Worrying about viruses on Windows 8 through bootcamp.

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Worrying about viruses on Windows 8 through bootcamp.

So im going to be installing Windows 8 on my Macbook Pro (Ill list the specs below) for games, as there just arent enough decent games for OS X. As the topic states, im going to be using Bootcamp. Ive done my research on how to do it, im well informed on the subject, and im confident I will be able to do it easily. Im not one of those idiots that says Macs cant get viruses, as I completely understand the real reason why there are less viruses on Mac than on Windows. What im worried about is a possible virus on the Windows side of the computer, and it affecting the OS X side. Is this possible? Say I accidentally contract a virus that basically turns my computer into a block of metal. Will it only be the Windows part of the computer? Or will the entire computer be screwed? I doubt ill be getting a virus, im very careful. Im just wondering. Because of the price, I will not be able to replace this Mac, so I need to know that I wont ruin it just to play some games.

2 GHz Intel Quad-Core i7

8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3

Intel Iris Pro 1024 MB

OS X 10.9.2

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Mar 28, 2014 11:57 PM

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Answer 1

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thomas_r.

Level 7

31,989 points

Mar 29, 2014 2:28 AM in response to Jay_mon

A Windows virus is utterly unable to infect the Mac. If the Windows system has any kind of write access to the Mac partition (I'm not sure whether Boot Camp allows that kind of access or not), it would be possible for a Windows virus to damage the data on the Mac partition, but not infect it. Keep good backups to make sure data loss isn't a big deal.

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Answer 2

Rudegar

Level 10

170,880 points

Mar 29, 2014 2:41 AM in response to Jay_mon

ìnstall ms's free virus scanner program if you havent

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Answer 3

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Mar 29, 2014 2:43 AM in response to thomas_r.

Boot Camp does not allow write access (from Windows to OS X) without some 3rd party helper.

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Answer 4

thomas_r.

Level 7

31,989 points

Mar 29, 2014 2:55 AM in response to Csound1

Good to know.

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Answer 5

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Mar 29, 2014 3:07 AM in response to Rudegar

Rudegar wrote:

ìnstall ms's free virus scanner program if you havent

MSSE (Security Essentials Windows 7) or MS Defender (Windows 8) come pre-installed.

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Answer 6

Jay_mon Author

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Mar 29, 2014 4:07 AM in response to Jay_mon

Thanks for the answers guys, ill probably install AVG. I have it for the OS X and I like it.

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Answer 7

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Mar 29, 2014 4:18 AM in response to Jay_mon

There is no need to install AVG, it's junk (especially on OS X) and Windows includes its own A/V software (which is better than AVG)

Spend your time removing AVG from your Mac partition rather than adding it to Windows.

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Answer 8

thomas_r.

Level 7

31,989 points

Mar 29, 2014 4:54 AM in response to Jay_mon

Just to back up Csound1, see the results of my Mac anti-virus testing 2014. AVG on the Mac only detected 61% of samples I threw at it. On the Mac, it's not what you want protecting you. I have no particular insight about it on Windows, and would defer to Csound1 there.

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Answer 9

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Mar 29, 2014 4:56 AM in response to thomas_r.

It's better (on a PC) but not as good (and far more intrusive) than MS's own A/V software, which is pre-installed and free.

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Answer 10

Rudegar

Level 10

170,880 points

Mar 29, 2014 6:22 AM in response to Csound1

if one refuse to use ms's one

then a free one which is popular is Avast

a paid one which is suppose to be good is Kaspersky

on osx the virus scanners are really more about trying to create a market then they are

something one needs to install

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Answer 11

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

Mar 29, 2014 6:27 AM in response to Rudegar

Rudegar wrote:

if one refuse to use ms's one

then a free one which is popular is Avast

It's mediocre

a paid one which is suppose to be good is Kaspersky

It's awful

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Answer 12

thomas_r.

Level 7

31,989 points

Mar 29, 2014 6:44 AM in response to Rudegar

on osx the virus scanners are really more about trying to create a market then they are

something one needs to install

Not really. That's simply a common myth, often spread even by high-level members here. We're getting a bit off the topic of malware on Windows in Boot Camp, though, so for those who are also concerned with protecting their Macs from malware, see my Mac Malware Guide.

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