Antivirus for the unconnected

[britechguy]

Even if it never connects to the internet, does it still connect to other network devices?

I'd say from the description offered the answer has to be, "no." How often do you ever see a true intranet in a home setting with no internet involved? In all my years in this business I've never encountered one in the wild.

One could, I suppose, install a USB vaccinator program. I personally don't find them all that useful. Most security suites take care of things "after the fact" if some infection vector is activated that stops it before it actually infects.

 

[Blues]

I wonder how difficult it would be to build a small AV USB passthrough device with all the various DIY project things in the tech space it would be a interesting and niche use device but still cool to think about. A bit off track but still a fun thought of some device that just scans any USB plugged into it for virus before passing through the data/data access.

 

[Philippe]

Easily, as most of those security holes are the only a threat in relation to a computer being in contact with cyberspace.

OK. I was thinking about hackers' tools / USB pentesters. I didn't know it was for a home environment...

 

[DRPCNZ]

So you someone please explain to me what I'm missing. If the device that the files are being copied from is protected what's the big issue. You open a file, save a file or copy a file its gets scanned. I just dont see the problem

 

[Sky-Knight]

So you someone please explain to me what I'm missing. If the device that the files are being copied from is protected what's the big issue. You open a file, save a file or copy a file its gets scanned. I just dont see the problem

There isn't, because you're exactly right.

 

[jogold]

Ah, what you don't understand is that some people just click on Ignore.

 

[Sky-Knight]

Those people cannot be defended, and any attempt to do so is a huge waste of time.

 

[nlinecomputers]

A computer that is never online should be fine without all of the updates. I'm only worried about viruses from USB sticks.

Nonsense. Most viruses are designed to exploit unpatched systems. If you are worried about USB viruses. (Very rare nowadays) then you have to patch the OS. Most AV programs are updated via the internet. So I don't understand how you will really be able to protect it.

Personally I'd worry more about not having backups than virus protection. Without an internet connection you would be depending on the end user to both patch the system manually and update the AV manually. All these problems go away by having the system connected to the internet.