“When you run a virtual machine in Virtual PC for Mac, the operating system that is installed on the virtual machine may be vulnerable to attacks by Windows-based viruses if the virtual machine is configured to connect to the Internet directly through Virtual Switch networking. In Virtual Switch networking mode, the Windows operating system directly connects to the Internet. As a result, it may be vulnerable to attacks from Windows-based viruses and other malicious programs,” Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 828574 states.
“If the Windows operating system is connecting to the Internet by using Shared Networking, it is in fact connecting through the Macintosh operating system and the Macintosh networking connections. This type of connection can help protect your operating system from network-based virus attacks. However, your [Windows virtual computer] may still be vulnerable to virus attacks through e-mail messages. Microsoft recommends that you use an antivirus program to scan all your incoming e-mail messages,” Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 828574 states.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Funny! Microsoft is basically stating that Mac OS X is secure and it can shield Windows’ inherent insecurity from the Internet. Seems like the safest way to run Windows is on your Mac!
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Is Mac OS X really inherently more secure than Windows? – August 26, 2003
BusinessWeek’s Haddad gets it wrong; thinks low market share spares Macs from viruses – August 28, 2003
Shattering the Mac OS X ‘security through obscurity’ myth – August 28, 2003
Fortune columnist: ‘get a Mac’ to thwart viruses; right answer for the wrong reasons – September 02, 2003
Wall Street Journal’s Mossberg on making the switch from Windows to Mac – September 18, 2003
New York Times: Mac OS X ‘much more secure than Windows XP’ – September 18, 2003
Columnist tries the ‘security through obscurity’ myth to defend Windows vs. Macs on virus front – October 1, 2003
Gates: Windows ‘by far the most secure’ system; tries to use ‘Mac OS X secure through obscurity’ myth – January 27, 2004
Mac OS X has no viruses; what’s wrong with Windows? – February 11, 2004
SmartMoney: Long-suffering Windows users can only dare to dream of Mac’s ease-of-use – February 12, 2004
Spyware, adware plague Windows users online; Mac OS X users surf freely – April 19, 2004
Gartner: Worms jack up the total cost of Microsoft Windows – May 07, 2004
Windows ‘Scob’ virus designed to steal financial data, passwords; Macintosh unaffected – June 26, 2004
Tired of patching patches to patch Windows patches? Writer suggests getting a Mac – August 03, 2004
Mossberg: Dump your Windows machine and get an Apple Macintosh to free yourself of spyware – August 25, 2004
Millions of Windows PC’s hijacked by hackers, turned into zombies; Macintosh unaffected – September 08, 2004
Security is top priority in Apple’s Mac OS X – September 12, 2004
Windows XP worm speaks to users as it deletes their files; Macintosh unaffected – September 13, 2004
University of Chicago recommends all students patch Windows at least once a day – September 14, 2004
USA Today columinst angry about Windows viruses, adware, spyware – September 15, 2004
Windows besieged by hackers; number of Windows viruses soars by more than 400% – September 20, 2004
USA Today: people are switching from Windows to Mac because of security issues – September 21, 2004
Mossberg: Apple iMac G5 ‘powerful, affordable, virus-free with better, more modern OS than Windows XP’ – September 23, 2004
Information Security Investigator says switch from Windows to Mac OS X for security – September 24, 2004
Cyber-security adviser uses Apple Macintosh to avoid Windows’ security woes – September 27, 2004
Even Bill Gates can’t avoid Windows malware; Mac users surf the Web freely – October 03, 2004
Windows desktop monopoly threatened by secure, safe Apple Mac OS X – October 04, 2004
Windows users’ security woes spark interest in Apple’s secure Mac OS X – October 06, 2004
Awesome Mac OS X is Service Pack 3
This is rich!
How can we explain this to the world? I wonder if Drudge would be interested?
Well, this is not news in the sense that it is “new” and heretofore not known. However, words cannot describe how ironic this must be for MS to admit.
Wondering which one will be the proverbial “straw?”
zac
The same is true if you’re running Virtual PC for Windows. When using Shared Internet Connection the host computer acts as a router for the virtual machine. This particular issue is agnostic with regards to a Mac vs PC argument. I rest easy in the knowledge that someone will correct me if I’m wrong. =) I must confess, however, that I was unaware of the vulnerability when in Virtual Switch mode. Yikes! =(
Awesome. At least MS is acknowledging their own limitations. Kinda like using the PPC in the Xbox 2 and using Macs for games design
So if I have a win box on my LAN, should I use an OSX box to act as the router, or proxy server for it?
Yeah, it’s also the slowest way to run Windows.
Why sacrifice either speed or security when you can have both with a Mac running OS X?
It’s agnostic to a certain extent, but you’d have to be running VPC on a PC that was securely set up in the first place for it to be OK in shared mode. That’s a big assumption.
That’s like saying, “PCs are secure, you just have to set them up right”, when, in fact it’s arguably impossible to do so because it takes longer to download the patches than it does to get infected.
“Words cannot describe how ironic this must be for MS to admit”
At least they admit things…
Apple Support Sucks…..
They rely on the public to support their proprietary OS…
Yesterday, I called apple on an issue ive been having with a G5 not picking up on its 2nd processor.
