DNMS
Level 1 (8 points)
Desktops

Q: Is my Mac infected?

I use a Mac for teaching my classes. There are a number of Windows systems from which there is a constant transfer of information, to and fro. When I plug in my USB flash drive in my mac it just shows the documents present in it. But when I connect the same flash drive to a windows system it shows that flash drive is infected with virus. Does my macbook have a virus? I have formatted my flash drive numerous times but the problem still remains.

Posted on Aug 31, 2016 5:02 AM

by JimmyCMPIT,Apple recommended
JimmyCMPIT JimmyCMPIT
Level 5 (6,812 points)
Mac OS X
A:

currently there are no Mac virus yet to be discovered in the wild, but from a Windows AV standpoint you are experiencing what is commonly referred to as a "False Positive'. A false positive commonly occurs when the Windows anti-virus product incorrectly identifies a file on the drive as suspicious or harmful because it can not identify correctly what that file is.

Posted on Aug 31, 2016 7:53 AM

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Q: Is my Mac infected?

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  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Aug 31, 2016 7:45 AM in response to DNMS
    Level 10 (187,619 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 31, 2016 7:45 AM in response to DNMS

    When you erase/format a USB stick or other storage media in a Mac, the OS adds some hidden files like DStores or similar and EFI something. It appears that a PC/antivirus is saying those are  viruses.

  • by JimmyCMPIT,Apple recommended

    JimmyCMPIT JimmyCMPIT Aug 31, 2016 7:53 AM in response to DNMS
    Level 5 (6,812 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 31, 2016 7:53 AM in response to DNMS

    currently there are no Mac virus yet to be discovered in the wild, but from a Windows AV standpoint you are experiencing what is commonly referred to as a "False Positive'. A false positive commonly occurs when the Windows anti-virus product incorrectly identifies a file on the drive as suspicious or harmful because it can not identify correctly what that file is.