Can viruses/trojans/worms pass through a wireless modem/router to other PCs?

Question

Recenty I purchased a new laptop and at my house we have a wireless internet router. My sister is, well to put it frankly, a complete idiot when it comes to internet security. She has already gotten numerous PC-breaking viruses on her computer. My question is if she gets a virus on HER computer, is there a chance that it could go back through the modem and somehow infect my computer even if i didn't go to/download the virus?

Please any info is helpful

Answer 1

It depends on the virus and on how your computer is configured.  There is no such thing as perfect security.  However you can take some basic steps.  Use a software firewall on your computer.  If you have Windows XP it is included.  If it has Service Pack 2 installed then it is already on.  You could even block her computer's IP address.  More advanced firewalls will tell you if her computer is attempting to access yours but I wouldn't bother going that far.  

The next thing you want to do is make sure your computer is updated on a regular basis.  That means getting Windows patches and also virus signature updates.  Again if you have XP then your computer should already be configured to automatically update itself, but you should make sure.  Other software should also be updated such as MS Office (Secunia PSI can help with this but that may be a bit overboard  - that is up to you).

Finally you need to be smart and have a healthy paranoia.  Don't open attachments from her or anyone else.  Don't let her touch your computer either!  haha!

Answer 2

Yes they will pass through ANY NETWORK - that is what they are designed to do!  It doesn't matter how your systems connect, wireless or wired, you are connected to the same network. Most viruses and trojans are very good at spreading into other machines on a LAN and any machine that gets an IP from the same router is on the same LAN!

So in this case, helping your sister keep these in check will help you as well.

Answer 3

Indeed, the nastiest of the nasties can and do go through about anything.

They have to be installed on a machine before they're released to do their thing though.

So unless you install (restarting or not) something containing one of the little darlings, you have nothing to fear but fear itself.  

Answer 4

The only absolutely-100-percent way to avoid a virus is never connect to the internet, networks, or other computers (including disks, CDs, thumbdrives, etc)...but that's not reasonable...

Yes, it's quite possible.  I'd make sure you (and her) have up-to-date antivirus and firewall software.  That will decrease the chances considerably...besides that (and fixing her computer) you can't do much but be carefull where you go and what you do.  I wouldn't open anything (email, files, disks, etc) that's from that computer either.

Answer 5

Unless they are networked together.

Being through a router doesn't necessarily mean they are on the same network.  If you do have some type of network with file sharing and print sharing capabilities enabled also with write / read / delete options selected, then it coudl be possible.  

I doubt you got something like that going on at your house though, unless one of your parents works at home.