Apple: Hello, thanks for calling apple care, my I have your name please.
Me: Snagglepuss
Apple: thank you for that, do you have a open ticket to refer your call to today?
Me: No
Apple: Do you have a warranty or did you buy an applecare package.
Me: No,its supposed to come with them because we buy about 300 systems a year from you guys.
Apple: What is the serial number for the machine your calling in reference to?
Me: Gave serial.
Apple: I show that this machine is out of warranty so therefore I cannot provide Applecare for it.
Me: Really? I just bought it less than a month ago, and the 90 day support period is already up?
What did you guys start the 90 days when it was in YOUR warehouse?
Apple: No
Me: Well then why cant I have support.
Apple: You need to take it to a certified apple support specialist…
Me: I just bought the machine. Do you guys relize that I buy so much from you but the support I receive on your products suck? I buy tons from dell, And they give me support for 3 years for free.
Apple: You need to take it to a certified apple support specialist…
Me: I dont understand why you cannot support a product that you just sold me, why is the warranty up on the system?
Apple: All I know is the serial you gave me shows the warranty was up in may…Take it to an apple specialist and they will be able to help.
Me: You suck…Click
So you see, I bought this machine in September, but the warranty was up in May….That is bullshit…
At least dell sells me a crappy machine and supports the crappy thing until 3 years later…
MS Is the same way, i have no problems getting support from them, Although i’ve never had to call them for windows or office support.
Well you won’t get anywhere with that attitude.
Yeah, whatever
“PCs are secure, you just have to set them up right”, when, in fact it’s arguably impossible to do so because it takes longer to download the patches than it does to get infected.
You wont get anywhere with that attitude either.
Still no viruses, malware, spyware, etc after 10 yrs of using windows…
I have to run VPC for one small proprietary app that I demo, and it needs to have Access installed. Basically I have Windows, Office and the app installed on my PB. Not as fast as it could be, but works well for me.
The funny thing I have found is that Windows is more stable on a Mac than it is on a Dell!
Why would a company buy 300 Macs and then still buy from Dell?
Well you must know how to set them up right. Good for you. This Windows security stuff must all be nonsense becasue Snagglepuss doesn’t have a problem. Applecare must be 5hit because Snagglepuss had a problem.
Now in this instance, of course Applecare were 5hit, but it really doesn’t seem like you gave them much of a chance. This is just a call centre person you spoke to, working off a script. You need to sweet talk them. If you get aggressive, then BZZT! thanks for playing!
“Still no viruses, malware, spyware, etc after 10 yrs of using windows…”
Wow, this is even better than what Bill Gate’s experiences on his PC! You could become filthy rich by publishing a book how to run Windows without adverse effects. Why don�t you do this?
Even Microsoft is unaware of your amazing talents and technological wizardry. Have you applied for a job with Microsoft? You could be Times Man of the Year, at least, if not savior of Microsoft!
Are you willing to divulge these tips and techniques? Hmm, will these same techniques work on Longhorn? Are these techniques 64-bit compatible? Are you sure that there will be no conflicts with WinFS?
If you can�t disclose to the world these secrets I will assume that you are a lying, Mac envying, mama�s boy.
Either his computer in in the basement with no internet connection or he has not looked for anything. Ignorance is bliss.
Why would anyone spend money on a mac and then buy virtual pc to run windows on it? It does not make sense to open up a beautiful machine to viruses and malware.
Please leave the mac pure and unsoiled.
snagglepuss
I don’t know too many 486 computers running windows 3.1 that are very fuctional. What do you run on that box? Must be one awsome chess game.
The safest way to run windows on your mac is DON’T BOTHER!!
Why use a crap OS when you can use the revolutionary OS X!!
Every Apple computer that has Windows installed in it through Virtual PC becomes a Windows PC. Therefore, your beloved Apple computer will statistically be counted as a PC running Windows, wich technically increases Microsoft’s market share.
It’s a dangerous tradeoff. “Where do you wanna go today?”
I actually had good experience with AppleCare. I have a 12� PowerBook that is a couple months out of warranty that needed a new motherboard (the onboard memory went bad). I was aggressive, but polite and Apple replaced the motherboard for FREE! ZERO dollars! Zilch!
Some of us have to run Virtual PC in order to be able to use Macs in our work!!!!!
It’s either that or buy a PC!
Do you get that?
Many of us do not have the luxury of choosing!
We run our Macs as much as we can, even at times when our Windows users at work give us crap.
We do NOT need it from you!
Above Eric says (in regard to purchasing Virtual PC), “…your beloved Apple computer will statistically be counted as a PC running Windows, wich technically increases Microsoft’s market share.”
My reply: I’m sure Apple would be more than happy for people to migrate from their current Wintel box to a Macintosh running Virtual PC.
Everybody running Windows on Apple Os X!
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AAPL $1000 anybody?
I am buying AAPL as much as I can at the moment =)
I�ve been waiting this moment to happen for the past 4 years (since the Os X was introduced). Now it is happening finally! Everybody confeses what we have known all this time.. Windows sucks and Os X rocks! Wintel dinosaurus is dying. Long live mammals and Apple! =)
Now all we need is that SOB Bush to be beaten by Kerry.