I guess since this is a utility made for mac it should be reliable... But i want to know if theres any risk. I have plenty of harddrive space and ive heard that even viruses to the partition dont affect the mac. Is there anything else i should know?
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.4)
There is always a risk if your running Windows on a Mac, more so in Bootcamp as it has complete access to the hardware.
Just because most Windows malware is for Windows doesn't mean some will be made to also attack the Mac side.
Many Windows in Bootcamp users have come here and have some sort of trouble they can't boot the Mac side anymore, like something happened to it. (outside of firmware forgetting about OS X)
Unix file permissions don't mean squat if OS X isn't running. All Windows needs is MacDrive installed and it can read or altr OS X side files, so can malware.
If you don't need full hardware performance, you might want to consider a virtual machine and run Windows in OS X itself. The benefit here is you can revert Windows to a earlier "snapshot" in seconds, update Windows only from a totally clean copy so you never get malware.
There is always a risk if your running Windows on a Mac, more so in Bootcamp as it has complete access to the hardware.
Just because most Windows malware is for Windows doesn't mean some will be made to also attack the Mac side.
Many Windows in Bootcamp users have come here and have some sort of trouble they can't boot the Mac side anymore, like something happened to it. (outside of firmware forgetting about OS X)
Unix file permissions don't mean squat if OS X isn't running. All Windows needs is MacDrive installed and it can read or altr OS X side files, so can malware.
If you don't need full hardware performance, you might want to consider a virtual machine and run Windows in OS X itself. The benefit here is you can revert Windows to a earlier "snapshot" in seconds, update Windows only from a totally clean copy so you never get malware.
It is relatively safe. Kind of. As ds store said, Bootcamp = total access to the system. Be careful when using the internet, since that's where a lot of viruses originate from.
There is a dual option, install Windows 7 (only can do 7) into Bootcamp, then install VMFusion or Parallels (payware virtual machine software) and it can copy the Bootcamp partition into a Windows virtual machine file in OS X.
This way you use Bootcamp Windows for the hardware performance needs only, keep if offline (except for updates) install the free Microsoft Security Essentials it should remain relatively clean. No files in, no surfing or email, it should stay almost virgin.
With the VM Windows you save a snapshot of the first copied Bootcamped version, then use a copy and use that online, only updating or installing software onto a reverted earleir version..
Anytime you get malware you can revert back to one of the snapshots. I maintain 3-4 versions of each Windows version myself, so I can go back months or years at a time, before the malware struck. Some are very sneaky and take a long time to discover.
Also I run XP, Vista, Win 7, Win 8 and various Linux versions all in VM's.
I used Boot Camp very smoothly for six years, when Apple first came out with Boot Camp for Intel machines. Now, on my new MacBook Pro, I run Parallels Desktop. I like it much better as I can interact with my Mac and still use Windows software (the only things I use are Office 2010, Adobe LiveCycle Designer (not available on Mac's) and Adobe Acrobat Pro X.
I've found Parallels to be a snap to setup and use. I'd give it a try before doing a Boot Camp configuration.
Just my 2¢...
Clinton
I have 15'' 2011 MacBook Pro that USED to run VMWare. It just STINKS! It would always crash on my Macbook Pro and on my 2009 iMac.
Boot camp has been living on both my macs ever since then and it works wonders. I have had it on the iMac for two and a half years ond on the MacBook Pro for a few months and have never had ONE hardware or sofware fail. Not even to force close a application. I had to do that every few minutes in VMWare. Using a Windows emulator like VMWare or Parallels is a mess... Bootcamp works great.
Bootcamp does have access to all of your system files so if you do use it be careful when using the internet because Windows is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO... vulnerable to viruses. And if your computer gets sick, all of your Mac OS X files are corrupted aswell. A emulator is just as vulnerable and will have the same effects. Keep in mind as they both are running windows and they both have access to all your files.
I would use Bootcamp because 1.) It is FREE! 2.) It has a more stable platform than VMWare or Parallels that doesnt crash often if at all. 3.) Because it is just plain AWESOME!!
Overall, I would use Bootcamp.It's safe and secure as long as you dont download any malware or spyware.
I hope this helps 0 0
U
PIEDUDE ----
I agree about VMWare - I bought it first and had nothing but trouble with it. However, I've had no problems with Parallels at all. It's nice to be able to create a form in LiveCycle Designer and put it in my LiveCycle folder in my Documents folder. I actually have two licensed copies of Parallels - one that I bought from the developer and another that came in a $50 MacUpdate 'bundle' that they pitch annually.
No, Parallels (unlike Boot Camp) is not free. But it works wonderfully.
Clinton
Thank you for the excellent education from everybody. I usually trust apple things, but since i love my computer too much, i think i will take the advice of running a Virtual Machine. Thank you for the link that pursuaded and educated me! I think ill be happier knowing that my Mac will be a little safer.
I think its fairly safe I have been using it since they put out the beta of bootcamp. I have never had any problems with my macs getting infected on windows at all, and os x never was destroyed even if I did manage to get one. Not saying that its not going to happen, but it's not very likely it will.
also i run bootcamp on my current machine and love it.
Is using boot camp to have Windows safe?
