Virus protection for multi-function peripherals

A multi-function peripheral includes a virus protection tool that is configured to detect that the multi-function peripheral has been infected by a virus. This may include, for example, determining that one or more unauthorized instructions have been stored on the multi-function peripheral. The virus protection tool may also be configured to perform one or more actions in response to detecting that a multi-function peripheral has been infected with a virus. Example actions include, without limitation, repairing, quarantining or deleting infected data and providing a notification that the multi-function peripheral has been infected and that some action has been performed with respect to the infected data. Other embodiments of the invention include performing virus checks on any data received by an MFP over a network and any data that is provided by the MFP to any other entity over the network and also providing remote virus protection for MFPs over a network.