Helly, I'm new to the forum and I'm really sorry if this thread doesn't belong here.
The following questions are related only to external HDDs, and not the computer's hardware configuration ones:
Does an ordinary external HDD come with some factory firmware in it, or it does NOT need one since the computer's UEFI/BIOS or other firmware runs it ?
If it does have some firmware coded in it, can an external HDD (you may answer on SSD to, would be appreciated, but mechanical HDD is my priority) get infected by a rootkit ? I'm not talking on infecting a computer to which it connects. Can the external HDD's own firmware (if it has such) get infected ?
If the above questions's answers are both "yes", then is the process of completely wiping out all of the external disk (considering all the data on it can be sacrifised) going to solve the problem of the infection ? Even if all of the memory is overwritten by zeroes ?
If even complete wipe-out and zeroes overwritting will not "heal" the firmware, what has to be done to get a completely clean (like a new one just bought) external HDD, free of all kinds of infections ? Will a reflashing of the firmware solve the problem ? If so, how could you reflash an external HDD's firmware in home ?
I note again that I'm talking about a case in which not the data on it is so important, but the physical device.
Thank you in advance!
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