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View Full Version : VMWare / Win XP Pro - Virus Scan needed?



Michael73
Apr 10, 2009, 12:57 PM
title pretty much sums it up...I've got the latest version of VMWare running on both my MP and MBP with a virtualized copy of Win XP Pro SP3 running. The OEM system builder copy of Win XP Pro that I purchased installed a 30-day trial of McAfee which has now run out. Do I need to purchase a permanent virus scan solution for the Windows side? Or, can I uninstall the McAfee and not worry?


r.j.s
Apr 10, 2009, 01:00 PM
Virtualized Windows is still Windows. You need protection.
flopticalcube
Apr 10, 2009, 01:02 PM
You still need protection. Plenty of good free ones so no need to pay unless you are super paranoid or have to use a certain one for work/school. I use Avast on all my Windows installs.
Michael73
Apr 10, 2009, 01:13 PM
Virtualized Windows is still Windows. You need protection.

That's what I thought but I was in Frys this morning and walking past a pile of Norton boxes and there was a guy standing there so I asked him. He said he thought that when VMWare was either suspended or quit, it erased basically everything like temp files, etc. and only left programs that were either installed or documents that were saved. It didn't make much sense to me that VMWare or Parallels did this so I thought I'd ask.
r.j.s
Apr 10, 2009, 01:15 PM
That's what I thought but I was in Frys this morning and walking past a pile of Norton boxes and there was a guy standing there so I asked him. He said he thought that when VMWare was either suspended or quit, it erased basically everything like temp files, etc. and only left programs that were either installed or documents that were saved. It didn't make much sense to me that VMWare or Parallels did this so I thought I'd ask.

Yeah, not true. When you suspend the vm, it's like putting the machine to sleep. Nothing gets erased.
Winni
Apr 11, 2009, 09:53 AM
You do know that VMWare Fusion 2 comes with a one-year subscription of McAfee? So you don't need to purchase anything right now. Just click on "Install McAfee Virus Scan Plus" in the "Virtual Machine" menu when you're in Windows and register with McAfee and activate your copy.

And although everybody believes that OS X is "the one safe operating system" (which it is NOT), you should also consider installing an anti-virus software on your Mac. ESPECIALLY when you use Office:Mac or exchange Office documents with Windows users. Although you might not infect your own computer, you will still be spreading the disease. Furthermore, it's only a question of time when the first working malware for OS X will hit our machines.

If you want to use a really safe OS, install OpenBSD. :cool: