Can Transferring Photos/Music from PC to PSP Give You a Virus? Extremely Unlikely—But Secure Your PC First

No, transferring JPEG/PNG/MP3/MP4 files from PC to PSP via USB or Memory Stick cannot directly infect the PSP. The PSP's OS (GameOS) does not execute code from media files, and its architecture (MIPS) is incompatible with Windows malware (x86/ARM).

Why It's Safe

• Non-Executable Formats: Images/audio are data, not code. No parser exploits known for PSP's media apps (Photo, Music, Video).
• No Auto-Run: PSP doesn't auto-execute files on USB insert/Memory Stick mount.
• Sandboxed Apps: Media viewers run in restricted memory partitions.

The Real (Tiny) Risk Vector

Your PC is infected → Malware copies itself to the Memory Stick as an executable (.exe, .bat, .scr, .pbp) → You run it on a *hacked* PSP (CFW) via Game Menu.

• Stock PSP (OFW) **cannot run unsigned code**—even if malware lands on the stick, it won't execute.
• Custom Firmware (CFW) *can* run homebrew (.pbp, .iso). If you manually launch a malicious homebrew, you could brick the PSP or corrupt the Memory Stick.

Best Practices

1. Keep PC antivirus updated (Windows Defender is fine).
2. Scan the Memory Stick/USB drive before ejecting.
3. Don't download "PSP games" from shady sites and transfer them—those ISOs/CSOs can contain malicious homebrew payloads.
4. If on CFW, only run homebrew from trusted sources (GitHub, Brewology, wololo.net).

Verdict

Drag-and-drop photos/music = safe. The danger is what *else* you put on the stick and whether you run unsigned code.