Can viruses transfer from notebook to Samsung phone when using laptop to recharge phone?

[scorecard]

I've read before:

- Yes viruses can transfer to my phone. and

- No they cannot transfer.

 

Which is correct?

 

 

 

Edited March 31, 2023 by scorecard

[Swiss1960]

Two-fold answer:
- if you plug-in your phone to your computer, you should normally be asked, what kind of operation you want to allow, i.e. file access or charging only. If you select "charging only", then no data is transferred from your computer to your phone and vice versa, so also no viruses.
- most viruses on computers have no effect on phones (different OS and different Apps), HOWEVER, as more and more computers also provide software to connect to phones (via cable, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi), there is a greater risk that sooner or later viruses will get from computers to smartphones and vice versa.

[still kicking]

27 minutes ago, Swiss1960 said:

Two-fold answer:
- if you plug-in your phone to your computer, you should normally be asked, what kind of operation you want to allow, i.e. file access or charging only. If you select "charging only", then no data is transferred from your computer to your phone and vice versa, so also no viruses.
- most viruses on computers have no effect on phones (different OS and different Apps), HOWEVER, as more and more computers also provide software to connect to phones (via cable, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi), there is a greater risk that sooner or later viruses will get from computers to smartphones and vice versa.

Call me dumb but why do I have to charge my phone on the computer? I just have a charger for my phone no computer involved 

[Swiss1960]

3 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Call me dumb but why do I have to charge my phone on the computer? I just have a charger for my phone no computer involved 

Well, you might be working in a place, where you only have one plug for both your computer and your phone (i.e. in a Starbucks or an airport), and you need your phone as hotspot, which can drain it pretty fast, so you might plug plug your computer to the electric grid and your phone into your computer for charging while you are working. Pretty common scenario for me, specially, if I don't have my power bank with me for charging the phone. 

[still kicking]

7 minutes ago, Swiss1960 said:

Well, you might be working in a place, where you only have one plug for both your computer and your phone (i.e. in a Starbucks or an airport), and you need your phone as hotspot, which can drain it pretty fast, so you might plug plug your computer to the electric grid and your phone into your computer for charging while you are working. Pretty common scenario for me, specially, if I don't have my power bank with me for charging the phone. 

My phone can only be charged from a power point there is no USB connection on my charging connection 

[still kicking]

6 minutes ago, still kicking said:

My phone can only be charged from a power point there is no USB connection on my charging connection 

And what is so funny about this?

[Swiss1960]

11 minutes ago, still kicking said:

And what is so funny about this?

I was not the one putting the laughing emoticon, but it is funny... EVERY Samsung phone has a charging cable that can be used to plug in to the USB port of your computer for charging or data transfer. 
For older models (pre the x3 generation), it is the charging cable that came with the phone that can be used, but with the new USB-C to USB-C cable (i.e. for my A53), you need to buy a separate cable to plug in to your computer (USB-C to USB-A)

[still kicking]

3 minutes ago, Swiss1960 said:

I was not the one putting the laughing emoticon, but it is funny... EVERY Samsung phone has a charging cable that can be used to plug in to the USB port of your computer for charging or data transfer. 
For older models (pre the x3 generation), it is the charging cable that came with the phone that can be used, but with the new USB-C to USB-C cable (i.e. for my A53), you need to buy a separate cable to plug in to your computer (USB-C to USB-A)

My phone is about 8 years old it never came with a USB adapter but never mind 

[crouchpeter]

Just make sure to wash your hands thoroughly before touching the phone and computer. And then wipe the machines with wet-wipes. (But will only kill 99.9% of viruses.)

[still kicking]

25 minutes ago, crouchpeter said:

Just make sure to wash your hands thoroughly before touching the phone and computer. And then wipe the machines with wet-wipes. (But will only kill 99.9% of viruses.)

[NedR69]

Once you go MAC, you don't go back.

[RocketDog]

3 hours ago, still kicking said:

My phone can only be charged from a power point there is no USB connection on my charging connection 

Ah! Good start.

But there is only a single 100% risk free option: use a charger cable that has no data pins. The inner pins of a Type B connector are data. The two outer pins are power. The 'charger' cable won't have inner pins.

 

Just look at the connector you're using. If it has data pins then you're at risk. .

[scorecard]

4 hours ago, still kicking said:

Call me dumb but why do I have to charge my phone on the computer? I just have a charger for my phone no computer involved 

Oh really, never thought of that.

[CanadaSam]

6 hours ago, still kicking said:

And what is so funny about this?

Every phone for the past many years have a cord that plugs one side into your phone, and the other side has a USB connector for plugging into a charger OR a computer/laptop USB outlet.

[KannikaP]

6 hours ago, still kicking said:

My phone is about 8 years old it never came with a USB adapter but never mind 

So how did you charge it?

[KannikaP]

3 hours ago, RocketDog said:

Ah! Good start.

But there is only a single 100% risk free option: use a charger cable that has no data pins. The inner pins of a Type B connector are data. The two outer pins are power. The 'charger' cable won't have inner pins.

 

Just look at the connector you're using. If it has data pins then you're at risk. .

Most USB cables have 4 pins in the actual plug, but only 2 core cable if for charging only.

[TheAppletons]

18 hours ago, still kicking said:

And what is so funny about this?

What's funny is you making this thread all about you.

[Freddy42OZ]

6 hours ago, still kicking said:

My phone is about 8 years old it never came with a USB adapter but never mind 

This cannot be true. 
Unless your phone is 20+ year old ALL phones have a USB connector of some type. 

 

Your phone will have a socket into which you plug the charging cable. 
This socket will be in order of age either a USB Mini A or B or USB Micro A or B 
New phone now come with USB Type C sockets.

To charge using your computer you need a cable with USB Type A on one end (the computer end) and whatever your dinosaur of a phone has on the other end.



 

[Mad mick]

9 hours ago, Swiss1960 said:

Well, you might be working in a place, where you only have one plug for both your computer and your phone (i.e. in a Starbucks or an airport), and you need your phone as hotspot, which can drain it pretty fast, so you might plug plug your computer to the electric grid and your phone into your computer for charging while you are working. Pretty common scenario for me, specially, if I don't have my power bank with me for charging the phone. 

Hope ya using Vpn in those places hotspots Starbucks etc,.

[RocketDog]

3 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Most USB cables have 4 pins in the actual plug, but only 2 core cable if for charging only.

Yes, that's essentially what I meant. Many such cables also delete the inner two contacts on the connector.

However it's accomplished, without those inner pins data cannot be transmitted.

 

If the contacts are there the only way to know if the data lines are dead is to try a data transfer or test continuity which is difficult because of the tiny connectors.

I think between us the point has been made. Thank you.

[AgMech Cowboy]

9 hours ago, NedR69 said:

Once you go MAC, you don't go back.

I tried it and have never wanted a Mac since. (I must admit when Windows 7 was first introduced I thought about it).  I don't think like a MAC.

[Swiss1960]

3 hours ago, Mad mick said:

Hope ya using Vpn in those places hotspots Starbucks etc,.

Since I clearly wrote that I am using my phone as my personal hotspot, I don't generally need to use a VPN, but I use a VPN anytime I am on sensitive websites like banking, no matter whether I am in my home network or connected through my phone.

[nglodnig]

14 hours ago, NedR69 said:

Once you go MAC, you don't go back.

That's not true. Jeff Goldblum infected an entire alien spaceship with his Mac. But he couldn't get it to talk to his Windows laptop - technologies too strange and incompatible.