A while back in 2021, I lent my phone to a classmate who needed to check some documents from his pen drive. He was unable to connect it to his phone due to a connector issue, and since I had an older Android phone, I let him borrow it. At that time, I didn't think much of it, but I recently saw a post about malware being transferred through flash drives, and it raised a lot of anxiety for me.
I've changed my phone twice since then, first to another Android in 2022 and then to an iPhone in 2024. After realizing I might be at risk, I updated all my account passwords and logged out of all devices through my MacBook, which I've been using for a while. I even factory reset my old phone.
Now, I can't help but wonder: could any malware have transferred from the pen drive to my devices through my Google account since I used the same account for backups and syncing? Is there a way to know for sure that I'm safe, or is it possible that something is still lurking around? I'm just looking for some peace of mind and would appreciate any insights from those who understand this better.
2 Answers
Honestly, the chance of that happening is next to none. Once you changed your phone and reset everything, it's very unlikely that any malware could still be lingering after all this time. Most malware doesn’t just sit idle for four years! You’re probably just overthinking it a bit.
No need to worry too much! Malware typically doesn't hide silently for years and usually gets caught with regular updates. You switching devices and resetting your old phones was a good move to ensure safety. Just keep your software updated, and you'll be alright.
Thanks for your reassurance! Do you have experience in cybersecurity or something?
Thanks for replying! I think my anxiety is just acting up and spiraling my thoughts.