System image restore from infection

sk8termatt · Nov 25, 2014

I have a system image file saved on my pc from a fresh factory reset when I had installed all my programs and I was sure I had no infections. If I get infected in the future, could it be possible for the virus to infect my system image file? I do not have it on an external harddrive.

Basically I want to know if I get a virus, could it be possible for the system image file to be infected in some way. So that if I restore my system using the image file, the virus is not totally removed?

ronintexas · Nov 25, 2014

Anything is possible. To be absolutely sure, you can put the image on a hard drive that is not connected to the computer (external drive or internal drive - just not connected when using the computer. When you need to restore, simply install the drive).

I have a 2TB drive that I install in my computer that stores the images of all OS drives on the network (5 computers). This drive is not installed in a computer, it sits in a storage box. I have a separate drive for the daily backup that is installed in the computer.

USAFRet · Nov 25, 2014

With a drive in the same PC, anything is 'possible'.
But highly unlikely.

For instance...some virus infections encrypt every file on the drive, until you pay them for the decryption key. As your system image lives on that same drive, it is theoretically possible for that to become encrypted as well.

sk8termatt · Nov 25, 2014

Ok thanks, I'm probably going to pick up an external hard drive on Black Friday or Cyber Monday to use for this purpose.

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System image restore from infection

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