Do I need to install virus protection on the Windows XP side of my MAC? I've never had an issue with my MacBook for 2 years now, but I'm afraid when the Windows XP machine is running and I'm connected to the internet on the MAC side (Safari), that I'm vulnerable to "catching" a bug. What are your recommendations for protection for both the MAC OS side and the Windows XP sides of my MacBook? TerryMag
AntiVirus I would strongly recommend using AntiVirus software on your "Windows side". Since the VM will have internet access, it can become infected like any other PC. Also, if you are running in integrated mode, Windows could corrupt files on your Mac. In my case, I run Norton Antivirus on my Windows 7 VM and run Norton for Mac on my MacOS side. My primary concern with antivirus software on the Mac is catching any outgoing or incoming viruses that could infect my windows systems (VM and non-virtual.) It is ultimately up to you what you choose to use. There are several free (as in free beer) Anti-Virus programs out there. Avast! is one such example. I have used it on VMs from Parallels before with no problems. If you are not interested in investing money in antivirus for Windows, this may be an option for you. Another idea is Free AVG for Windows. *One note: With older versions of Norton Anti-Virus, I noticed that running it on the Mac and also on Windows simultaneously caused certain downloads (.exe, to be exact) to become corrupted. The issue stemmed from active protection on the Mac side. The problem has since been corrected by Symantec. Before installing, I suggest you back up your VM to a safe place just in case you have any issues. Good luck!
