What will a Windows virus do on Parallels?

[Sal Collaziano]

This is just a "what if" scenario that I'm curious about. What if I have a virus or trojan or whatever on my Windows XP installation - that I'm about to port over to use with Parallels? Can it affect my Mac in any way?

Or. What if I download a Windows application that contains a virus? Will it have any way of affecting me?

Thanks in advance...

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Here's another scenario.. Let's say that, for example, I download an application that has some type of virus that allows my PC to be used as a Zombie in a DDOS attack. Can that virus use the Windows side (in Parallels) to perform it's service?

 

[blaster_boy]

The answer to your first question :
- if there is a virus in your windows parallel installation, it'll do it's stuff (infect, send mail, erase files, etc)
- you might get a notification from Little Snitch about it that can give you reasons to be suspicious, like connection to servers on special ports
- if you have folder sharing active in parallels with your mac, it might affect your mac as well; ie if it is programmed to delete stuff, it'll do it everywhere it can, and a shared mac folder is like any other windows folder for the virus

The answer to your second question : Yes.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Yikes. That's all I can say. I may have to figure out another way to view the websites I'm developing through Internet Explorer...

Thank you...

 

[blaster_boy]

You can take precautions like any other windows user. Install an antivirus like AVG and access the internet via a router, have a firewall active. All these things will help.

And if you take care to only use IE for surfing to website you develop, you should be safe enough...

Disclaimer : sometimes I'm a bit paranoid.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Actually, that's a good point.. I do connect through a router - and I'll have the Windows firewall turned on.. And I'll only be previewing the websites I create through the IE/Windows connection. So I should be safe.. I think I'll go ahead with Parallels and just be sure to use Windows ONLY for viewing sites I've created - to make sure they look and operate properly for Windows users...

You can take precautions like any other windows user. Install an antivirus like AVG and access the internet via a router, have a firewall active. All these things will help.

And if you take care to only use IE for surfing to website you develop, you should be safe enough...

Disclaimer : sometimes I'm a bit paranoid.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

The answer to your first question :
- if there is a virus in your windows parallel installation, it'll do it's stuff (infect, send mail, erase files, etc)
- you might get a notification from Little Snitch about it that can give you reasons to be suspicious, like connection to servers on special ports
- if you have folder sharing active in parallels with your mac, it might affect your mac as well; ie if it is programmed to delete stuff, it'll do it everywhere it can, and a shared mac folder is like any other windows folder for the virus

The answer to your second question : Yes.

I might like to point out most of that list is over board.
Chances are the worse thing you would get is a worm. Very few virus out there even for windows go about deleting stuff.

Biggest thing you would notice would be Little Snitch telling you of another connection because you windows has turn into a Zombie. The largest threat you will have is a trojan. Most virus/worms are going to have trouble getting past a firewall and the fact that the windows OS is going to be hidden OSX because it has to run it though there. So it be like the virus having to find it way though at least 1 router and possiblely 2 if you are running you Mac behind one as well.


People here really go overboard on how dangerous windows really is.

 

[marclapierre13]

Im using XP strictly for gaming, so s'all good. I have firewall on though too.