Windows virus: Can a Mac be infected by a Windows virus?

I'd get an infected system off my network pronto. There are rare instances when possibly it could affect both, albeit very rare. However, if you are running a windows VM on your mac, it could potentially make it in that way. However it may still only infect the windows portion.

Just saying, I would personally, get that system, off my network, rebuilt, and/or fixed. Losing personal information is a bigger problem than which PC is infected.

There are rare instances when possibly it could affect both, albeit very rare.

Can you give us some examples of these rare instances?

Basically, a windows virus cannot affect a Mac unless it has Windows installed.

Csound1 wrote:

Genexodous wrote:

I'd get an infected system off my network pronto. There are rare instances when possibly it could affect both, albeit very rare.

That is nonsense.

There are rare instances when possibly it could affect both, albeit very rare.

Can you give us some examples of these rare instances?

Basically, a windows virus cannot affect a Mac unless it has Windows installed.

I do not want to start any type of arguments or debates on a thread attempting to help a fellow user out (Not to mention voiding ToU for these forums). I will respond once. In the past 10 years hundreds of concept viruses are put in to place and tested, that in attempt and with some success not affect different operating systems per say, however, they affect hardware. i.e. CPU. Some of these "Concept" Viruses have been able to even take low level control of a system. "Albeit Very Rare". Sums it up perfectly. While in all likelihood not possible, in testing and rare instances, this "COULD" happen. All systems are vulnerable. So can a windows virus affect a mac? Probably not, could a virus designated at the lower level operations of the computer find it's way in through a vulnerability or vm, absolutely.

Carry on.

In the future, could someone create a Windows virus that can infect a Mac running OSX???

Depends on how it's written.

1) If it's written specifically as Windows malware (virus, Trojan, worm), then absolutely, 100% no. Nor will it ever happen. Compiled apps are written for the intended OS. Malware written for Windows cannot in any way run directly under OS X any more than any other Windows app can. Nor will a Windows virus run in Linux. It's the same reason you can't copy a Mac app to Windows and expect it to run. It doesn't matter they all run on Intel CPUs. Each app has to be written and compiled for the specific OS it's intended for, and that's the only OS it will run under.

2) Java attacks can run under both, since Java is, and has always been intended as a write once, run under many programming language. Someone managed to do that once to the Mac OS a couple of years ago by having the attack run from a web browser with Java enabled (not JavaScript, which is completely different, despite the very similar name). Any up to date system has long been patched against it. By default, Java is now disabled in Safari, and most other browsers. Very, very few sites need it on in order to function. Also by default, Java is no longer even installed in OS X. You have to go out of your way to install it, and then only if you have a specific need to install it in the first place.

No.

Genexodous wrote:

I'd get an infected system off my network pronto. There are rare instances when possibly it could affect both, albeit very rare.

That is nonsense.

OK, so you can't provide even a single example. OP please take note of that.

Bye

All of which is a lot of waffle to try and disguise this:

So can a windows virus affect a mac? Probably not,

or the complete opposite of what he said above.

FUD.