Question Can bootkit, MBR virus, GPT virus, and rootkits infect WiFi or BIOS (for both legacy or UEFI)?

[Justcicia]

Hi Can bootkit, MBR virus, GPT virus, and rootkits infect WiFi or BIOS (for both legacy or UEFI)? Is this possible, in theory or in practice, in any way, albeit very unlikely?

 

[hotaru.hino]

I understand, so what I really want to ask is, these viruses go away when I format the disk, but is there a possibility that they infect the BIOS-UEFI or WiFi before I format the disk, and then come back when I format the disk?

ID numbers, bank accounts and more

That depends on how the virus interacts with the system. If a virus is going to want to infect firmware, it'll do just that. If it wants to live as a boot sector virus, it'll likely only do that, because traditionally the boot sector is tiny (512 bytes).

If you suspect you have a compromised system and you're extremely paranoid about not being able to get rid of whatever's on it, the only solution that would ease your mind at that point is to dump the machine

 

[Justcicia]

That depends on how the virus interacts with the system. If a virus is going to want to infect firmware, it'll do just that. If it wants to live as a boot sector virus, it'll likely only do that, because traditionally the boot sector is tiny (512 bytes).

If you suspect you have a compromised system and you're extremely paranoid about not being able to get rid of whatever's on it, the only solution that would ease your mind at that point is to dump the machine

So it can also infect BIOS-UEFI? But isn't that a better option than throwing the machine out?

 

[hotaru.hino]

So it can also infect BIOS-UEFI? But isn't that a better option than throwing the machine out?

Yes, there's a possibility of that happening, but whether or not that actually happens depends on the virus. Do not conflate "can" and "will" in this situation.

And what do you mean "isn't that a better option"? I'm interpreting this as you'd rather have a virus that can bounce back between the firmware and storage drive than to toss out the machine. If security isn't a concern or you don't care about the data that you access with the computer, sure, I guess that's better. But do you really want that?

 

[Justcicia]

Yes, there's a possibility of that happening, but whether or not that actually happens depends on the virus. Do not conflate "can" and "will" in this situation.

And what do you mean "isn't that a better option"? I'm interpreting this as you'd rather have a virus that can bounce back between the firmware and storage drive than to toss out the machine. If security isn't a concern or you don't care about the data that you access with the computer, sure, I guess that's better. But do you really want that?

I'm sorry, the translation is wrong, I'm asking if there are better methods than throwing the machine?

 

[USAFRet]

I'm sorry, the translation is wrong, I'm asking if there are better methods than throwing the machine?

You currently do not have any virus.

How to "fix" something that does not yet is exist is pointless speculation.

 

[Justcicia]

You currently do not have any virus.

How to "fix" something that does not yet is exist is pointless speculation.

So as I said, I doubt this and want to take action knowing what to do when I'm sure it's happening.

 

[hotaru.hino]

I'm sorry, the translation is wrong, I'm asking if there are better methods than throwing the machine?

For the average person? No.

If for some reason you believe that the virus is going to be bouncing back and forth in everything, you're going to have to basically replace all of the hardware all at once anyway.

 

[Justcicia]

For the average person? No.

What do you mean for the average person? Would a cybersecurity company help me get rid of it completely?

If for some reason you believe that the virus is going to be bouncing back and forth in everything, you're going to have to basically replace all of the hardware all at once anyway.

But isn't it possible for these things to happen?

 

[USAFRet]

But isn't it possible for these things to happen?

What leads you to believe BIOS level infections are common?

 

[Justcicia]

What leads you to believe BIOS level infections are common?

To be frank, I'm extremely paranoid about this and want to take action knowing how to delete it if somehow something like this turns out to be happening.

 

[USAFRet]

To be frank, I'm extremely paranoid about this and want to take action knowing how to delete it if somehow something like this turns out to be happening.

You can't know how to fix, or even if, until you know what it is.

Good luck.