wondering if I hooked the external hard drive holding the AVI files to another computer which has an antivirus program, can I scan through the firewire connection for viruses, and quarantine them?

John Miller · June 28th, 2007, 10:38 AM

Yes - when you hook the external drive to your other computer, it will appear as a new drive along with a drive letter. That computer's antivirus software should have an option to scan a particular drive.

This assumes your other computer is running the same OS (or similar) - i.e., Windows since you are using Premiere.

Mark Yang · June 28th, 2007, 01:48 PM

Thanks.

Are AVI files prone to virus infection? Off hand I wouldn't assume it to be too common.

Graham Hickling · June 28th, 2007, 03:57 PM

There's a long thread at Velocityreviews debating whether it's possible. The following quote seems reasonable to me:

Subject: Can Viruses infect .AVI files???
Answer: YES, along with ANY other file type.
Clarification: Only executable files can infect a system. If a piece of
code relies on an exploit, it must call on an associated
application to grant it executable rights, such as a Word
macro or MS OLE object/ActiveX control.

Question: But do they (viruses) infect AVI files?
Answer: *Extremely* unlikely - there's no point as there's no viable
exploit available to them.

Question: Could an infected AVI file infect my system if I view it?
Answer: NO.

An avi file could trigger antivirus scanners if it was really virus.exe (say) relabelled as virus.avi - but virus.avi would be essentially harmless.

June 28th, 2007, 10:24 AM	#1
Mark Yang Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 41	possible to check through firewire for viruses? I recently installed premier express in a newly assembled machine, and I would like to keep the box clean of viruses. Unfortunately I don't have anti virus installed in this box. I was wondering if I hooked the external hard drive holding the AVI files to another computer which has an antivirus program, can I scan through the firewire connection for viruses, and quarantine them?

June 28th, 2007, 10:38 AM	#2
John Miller Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hillsborough, NC, USA Posts: 968	Yes - when you hook the external drive to your other computer, it will appear as a new drive along with a drive letter. That computer's antivirus software should have an option to scan a particular drive. This assumes your other computer is running the same OS (or similar) - i.e., Windows since you are using Premiere.

June 28th, 2007, 01:48 PM	#3
Mark Yang Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 41	Thanks. Are AVI files prone to virus infection? Off hand I wouldn't assume it to be too common.

June 28th, 2007, 03:57 PM	#4
Graham Hickling Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 1,669	There's a long thread at Velocityreviews debating whether it's possible. The following quote seems reasonable to me: Subject: Can Viruses infect .AVI files??? Answer: YES, along with ANY other file type. Clarification: Only executable files can infect a system. If a piece of code relies on an exploit, it must call on an associated application to grant it executable rights, such as a Word macro or MS OLE object/ActiveX control. Question: But do they (viruses) infect AVI files? Answer: Extremely unlikely - there's no point as there's no viable exploit available to them. Question: Could an infected AVI file infect my system if I view it? Answer: NO. An avi file could trigger antivirus scanners if it was really virus.exe (say) relabelled as virus.avi - but virus.avi would be essentially harmless.