I am a former Mac user who shifted to a PC long ago but just purchased a Mac Powerbook. I understand that I can load Windows onto the Mac and run software from my PC. I was just wondering if doing this puts my Mac at risk of virus infection. Do I need antivirus software for this?
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If running Windows on a Mac computer, do you need antivirus software?
- Thread starter glenn1000
- Start date
geoffb
TUG Member
If you are running Windows XP or Vista on a MacBook or MacBook Pro and you are allowing it to connect to the internet, download email, etc. then you will need to take all of the same precautions to protect against spyware and viruses in Windows.
If Windows is infected, would that corrupt the Mac OS or would Mac run as usual but Windows only be affected?
camachinist
TUG Member
My understanding and experience (using Wintel hardware on Macs) is only the data in the Windows partition(s) will be corrupted. On my systems, I used seperate hard drives (within the same machine) for the Wintel stuff.
I haven't used the dual-core Macs with BootCamp, etc, so know nothing about that functionality.
Pat
I haven't used the dual-core Macs with BootCamp, etc, so know nothing about that functionality.
Pat
geoffb
TUG Member
That depends on how you have it set up.
If Windows is on a separate partition and you are dual booting into one operating system or the other then any issues in Windows would normally be contained to that partition.
If Windows is running in a virtual machine so you can use Windows and OS X at the same time, and if Windows has access to all or part of the filesystem used by the host operating system then a problem in Windows could have consequences for files in the Mac OS X space.
If Windows is on a separate partition and you are dual booting into one operating system or the other then any issues in Windows would normally be contained to that partition.
If Windows is running in a virtual machine so you can use Windows and OS X at the same time, and if Windows has access to all or part of the filesystem used by the host operating system then a problem in Windows could have consequences for files in the Mac OS X space.
S
Steamboat Bill
According to all my Mac-using friends, (all one of them), Windows IS a virus!
Hahahahaha
Add Norton to your Windows install. The Mac OS should be fine unless your hard disk gets zapped. Keep the OS on two separate drives if possible.
My plan was to install Norton so I'm glad that's the right thing to do.
I have a Macbook Pro. How does one keep the OS on two separate drives? It came installed but I believe I have a copy on a CD-ROM that came with it.
Thanks for the repsonses.
Makai Guy
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I would NOT add ANY Norton program. They are resource hogs, and very invasive to your system.
I use the free version of AVG Antivirus and find it to be excellent. It updates itself automatically, scans my downloads and incoming emails, and does a full system scan in the wee small hours every night. Compared to the system slowdown you'd get with Norton, you don't even know AVG is there.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/
I use the free version of AVG Antivirus and find it to be excellent. It updates itself automatically, scans my downloads and incoming emails, and does a full system scan in the wee small hours every night. Compared to the system slowdown you'd get with Norton, you don't even know AVG is there.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/
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Sheraton Desert Oasis
You may install Windows on an external drive. However, that's not typically practical.
Are you planning on using Boot Camp (from Apple) or Parallels?
If Parallels, then I suggest maximum memory in your MacBook Pro. Our tests have shown that anything less than 4GB of RAM performs poorly. My MBP with Parallels (running XP, don't bother with Vista) can now keep Windows open all the time and there's no delay when switching from a Windows app to a Mac app. Anything less than 4GB (even 3GB, which we've tested) behaves very poorly.
S
Steamboat Bill
4MB RAM = $ = buy a second Windows based laptop
bogey21
TUG Member
Surprised to hear this advice. Maybe I'm up a tree somewhere but I heard Norton is for the birds. Thus I went with CA and am happy with it.
GEORGE
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With respect to George, I have had CA on one of my computers and will let it expire as I've found it takes over everything and I can't get it to do what I want. Nor do I find it user friendly - the window comes up for settings but it doesn't seem to take effect. Everytime I turn on the PC I have to reset all the passwords and login names, which is such a pain. I did like the way it filtered spam however.
Brian
Brian
S
Steamboat Bill
Norton Internet Security 2008 got PC Mag editor choice.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2180639,00.asp
BTW - Why would anyone with a Mac even want to use the Windows install to log into the Internet? Mac's don't get viruses or spyware.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2180639,00.asp
BTW - Why would anyone with a Mac even want to use the Windows install to log into the Internet? Mac's don't get viruses or spyware.
Makai Guy
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I'm sure Norton's advertising budget had nothing to do with the selection.
The main reason I thought it might make sense is that we could use the Netflix instant view feature to watch movies online when not at home. You can't do that on the Mac OS platform. Not sure it's worth the risk but if I only use that site when in Windows (using the Mac OS platform for main Internet access) hopefully I'd be OK.
I also thought that using Windows to run MS Office rather than to repurchase as the Mac version might make sense. I did purchase Parallels but have not received it yet.
S
Steamboat Bill
hahahaha on the PC mag advertising.
I would 100% switch to native Mac OS applications rather than keep patching Windows. The MS Office is pretty seamless between the different versions.
I would 100% switch to native Mac OS applications rather than keep patching Windows. The MS Office is pretty seamless between the different versions.
Maybe I should not to use Office on the laptop or can pick up the Mac version.
I just installed Parallels and it looks like I need to give a product code for Windows XP. I have five Dell computers running XP but it looks like the product codes on those versions don't fit into the format box on Parallels. Do I need to buy a new version of Windows XP too?
I just installed Parallels and it looks like I need to give a product code for Windows XP. I have five Dell computers running XP but it looks like the product codes on those versions don't fit into the format box on Parallels. Do I need to buy a new version of Windows XP too?
The DW bought Norton Internet Security Suite. It came with 3 licenses, my McAfee was about to expire so I installed the Norton. After one night and about a 15 minute boot-up time, I uninstalled it. Good riddance.
Back to McAfee.
Jim Ricks
Back to McAfee.
Jim Ricks
Courts
TUG Member
Nortons was a hog at one time, but the new 360 works on my PC like a charm. No resource problem at all. Don't even know it's there.
I've had problems with other antivirus (like not catching them) but so far Nortons has been great. .
In the end, we'll work with the Mac OS
I've used Norton software on our four PCs and been happy with it, HOWEVER,
I'm going to bail on the entire plan to run Windows on our Mac. The installation of Parallels has zapped the new Macbook's camera (my daughter's favorite part of the Mac) and I hope it returns to normal when I uninstall the program. I realize that I'd need an unregistered version of Windows XP on top of the Parallels software to run Windows. Hopefully I can unregister Paralllels since it's been on the Macbook less than one day. I hope I haven't screwed anything up with this installation. Maybe I'll pick up MS Office for Mac.
Thanks to everyone for the advice. It has been very helpful!
I've used Norton software on our four PCs and been happy with it, HOWEVER,
I'm going to bail on the entire plan to run Windows on our Mac. The installation of Parallels has zapped the new Macbook's camera (my daughter's favorite part of the Mac) and I hope it returns to normal when I uninstall the program. I realize that I'd need an unregistered version of Windows XP on top of the Parallels software to run Windows. Hopefully I can unregister Paralllels since it's been on the Macbook less than one day. I hope I haven't screwed anything up with this installation. Maybe I'll pick up MS Office for Mac.
Thanks to everyone for the advice. It has been very helpful!
S
Steamboat Bill
good idea...keep you mac separate from windows.
geoffb
TUG Member
What the heck are you running? I use Parallels several hours a day on a MacBook Pro with a Core Duo processor and 2GB of memory and XP Pro SP2, Office 2007 and a slate of corporate apps perform very well.