Malware spreading wirelessly?

[Polyhedron]

Hi all. Security question. (My mental model of security is stuck somewhere around Windows XP, so apologies if this is a stupid question.). I’ve been using Macs for years, but decided to try going back to Windows/Linux. Basically, my question is whether malware/viruses can potentially spread over Bluetooth or wifi (whether on a shared network or not) without the “receiving” computer doing anything to deliberately access files on the infected machine. Here’s the context: I snagged a cheap Lenovo Win11S notebook on sale for next to nothing (which is about all a machine with 4gb RAM is worth).  A couple weeks into using it, it crashed and then started asking me for a Bitdefender recovery key on boot due to a Secure Boot issue (even though I didn’t remember setting up Bitdefender). This was in May/June, so my suspicion is that it was triggered by that buggy patch MS released that did this to a lot of people (although 11S was not one of the platforms MS specifically said was affected, when last I checked), but I suppose it also could’ve been malware. Really busy at work, so I shrugged and put it on the back burner. Recently, was setting up a new machine specifically for Linux. On first boot, used the BIOS drive wipe function to clear all the preloaded software before installing Linux. My question is this: Is there a way that malware could’ve “jumped” via wireless or using the same wifi network while setting up the Linux machine?  In the old days, I wouldn’t worry, but with things like zero-click exploits and UEFI malware around these days, I’m wondering.  Like I said, apologies if it’s a stupid question (pr the wrong subforum), I’m very rusty.

[Electronics Wizardy]

Theoretically possible, but with a updates system with the default security in Windows this is nearly impossible. Generally these major vulnerabilities are patch very quickly when they become public.

 

This seems much more likely to be a bug or weird config than malware spreading that way.

[C2dan88]

1 minute ago, Polyhedron said:

My question is this: Is there a way that malware could’ve “jumped” via wireless or using the same wifi network while setting up the Linux machine?

No, malware intended for Windows will not function on Linux.

 

But yes if an infected machine shares the same network as the rest of the computers it can spread to those too.

 

 

[Needfuldoer]

WiFi is just another physical layer carrying a network connection. If something can spread over Ethernet, it can spread over WiFi. (Of course the machine has to be connected to the WiFi network in order to pick anything up.)

[Polyhedron]

13 minutes ago, C2dan88 said:

No, malware intended for Windows will not function on Linux.

 

But yes if an infected machine shares the same network as the rest of the computers it can spread to those too.

 

 

Spread passively?  And in theory, couldn’t UEFI malware jump from a Windows machine to a Linux machine?

Edited July 9, 2025 by Polyhedron
Spelling

[C2dan88]

Just now, Polyhedron said:

Windows machine to a Linux machine?

Yes, if its specifically written for linux too. But the chances are slim.

[y0ur5h4d0w]

possible to spread to other systems in the network? yes.

 

even via wireless connectivity which are not "internet" related? yep it could probably happen since it's a way to connect multiple assets never heard of such an attack but there's probably a way.

 

will it happen to a "casual user"? it's a really remote possibility, i would say no.

 

malwares for windows almost always never work on linux out of the box, HOWEVER, if on linux you run the same software using wine, yes it will affect linux too, crytolockers for windows does damage linux when if you run it with wine.

[Polyhedron]

Thanks all.  I'm thinking I could've been clearer.  I suppose my question boils down to a) if that Win11S machine did have some sort of malware causing the problem I described, and b) I installed Fedora on a different laptop while connected to the same wifi network, c) do I need to worry about some sort of malware ending up on the Fedora laptop?  I realize that Windows malware basically never affects Linux machines, but is it possible that something ended up hidden on the SSD before Fedora was installed, or some sort of UEFI/BIOS malware?

 

Again, appreciate the patience with the derpy questions.

[Thomas53]

To put it bluntly, you are more likely to be hit by an out of control White/Red 1948 Volkswagen Beetle being driven by an 8-year-old from somewhere in France while you're sitting in sitting in an office on the  8th floor somewhere in Iowa, than you are from getting a problem from any sort of UEFI/BIOS malware.

[ocueye]

As long as the os still has support, the minute one of these (zero days) gets discovered, it is fixed immediately. windows defender is also all the security you will ever need everyday use