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Mac with Windows and viruses

A

Ardoptres

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 12, 2009
161
0
While I am so happy with my Macs, and will never go back ti Windows, I've come to realize that I just need to have it in order to do proper schoolwork.

I have been toying with the idea of installing Windows, but I know it opens up for all the Windows viruses. Though, can I get infected with these viruses while working in the OSX partition? Except for downloading a few apps onto Windows, i won't be online.

Thanks in advance!
 
No

Woof, Woof - Dawg
pawprint.gif
 
If you install Windows, you need to install some kind of anti-virus software. It doesn't matter if you use Boot Camp, Fusion or Parallels, you need to be protected.

A Windows virus cannot affect your OS X partition though.
 
r.j.s said:
If you install Windows, you need to install some kind of anti-virus software. It doesn't matter if you use Boot Camp, Fusion or Parallels, you need to be protected.

A Windows virus cannot affect your OS X partition though.
Click to expand...

If I install Windows, i will be using google, go to a few sites to download some apps, and that's it. Where is the chance of getting infected?
 
Can I seriously get infected by just searching on google? Or is it just by ACCESSING the internet?
 
Ardoptres said:
Can I seriously get infected by just searching on google? Or is it just by ACCESSING the internet?
Click to expand...

visiting questionable sites and downloading files CAN result in malware, trojans, viruses, etc.

it is not necessarily inevitable, but it is possible
windows is doing a better job in this regard
always use common sense and practice safe computing

there are a number of good, free antivirus programs for windows
AVG Free
Avira

Woof, Woof - Dawg
pawprint.gif
 
MacDawg said:
visiting questionable sites and downloading files CAN result in malware, trojans, viruses, etc.

it is not necessarily inevitable, but it is possible
always use common sense and practice safe computing

there are a number of good, free antivirus programs for windows

Woof, Woof - Dawg
pawprint.gif
Click to expand...

All I can think of right now is downloading the app (is it only called that in OSX) Graph. The rest i can get on my school's internet server.
 
Ardoptres said:
Can they dig their way onto the windows partition and infect my computer though. (Judging by Dawg's answer, the answer is no)
Click to expand...

If MacDawg's reply isn't clear to you, just by going onto the internet you expose yourself to virii. So, you need virus software for Windows, but no, it can't get over to the OSX partition. So, if you don't mind getting a virus in Windows and having to redo your partition, then it won't matter to you.
 
Ardoptres said:
All I can think of right now is downloading the app (is it only called that in OSX) Graph. The rest i can get on my school's internet server.
Click to expand...

Typically...
OSX = Applications
Windows = Programs

Let's be clear here...

On the Mac side, the best antivirus is common sense and safe computing. There are NO viruses that target OSX. There are trojans, and there is a difference. Trojans require you download and install, using the administrator's password. That is where common sense and safe computing comes into play. Most notable are the trojans associated with the torrents for iLife 09 and CS4, along with a few porn sites. Windows viruses will not infect OSX, but they can be passed on to Windows users. ClamXav does a nice job of identifying these.

On the Windows side, there are free antivirus programs available and are advisable because there is a fair amount of risk in accessing sites and downloading files.

Woof, Woof - Dawg
pawprint.gif
 
OK, great. Thanks.

If i use Parallels, is it still only the Windows partition that is exposed to Windows viruses (Is there a term for all the bad stuff? When I say virus, I mean trojans, malware and whatever more there is)?
 
The safest way to use Windows on a Mac is never to allow Windows to connect to the internet. When you install Windows on your Mac, never turn on any of the features that give Windows access to the internet. (In Parallels, choose the option to NOT let Windows connect through your Mac. In Boot Camp, simply do not enable any of the internet access features.) The moment you expose Windows to the internet, you will be under attack from malware of all kinds, even without your doing anything else.

To download Windows programs safely: While using OS X, connect to the internet and download the Windows programs to your Mac hard drive. Then manually move them to the Windows partition of your hard drive -- you can do this in Boot Camp or Parallels. Then start working in Windows and install the program from there. This will keep your Windows partition safe from exposure to viruses, trojans, etc (unless the malware is buried in the code for the program, of course).
 
That's great advice, but completely impractical.

santamaria said:
The safest way to use Windows on a Mac is never to allow Windows to connect to the internet. When you install Windows on your Mac, never turn on any of the features that give Windows access to the internet. (In Parallels, choose the option to NOT let Windows connect through your Mac. In Boot Camp, simply do not enable any of the internet access features.) The moment you expose Windows to the internet, you will be under attack from malware of all kinds, even without your doing anything else.

To download Windows programs safely: While using OS X, connect to the internet and download the Windows programs to your Mac hard drive. Then manually move them to the Windows partition of your hard drive -- you can do this in Boot Camp or Parallels. Then start working in Windows and install the program from there. This will keep your Windows partition safe from exposure to viruses, trojans, etc (unless the malware is buried in the code for the program, of course).
Click to expand...
 
santamaria said:
The safest way to use Windows on a Mac is never to allow Windows to connect to the internet. When you install Windows on your Mac, never turn on any of the features that give Windows access to the internet. (In Parallels, choose the option to NOT let Windows connect through your Mac. In Boot Camp, simply do not enable any of the internet access features.) The moment you expose Windows to the internet, you will be under attack from malware of all kinds, even without your doing anything else.

To download Windows programs safely: While using OS X, connect to the internet and download the Windows programs to your Mac hard drive. Then manually move them to the Windows partition of your hard drive -- you can do this in Boot Camp or Parallels. Then start working in Windows and install the program from there. This will keep your Windows partition safe from exposure to viruses, trojans, etc (unless the malware is buried in the code for the program, of course).
Click to expand...

Great advice. Thanks.
 
-aggie- said:
Why do you think you're not going to get a virus downloading an executable file onto your Mac and copying it over to your Windows partition and running it??
Click to expand...

Because the program won't have a virus. That's not my concern.
 
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