external drives & viruses

[Satellite]

Just want to be safe and prevent my brand new laptop at home from being infected.

1) Is it possible for my computer to get infected with viruses if I use memory cards at infected computers at photoshops and then use them on my computer?

2) If my thumbdrive was once infected but the antivirus software cleared it, is it really virus-free? I'm every hesistant to use the thumbdrive that I use fo rmy work laptop (which was once infected) on my new laptop at home.

3) How do I transfer information from my work computer (I have quite a few folders) to my home computer without using the same thumb/back-up drive as I am not entirely convinced that my work laptop is free from virus (even though the IT dept says it is). This is because I see funny files (example files with names like "~WRL1510.tmp")

[Jedi]

1) If autoplay is enabled, it's possible for a virus to install itself on a USB drive and then install itself on a new machine once the USB drive is connected. But any decent AV should prevent this.

2) Yes. But if you have any doubt just reformat it.

3) Tmp files aren't funny, they are normal. Why not zip the folders and email them to your self, or use something like yousendit.com.

You either worry too much or have a crap AV solution.

[Satellite]

!) how do I check if my AV is the latest version?

2) How do I reformat it?

3) I tried to zip my folder and send it to myself but my work email crashed! It is still too large at 1+ gb.
You send it requires subscription to send folders. Might have to resort to sending myself 10 emails to space the file size out.

Dont know if I have crap AV hence worry a little (as I'm computer illiterate!) and it's a brand new laptop!

[Fat Bob]

1: check which AV you have. Some are free, ssome are not. If you have something like Symantec/Norton (same company), McAfee...then they are not free. If you've never paid for them then it's unlikely you have up to date virus definitions and programs. This *could* be the source of your problems.

I would suggest that you move to a free one like AVG Anti virus or pay for one of the ones you've got. If you feel you can uninstall your current stuff then go for AVG. If you don't feel you can uninstall and install the new one, buy the updates on your current software. You HAVE to buy it each year. So this time next year, get your credit card out again etc etc.

Brand new laptops *usually* come with 30- or 60-day trails of AV/Internet Security software for free. Therefore, you *may* already be well protected as long as it's connected to the internet regularly. How "brand new" is your brand new laptop?

2: Insert the drive into your USB. If any autoplay starts, stop it (by pressing cancel). Go to "My Computer" and right click on the drive, click "format" and hit start. (Make sure anything you want on it has been taken off).

3: email doesn't like anything over 1-10MB, depending on which email provider you are with. yousendit doesn't allow anything over 100MB without your paying. therefore USB flash drive is probably the easiest way.

Best o'luck!

[Satellite]

thanks will try it at home. believe it or not , I dont' have the rights to do autoformat on my work laptop!