Expert: Brian Benosky - 1/23/2011

Question
QUESTION: hi brian,
 since printers come with memory nowadays could they possibly be infected with malware?  actually since i have two computers and i'm not too savvy to set up a home network i have to physically connect the printer to my pc using a usb cord.  if say one pc has malware on it, and i connect the printer to it can the malware be stored then on the printer?  so when if i connect the printer to my other pc, would i risk infecting that pc?  thank you!

ANSWER: Hi Jackie

I've actually had this question asked of me several years ago, so if you don't mind a little copy and paste:

Malware can only reside in some type of memory container.  It may be a hard drive, a cd, smartcard, usb stick, etc.  While most printers have a memory chip, it cannot be written to in the normal fashion.  The virus would have to be written to the printer at the factory.  It may be theoretically possible to infect a printer, but I have never run across a mention of one in the wild.  More likely, a printer's driver can become infected.  But drivers are maintained by the host operating system (Windows), so detection and removal are done through normal virus scans.  

To that answer, I will also add that printer memory is volatile, meaning that once you shut off the printer, the memory is wiped clean, so any virus would also be wiped out.  Can the virus be transferred from one PC to another via the printer?  Theoretically yes, but again it is a very unlikely scenario.  Hope that helped.

Brian

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi brian,
 thank you so much!  now i can relax about my printer.  you mentioned that malware can be on a cd, but what about an antivirus installation disc?  i usually buy antivirus software for 3 users and install on all my pcs, so would it be possible for malware to transfer onto the disc and then infect my other pc's as i try to install?  thank you!

Answer
Hi Jackie

Again, possible but unlikely.  If you purchase the antivirus software retail (in a box), you have nothing to worry about.  Unless the disc was infected at the manufacturers end, you cannot transfer a virus to that installation CD.  If you by the software online and burn an installation disc, there is a slight chance for a virus to get burned to the CD as well.  But the installation software would need to be infected by your computer first.  If you download your software, install it on the first computer then run a virus scan.  If that machine is clean, then burn the software to a disc and use it on the other machines.  If you have any further questions, just let me know.

Brian