will windows viruses effect the mac?

hey just wondering while running windows through boot camp, will any of the windows viruses effect the system or any hardware? thanks

If you by "system" mean the Mac OS X partition, nope

Well if you are planning on running only OS X, then not a chance. If you run Windows via Bootcamp, then yes, it could potentially damage your 'system'.

Agree with goobimama. When running XP through Virtual PC was always good advise to run an antivirus program such as AVG as it could infect the Windows OS.

A virus will damage your Windows operating system, software, and data.

Anything that's solely part of OS X will be completely safe.

Not sure about any "Shared" folders. I suspect those are in danger, too.

Kuwisdelu said:

Not sure about any "Shared" folders. I suspect those are in danger, too.

Click to expand...

A windows virus will only run under windows and infect files run by windows programs

Any file opened by your windows installation or a shared folder could potentially be infected.

The virus will not run on Mac OS X and will not be able to harm Mac applications, OS X or spread to any files on your OS X system.

The only way mac OS X can spread a windows virus is if you choose to mail an infected file to a windows user

so it'll just effect the partition and the operating system it self.. thats what i figured thanks

Mac has NO Viruses, it will not effect the system at all.

Mitch528 said:

Mac has NO Viruses, it will not effect the system at all.

Click to expand...

that is not true...
http://antivirus.about.com/od/macintoshresource/Macintosh_Viruses_and_Mac_Virus_Resources.htm
http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2008/01/security-report.html
however, there are far fewer viruses designed to target mac's, and you are less likely to be infected with a virus

but to answer your question Koehler09, if you get a virus on your bootcamp install, it will not "carry over" to osx.

^^ Yeah but even for those 'non-viruses', you need to provide an admin/password or they won't be able to do anything at all.