40D afected by computer virus ... could be NVRAM overwritten from USB?

[josepvm]

Hi,

In a spanish Canon camera users forum (www.canonistas.com), today a user has asked for help.

He says his MS-Windows computer has been infected by a virus. And after connecting his 40D to the computer via USB cord, the camera has started to malfunction. AF not working properly, CF cards not recognized. He has tried several cards, tried to reformat them, but they are not still recognised by the camera.

I understand than a virus for MS-Windows cannot run on camera's ARM processor, the camera itself cannot be infected.

But, I wonder If the virus could have seen camera's NVRAM as an removable media accessible through USB and could have written a copy of the virus to NVRAM? This could explain camera's malfunction.

In fact, I suppose Canon is allowing some kind of NVRAM access from USB, to allow the "EOS Utility" software to write data in the camera: lens data for vignetting correction, etc.

Is this hipothesys possible? Is there a known way to reset NVRAM data in this case? Thanks.

[Licaon_Kter]

I don't think they access that as USB/MTP/PTP hence the virus should be able already to infect Canon which is less likely anyway.

[a1ex]

Original link: http://www.canonistas.com/foros/general-camaras/505419-virus-canon-eos-40d.html

You already gave good advice in the thread. Does the antivirus warning appear if he plugs the camera to USB, but without a card?

A video showing the symptoms would help.

[josepvm]

Thanks, A1ex,

I have posted your advice in the original thread. Waiting now for camera's owner reply.

[Licaon_Kter]

It could trigger when a USB connection is detected, but it will try to infect the SDcard at most, use it to try to skip the air gap.

On another thought, 40D is what 7 years old or so? What were the chances of it malfunctioning all by itself anyway just of "old age". (Yeah yeah everyone has a friend with a really old camera that still works ok but exceptions...)

[ansius]

my 40D works without a glitch now over 100K shutter actions...