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Is virus scanning OS specific? Linux live scan on Win?
livecd


Joined: 18 Apr 2010
Posts: 0
Location: Europe
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A PC running Windows is infected by a virus.
Shutting it down, booting with some Linux distro - for instance SysRec - and running clamscan on the infected PC.
Will clamscan detect the virus?
Or virus scanning is split according the OS on which clam is running??
There are virus which are specific to file format or OS.

Thanks
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GuitarBob


Joined: 09 Jul 2006
Posts: 9
Location: USA
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There should be no problem with booting a Linux distro CD on a Windows system (usually F-12 key) and scanning the system with a virus scanner that runs under that Linux distro. Any malware you are trying to find, however, must be in the signature database of the AV. I have used several Linux "rescue CDs." My current favorite is the latest one from Bitdefender because it gets the latest signature updates. I have also used F-Secure, Dr. Web, Kaspersky, and Virusblok Ada. The only problem I have had is that they are usually unable to get the latest update on Wireless systems. (You can update F-Secure's CD to a USB drive and then use it on a wireless machine).

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Boot & Bios viruses
livecd


Joined: 18 Apr 2010
Posts: 0
Location: Europe
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1/ Will Gparted kill any boot virus on the infected partitions?

2/ Can BIOS virus executes under the Linux distro?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BIOS#Virus_attacks
https://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=241133

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GuitarBob


Joined: 09 Jul 2006
Posts: 9
Location: USA
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Most AVs can't handle BIOS infections--they are pretty rare. I do not believe that Clam could deal with a boot virus either.

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Is virus scanning OS specific? Linux live scan on Win?
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