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Can you get viruses on Parallels?
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Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Aug 2006
Status:
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I know I have heard that with Boot camp you can of course get Windows Viruses but with Parallels since it's virtualization you can't. This sounds too good to be true but is it true you can't get Windows viruses on Parallels? What about spyware, etc? For example should I still use spyware checkers, virus checkers, a firewall, etc all on Parallels?
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Upstate NY (cow country)
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If you run windows, all the windows ills still apply. Environment doesn't matter.
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"Destroy your ego. Trust your brain. Destroy your beliefs. Trust your divinity." -Danny Carey
MacPro Quad 2.66, G4 MDD dual 867, 23" Cinema Display and 17" LCD, G4 Quicksilver dual 800, 12" Powerbook 867, iMac 300 Grape, B&W G3/300 with G4/450 running yellowdog, iPod 5GB, iPod mini, PowerCenter 150, Powercenter 132 tower, Performa 6116, Quadra 700, MacSE, LC II, eMate 300
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Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Aug 2006
Status:
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I figured that was too good to be true. Let's say I do get a virus though on the Windows side and it wipes out a lot of files, etc. Whatever damage the virus does is that limited to my Windows side meaning it would potentially wipe out my files, data, etc. on the Windows side but not affect anything on the Mac OS side or can it basically affect the whole computer? I think the key either way is anything you can run on the Mac OS X side do it, don't use Windows software unless you have to. My MBP just arrived an hour ago so I'm going to be working on that now.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Status:
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Windows malware will affect the Windows partition of your drive only.
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"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." TJ
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2001
Status:
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Viruses in windows could trample on any files visible to windows, including any files you have shared via shared folders. So, be careful with anything inside windows, or that you share to it off your mac.
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<This space under renovation>
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Status:
Offline
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A Windows virus, should you happen upon one, will be unable to do any damage to OS X. Parallels runs Windows in a sandbox of sorts, cutting off all contact between the guest and host operating systems. The only danger, as mentioned earlier, is through shared folders. Just don't share anything too important with Windows (such as, for instance, your entire hard drive), and you'll be fine. Oh, and use Firefox. And get a good antivirus for Windows.
EDIT: Yay 666 posts!
...wait...
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Any ramblings are entirely my own, and do not represent those of my employers, coworkers, friends, or species
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Punta Cana, República Dominicana
Status:
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As Drakino and TheoCryst have stated, any shared folders are fair game for viruses/spyware. I'm afraid many people are careless in that regard. I never share folders between my Macs and PCs. Just use copy and paste if you want to transfers files from one to the other.
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Administrator  Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status:
Offline
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You bet your asterisk you can get a virus while running Windows under Parallels. That's why you MUST run an antivirus package with ANY Windows installation.
And be advised, while there aren't a lot of truly destructive viruses out there, some CAN WIPE YOUR ENTIRE (THAT'S EVERYTHING INCLUDING YOUR OS X STUFF) HARD DRIVE.
Remember, the hardware is irrelevant, viruses attack operating systems and use the operating system to do their nastiness. Look both ways before crossing the street, be good to Mom, and ALWAYS use an antivirus package with Windows. ALWAYS!
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Glenn -----
OTR/L, MOT, Tx
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