Windows 7 and XP mode AV?

Hagar

Hagar

Hagar

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Does windows XP mode need to have its own AV and security software installed before using email, internet?

I am running it with windows 7 firewall and avira AV setup. I do not necessarily want to have an additional layer of security unless it is necessary and would turn off the notifications in XP mode.

I am using it for coding with Visual studio.NET 2003 which does not like 7. I will be downloading code fragments etc.

All comments welcomed and points to look out for using XP mode.

cheers, andy.
 
I would say if you are going to be using XP mode for web browsing then you should give it appropriate security.

I havent actually used XP mode but I assume its just like any other VM system. If that is the case I dont normally bother with my VMs but I treat them as disposable. I rarely use one for more than a day at a time so just start with a fresh install each time. If I was using it as a perminant tool I'd probably put AV on there.

There are a couple of reports of damage to the host system being caused by a VM, I cant remember if it was just a theory or if there was an actual proof of concept/implimentation.

Personally I wouldnt let my VM out onto the net and just use it for Visual Studios.
 
J.B said:
I would say if you are going to be using XP mode for web browsing then you should give it appropriate security.

I havent actually used XP mode but I assume its just like any other VM system. If that is the case I dont normally bother with my VMs but I treat them as disposable. I rarely use one for more than a day at a time so just start with a fresh install each time. If I was using it as a perminant tool I'd probably put AV on there.

There are a couple of reports of damage to the host system being caused by a VM, I cant remember if it was just a theory or if there was an actual proof of concept/implimentation.

Personally I wouldnt let my VM out onto the net and just use it for Visual Studios.
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I've rolled out VM to a few Win7 machines now and all have been fine except for one machine in which network connectivity on the host took a serious hit.. Couldn't ever find out why, had to re-image as removing VM didn't reverse... So yes there is a little risk. Probably a BIOS update later to fix on this particular machine... I tried it twice and both times same problem.

As for security I agree, look at VM as disposable.. If you don't then yes you will need to install all those extra layers of security.
 
Ideally you should treat a VM as just another box, so yes to everything security wise if you're going to be storing info/entering important login details on it.

If you're just using it to tinker around with VS.net, then I wouldn't bother. I don't.
 
theheyes said:
If you're just using it to tinker around with VS.net, then I wouldn't bother. I don't.
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I think you've hit the nail on the head there. It depends what you will be doing in VS. If this is your career and your lively hood then you should certainly treat it like a valuable machine. If this is your hobby and you are just tinkering about then its probably not too much of an issuse.

For the sake of enabling windows firewall and downloading MSE, Avast etc its probably not worth the risk of leaving it unprotected.
 
I have just put avira av on.

It is a hobby and I create programs for fun, but as said it is better to do this, I was originally thinking that the VM would be protected by the host operating system.
 
Temi_D said:
I'd say its a must. I use it and have MSE installed on it
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I don't bother. I use it pretty much solely for scanning so its unlikely that and malicious code to get to it - and even if it did, I'm not fussed to restoring the VM from the original.
 
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