Newbie Parrallels Question

[eric06]

I was reading the Parallels manual and it doesn't seem to hard to get running. Would it be ok to use the drag and drop feature in the new version or would open security holes? I also noticed Parallels come with Kaspersky Internet Security, would it be better to use that instead of McAfee in Windows?

There is probably an answer to this somewhere on the board but I haven't really looked back that much.

 

[kevin_msu]

i haven't played with that yet.... it does scare me.

you'd have to talk to someone that really knows code. i could see a virus or something corrupting universal files like mp3 or avi or whatever.

as far as the OS, unless it was a virus specifically made to do that, i don't see how general viruses could affect your os.

 

[BIG D 04]

Well without being too rude McAfee is an annoying piece of crap (Sorry for being so blunt) and Norton is the same, although I don't have experience with others.

I use both Boot Camp and Parallels but I like to keep my Internet Use to a Minimum mainly because I just prefer the OSX Interface but sometimes Windows Works is necessary. I downloaded Parallels lately, yet to Register it but I never got any free anti-virus software?

 

[eric06]

In the users manual it mentions the Kaspersky Internet Security. I am not sure if it's free or not. I really don't want to install McAfee under parrallels because that will slow things down a lot more.

I guess when I get my Mac towards the end of this week, I will install the Kaspersky and see what it's all about.

I am also going to skip the drag and dropping with the 2 OS's just in case it does screw things up.

 

[BIG D 04]

I haven't used drag and drop but Parallels has a feature called Shared Folders where you can access the files on your OSX machine. However if you are using OSX mainly and Windows is just going to be running on the Sideline I doubt you will get any dodgy stuff.

Just remember do your Porn Surfing on the Mac and the occasional Windows Stuff well on Windows. Better to be Safe than Sorry!

 

[eric06]

Just remember do your Porn Surfing on the Mac and the occasional Windows Stuff well on Windows. Better to be Safe than Sorry!

LOL! The college blocks that stuff so not a problem.

 

[Kash]

You don't have to worry about "cross contamination", at least not when dragging files from Windows to OS X. No Windows virus or spyware can affect OS X. So even if you DID manage to move an infected file from Windows to OS X, you wouldn't notice it since the Mac side would be immune.

However, this means that it is possible to send an infected file the other way. This is where an anti-virus program comes in handy. It'll detect any new files being transferred over as being clean or not.

If you take the proper precautions, you have absolutely nothing to fear when dragging and dropping files between the two operating systems. In fact, it's encouraged that you do this as it's one of the main selling points of Parallels!!

Don't be afraid, just make sure you have an antivirus program installed and you'll be just fine. I've had Parallels installed since last December with a free virus scanner and I have yet to experience any of the problems inherent in Windows. :black:

 

[eric06]

You don't have to worry about "cross contamination", at least not when dragging files from Windows to OS X. No Windows virus or spyware can affect OS X. So even if you DID manage to move an infected file from Windows to OS X, you wouldn't notice it since the Mac side would be immune.

However, this means that it is possible to send an infected file the other way. This is where an anti-virus program comes in handy. It'll detect any new files being transferred over as being clean or not.

If you take the proper precautions, you have absolutely nothing to fear when dragging and dropping files between the two operating systems. In fact, it's encouraged that you do this as it's one of the main selling points of Parallels!!

Don't be afraid, just make sure you have an antivirus program installed and you'll be just fine. I've had Parallels installed since last December with a free virus scanner and I have yet to experience any of the problems inherent in Windows. :black:

Is Kaspersky Internet Security okay or should I just install McAfee any was? I don't plan on doing too much on the Windows side anyways, just my Exchange email account.

 

[Kash]

If you got Kaspersky for free, then I would definitely recommend installing it. Then again, anything is better than McAfee or Norton

 

[eric06]

If you got Kaspersky for free, then I would definitely recommend installing it. Then again, anything is better than McAfee or Norton

I'll check it out and see if it's free or if I have to buy it.

 

[Kash]

If it turns out that you have to pay for it, then there are some wonderful free antivirus options available. There's absolutely no reason to pay for an antivirus program.

I suggest checking out AVG and Avast! There are one or two others, but I don't know their names off the top of my head.

 

[eric06]

If it turns out that you have to pay for it, then there are some wonderful free antivirus options available. There's absolutely no reason to pay for an antivirus program.

I suggest checking out AVG and Avast! There are one or two others, but I don't know their names off the top of my head.

I will never get AVG again. I will check out Avast though.

 

[cwa107]

I will never get AVG again. I will check out Avast though.

May I ask why? I've been running AVG on all of my Windows machines with no problems for quite some time. In particular, I like it on older machines since it has prioritization that will run it in low-priority to avoid slowing down a system.

