Is it safe to back up files from an infected Windows PC to an external drive and use it on Linux?
Asked by
CuriousGiraffe42
I'm looking for advice on whether it's safe to back up files from a Windows PC that might be infected with malware. I want to save some pictures, videos, and school documents onto an external hard drive and then use that drive with a new Linux PC. I'm aware that Linux doesn't run Windows executables and I don't plan to transfer anything executable. I just want to make sure there's no risk of transferring malware to the clean Linux system. Any insights?
Answers
It's generally safe to transfer non-executable files like photos and documents. As long as you avoid anything that could execute, your Linux PC shouldn't get infected just by plugging in the drive. Linux doesn't recognize Windows executables, so you're good with file types like .jpg, .mp4, and .pdf.
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FileFanatic89: So there's no risk from just connecting the drive? I know Linux doesn't have autorun, but I'm not sure about other potential threats.