Frequently Asked Mac OS X Leopard Question: The Virus Question

Doesn't running Windows on my Mac mean that I'll be exposed to the nightmare world of viruses and spyware, just like the rest of the Windows world?

As a matter of fact, yes.

If you install Windows on your Mac, you should also install Windows antivirus and antispyware software to protect that half of the computer. The world is crawling with commercial programs that do the job; ironically, one of the easiest and least expensive is Microsoft's OneCare Live ($50 a year for up to three computers). There are also lots of free programs, like Microsoft Defender for spyware, and either AVG Antivirus (www.free.grisoft.com) or Avast Antivirus (www.avast.com) for viruses.

The good news is even if your Windows installation gets infected, the Mac side of your computer is unaffected. Just as Mac OS X can't run Windows-only software like, say, Dragon NaturallySpeaking, so it can't run Windows virus software.

Some people, therefore, run Windows naked--without virus protection (especially when using Windows-in-a-window programs like Parallels and VMWare Fusion). If a virus does strike, no big deal; they drag the infected copy of Windows to the Trash and just install a fresh one!