Avast is a bit bloated and CPU intensive. It has no qualms about consuming system resources. I watched it bring an older, clean Dell Inspiron 4100 that was basically a fresh install of XP to its knees.

 

[eric06]

May I ask why? I've been running AVG on all of my Windows machines with no problems for quite some time. In particular, I like it on older machines since it has prioritization that will run it in low-priority to avoid slowing down a system.

Avast is a bit bloated and CPU intensive. It has no qualms about consuming system resources. I watched it bring an older, clean Dell Inspiron 4100 that was basically a fresh install of XP to its knees.

I had it on a old computer and I got a virus once and it told me 24/7 you have a virus but it would never clean it or get rid of it like McAfee and Norton do, so I had to buy McAfee to get rid of the virus. I also has it installed temporary on my HP laptop after I got it back from the repair center and once again it told me I had a virus but never stepped up and got rid of it.

 

[cwa107]

I had it on a old computer and I got a virus once and it told me 24/7 you have a virus but it would never clean it or get rid of it like McAfee and Norton do, so I had to buy McAfee to get rid of the virus. I also has it installed temporary on my HP laptop after I got it back from the repair center and once again it told me I had a virus but never stepped up and got rid of it.

That's funny - the reason I switched to AVG was because I had been a Norton Systemworks devotee back in the days before they went over to product activation (which I hate, so I voted with my wallet). Anyway, I encountered the exact same situation as you except that Norton simply wouldn't remove the virus. I tried everything, and then someone suggested AVG which I hadn't ever heard of at the time. Smooth sailing after that and since then, I've been hooked (you can't beat the price either)

 

[ToddG]

Anything in your Parallels Shared Folder is accessible by Windows. That means that if you catch a virus that wants to start deleting files, Windows (through Parallels) will be able to delete anything in your Shared Folder.

There are two things you can do to protect yourself.

1. Don't put anything in your Shared Folder that you're afraid to lose. For the record, I violate this because my entire /documents folder is part of my Parallels Shared Folder

2. Don't use your Parallels installation to web browse or open emails or run any programs that you think might possibly infect you with a virus. Right now, I use Parallels for exactly one thing: accessing my employer's ActiveX-based webmail.

edited to add:

A lot of this also depends on which drag-and-drop settings you're using. I have global/local drag-and-drop options disabled. So if I drag a file from OS X to Windows/Parallels, it just appears on the Windows desktop as a copy. Windows/Parallels still can't actually write, delete, or otherwise manipulate the original file.

And after I typed this post, I went into Parallels and changed my Shared Folder so it no longer has access to my entire /documents file. That was just dumb. :ninja:

 

[eric06]

That's funny - the reason I switched to AVG was because I had been a Norton Systemworks devotee back in the days before they went over to product activation (which I hate, so I voted with my wallet). Anyway, I encountered the exact same situation as you except that Norton simply wouldn't remove the virus. I tried everything, and then someone suggested AVG which I hadn't ever heard of at the time. Smooth sailing after that and since then, I've been hooked (you can't beat the price either)

All goes back to personal preference.

 

[eric06]

Anything in your Parallels Shared Folder is accessible by Windows. That means that if you catch a virus that wants to start deleting files, Windows (through Parallels) will be able to delete anything in your Shared Folder.

There are two things you can do to protect yourself.

1. Don't put anything in your Shared Folder that you're afraid to lose. For the record, I violate this because my entire /documents folder is part of my Parallels Shared Folder

2. Don't use your Parallels installation to web browse or open emails or run any programs that you think might possibly infect you with a virus. Right now, I use Parallels for exactly one thing: accessing my employer's ActiveX-based webmail.

edited to add:

A lot of this also depends on which drag-and-drop settings you're using. I have global/local drag-and-drop options disabled. So if I drag a file from OS X to Windows/Parallels, it just appears on the Windows desktop as a copy. Windows/Parallels still can't actually write, delete, or otherwise manipulate the original file.

And after I typed this post, I went into Parallels and changed my Shared Folder so it no longer has access to my entire /documents file. That was just dumb. :ninja:

I don't plan on putting much in the shared folder, because all my music and docs will be on the Mac side.

Edited to add: I will have Word and Excel files though until the office 2008 comes out.

 

[eric06]

Does Parallels not like OEM Windows CDs?

It won't move past the boot from cd screen.

 

[cwa107]

Does Parallels not like OEM Windows CDs?

It won't move past the boot from cd screen.

It must be a non-branded OEM CD (for system builders) and it must have SP2 integrated (AKA slipstreamed) into the disc. Restore CDs from major PC manufacturers like Dell/Gateway/Acer/Compaq/HP will not work. It must have the Microsoft/Windows holographic logo on it or be a burnt copy of one with SP2 integrated. Also, it can not have been installed on any other machine in order to activate.