Windows 10: Virtual Machines/Virus Software

Sure, an AV program on both the host and the guest is useful and workable. they are 2 independent systems. If the VM guest is a Windows system, it is highly recommended to install an AV program. If it is a Linux system, I would say it's optional.

I run all my Linux guests without an AV program. But whenever I transfer data from the Linux guest to the Windows host, I first scan that data with malware scanners - usually Virus Total.

On nice thing about a VMware Player guest system is that it is really only a folder on the host system. That folder is easy to copy as a backup - no need for images. Dumping a possible infected system and recovering with the backup is a matter of a few clicks.

 

I was simply reinforcing your statement. *Smile

I actually run a different AV program on my VMs, than I do on my Real OS.

If your new clean VM is small enough, you can burn the copy to a write-once optical disc.

 

Thank you. Very useful.

Since they are 2 completely different systems, that is no problem.

I guess you can do that, especially if you have Blue Ray. But I would recommend an external disk or a large USB flash drive.

 

Thank you whs. Now I understand that one can have a VM with it's own security programs and they can be different programs from the host programs.

So if I'm understanding correctly a VM can have any level of security one chooses to install. That is good.
I do understand that one still must be careful of what they do and how because anything can get infected if the user doesn't use good practices.

 

I have been thinking. Don't run off it's not that bad.

If a computer person does their normal proper security practices of making sure the Host and VM are clean of infection their should be no problem transferring things back and forth.

If the person sitting in that nice chair behind the keyboard doesn't do their job it doesn't much matter if its a VM or any other kind of network/domain, Home Group, Work Group. If that chair sitter doesn't do their due diligent and kept up with proper security practices moving infected files around is always going to be a problem no matter what the set up is. I'm thinking a VM can be as secure as any other set up if it done properly.

Can we get a
Hell Yes and agree on that.

 

The problem is that you are not always aware of an infection - especially coming with stuff you downloaded from the web. A proper scanning of downloaded files is always recommended.

 

Since they are 2 completely different systems, that is no problem. I knew that they wouldn't clash. *Smile

I'm hoping that using two different AV engines/programs provides extra protection.
Downloads can be scanned by the VM and then by my Real PC.

I guess you can do that, especially if you have Blue Ray. But I would recommend an external disk or a large USB flash drive. I read an article recently that suggested some new malware has been created and it can find VM files on your PC and damage/infect them (I'm not sure how).

If your Master Copy is on "Read-Only" storage it should be safe. *Smile