parallels/vmware fusion Viruses?

[AppleNinja]

ok macbook is comming a few days guys and i want to possible get parallels or vmware fusion. now i know in bootcamp since it runs 100% like windows you can get viruses right? but what about a emulator like parallels or vmware? can someone please explain?

thanks!

-appleninja

 

[xUKHCx]

They are running full versions of Windows and are therefore susseptible to everything that normal windows is so basically yes.

 

[AppleNinja]

ok thanks

 

[xUKHCx]

ok thanks

Don't be embarrassed after all it is better to ask and get protected then be struck with viruses.

 

[Eidorian]

I just make a snapshot of a good state and revert back in a worst case.

Then again always back up your data as well. Reverting back will wipe everything you've done since then out.

 

[zirkle2007]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but a virus on your Windows part will not affect the OSX part, right?

 

[TheStu]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but a virus on your Windows part will not affect the OSX part, right?

It shouldn't no. Since the viruses are written to affect Windows, and the way Windows works, they shouldn't be able to do any harm to OS X. But, it could completely screw over your Windows VM, which could be bad.

 

[pjrobertson]

If your VM has wread write access to the Mac OS X partition, (which VMware and Parallels do) then they could theoretically mess up the Mac partition. This is very unlikely though.

I'd suggest getting antivirus (Avira Antivir is a good free one)
Firewall (Comodo Firewall Pro)
Anti spyware (Spybot search & destroy and Ad-aware)

With all those on my bootcamp / VM windows, I still managed to get a virus!