Can't find exact answers in search

[bellrinder]

I am a new mac user and have two windows programs I occasionally will need to use.

I just set up a W2k installation through Fusion on a separate hard drive.

If I connect to the internet only through OS 10, am I still vulnerable to virus/trojan/spyware because Win is on the Mac? I don't suppose having it on a separate drive helps?

Would I be safe if I have the Windows drive disconnected when I'm not using it?

If I surf only on my old Win laptop but downloaded a program to install on the Mac, could it be messed up when I boot into virtual windows?

I guess I would have to connect with OS 10 occasionally to do upgrades though.

All advice appreciated!

 

[yellow]

Pretty much only your Windows install is vulnerable to Windows exploits, when Windows is running. Your Mac is vulnerable to Mac exploits. Keep AV on the Windows install and best practices on both OS X and Windows and you'll be fine.

 

[kkat69]

I am a new mac user and have two windows programs I occasionally will need to use.

I just set up a W2k installation through Fusion on a separate hard drive.

If I connect to the internet only through OS 10, am I still vulnerable to virus/trojan/spyware because Win is on the Mac? I don't suppose having it on a separate drive helps?

No seperate drives means nothing. Short answer yes, your windows is suseptable and possibly your host (os 10) but the chances of a trojan/virus that will reach out and pull info from your os 10 (ie., host) affecting your windows installation is minimal. But that doesn't mean it won't happen. Anytime you install windows you NEED to make sure your virus defs etc are up to date and your really protected. Regardless if it's a windows pc, bootcamp or fusion/parallels virtual machine.

Would I be safe if I have the Windows drive disconnected when I'm not using it?

Don't see how that would make any difference. When your not using windows in vmware fusion it's not running PERIOD. It's not even able to process anything until you turn on vmware.

If I surf only on my old Win laptop but downloaded a program to install on the Mac, could it be messed up when I boot into virtual windows?

I guess I would have to connect with OS 10 occasionally to do upgrades though.

All advice appreciated!

Short answer, it possible.

Just because windows is running on a mac doesn't means it's just as secure as a mac. It's still WINDOWS.

 

[bellrinder]

Thanks for clarifying this. I installed Zone alarm security suite on my windows install.

I need to take a deep breath, because if I'm going to have Windows protected, I need to go online for updates. And there will be a whole bunch of them! I'll install a couple of free antivirus programs and scan everything after I update.

I'm guessing I don't need to turn off the Mac firewall when I'm connecting through Windows -- correct?