Resident Antivirus/Antimalware program for external HDD's
- Thread starter jackuars
- Start date
- May 7, 2016
- 1,287
- Jul 2, 2014
- 1,688
I mean an antivirus/antimalware that runs within the external HDD, not on one's system.
Sorry if I didn't make it clear before.
- Mar 22, 2017
- 587
Can't even imagine something like this, never heard of something like this. Don't even think it's doable, or maybe it is but don't think it will ever be reliable...
Never heard of something like this. I guess the best thing you could do is encrypt the drive, which would prevent the host from accessing it on the system you plug it in till you enter a password.
- Jul 2, 2014
- 1,688
Then I don't know what I can suggest you. An external hard drive is the same as a USB Flash Drive, you should never connect it to a computer you don't trust.
- Aug 6, 2014
- 1,044
I don't completely understand what you mean. You say that it needs to run within HDD. That is not possible. If you mean something like a portable version of an antivirus, you still need to run and load it in the memory of the computer where the HDD or USB is plugged in and before you can do that a possible malware on that host pc can already infect your files in the meantime right after pluggin in the disk or usb.
There are tools that you can run on the pc itself to detect possible malware like Panda USB Vaccine and that will disable the autorun.
You can always disable the writing to usb on that pc too: look here
The most waterproof and only real solution I see for what you want to achieve will be encryting the drive I guess like others already suggested.
Just avoid plugin a disk or Usb in a public computer, unless you really can't do it in any other way.
There are tools that you can run on the pc itself to detect possible malware like Panda USB Vaccine and that will disable the autorun.
You can always disable the writing to usb on that pc too: look here
The most waterproof and only real solution I see for what you want to achieve will be encryting the drive I guess like others already suggested.
Just avoid plugin a disk or Usb in a public computer, unless you really can't do it in any other way.
You mean encryption can prevent a malware infection? If it can then there's no need of AV/AM software, right?
Also, if the malware screws up the encryption (although not being able to break the password-protected drive) then I think you'll not be able to decrypt the drive.
Last edited:
- Mar 15, 2011
- 13,070
Honestly the first defense is to turn off the autoplay, so that any drive attacks will not affect by any device when insert.
You can lock down by using a tool like USB Protection by Cholaware where treat the flashdrive/external HDD as read-only.
Antivirus/Anti-malware will be the last option to clean any remnants.
You can lock down by using a tool like USB Protection by Cholaware where treat the flashdrive/external HDD as read-only.
Antivirus/Anti-malware will be the last option to clean any remnants.
I think you need to select an AV which can autoscans your USB HDD upon insertion. Not many AVs does that.
BD can autoscan when you insert an USB drive. Others may ask for permission to scan, some with a message pop up saying your drive is protected but without scanning etc.
This is not possible , a software need an OS to run on it. ext-HDD don't have any OS on them.
the only way to protect an external drive is:
1- encryption
2- block execution of program inside it
3- deny writes of datas in it.
- Jul 2, 2014
- 1,688
Consider this scenario. I have many movies and T.V series on my hard drive, and I usually share them with my friends. So what are the protection measures that I should consider before doing this, because I can't be really sure what happens next.
- Jul 2, 2014
- 1,688
This looks good.
1. It doesn't support encryption
2,3. How do I do this?
Does Jamescv7 suggestion above help me with this?
Depend what you want to do, you want deny access to the drive? not possible unless the drive has a physical switch.
2 & 3- can only done from your system.
once connected to someone else computer, they have full access to it.
You can put what you want to share with your friends in a separate folder and encrypt the rest. Not necessary to encrypt the whole drive
- Jul 2, 2014
- 1,688
- Jul 2, 2014
- 1,688
Does it help when I connect to my friends' computers? My system is clean always, so that isn't an issue for me.
Unless there is an operating system running on the HDD how would the program execute.. think about it.
I haven't come across anything in my IT Career that does this thus far.
You best bet is to connect your device to the machine you use and then scan it.
Encrypt the rest of the folders/files using any suitable folder/file encryption software
Zipping might now work depending on how big is your drive.
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