Network Pinging

I have a question from my school,

You see, a couple days ago, my friends and I pinged the school network IPs seperately (so the computers wouldn't break) in one go, using a portable app called Network Scanner.

After the network scanner was run, the computer crashed and the network eventually failed.

My friends and I all said: 'shit'

According to the computer admin, it wasn't a network ping that crashed the computer, but a virus. :-\


So now you know the backstory, here's the question:

When pinging network computers, is it possible to receive a virus from one when you ping it? ???

Thanks again,

~ Shadow

 

No, pinging a different computer shouldn't spread a virus. Ping is a special operation for a network, not related to application (and viruses).

However, your application Network Scanner might contain and spread the virus. I don't think you can say for sure that that application only does a ping. It might just as well be the cause of the virus.

 

OK, I really tore computers up at my school, so i have some understanding of how the administration reacts towards kids playing with the system. First of all, they probably have no idea if it was a virus, or not. They might just want to freak you out so you'll stop messing with the system. Also, if you're network scanner did a full scan, it port scanned rapidly from the same IP (yours) which would really freak a server out, if it's old ass hardware. I'd say your port scan messed it up, and the school is just being douchelike.

 

pinging cant spread a virus i agree with coniferus id say the port scan could hav crashed it

 

Thanks guys, really helped. My friend scanned the app and it came up as a virus, but according to the website its' a .. false positive. Oh well, networks fixed.

Thanks guys!