xp mode using NAT

magma · 08 Jun 2011

Hi,

I am setting up my laptop to run some pro audio apps and I would like to avoid using internet security software on my host computer to avoid conflicts. Instead I would like to use VM with XPmode to do all my internet surfing. I am wondering how secure it is when you are running xp mode using the NAT setting in VM. It seems I have to be connected to the internet on the host side to be able to connect in the VM with XP Mode. Does having my internet connection active on my host computer make me vulnerable to viruses or attacks? Is there a way to configure the VM so I don't have to be connected on the host side? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Darician · 09 Jun 2011

Running it with a NAT isolates it from the host network into its own network so that's a good thing. It wouldn't necessarily be any more secure to browse inside the VM with the only advantage being that if it gets hosed, you can delete it and start anew while being to save some of your work from the existing VM and not compromise your host OS. But it wouldn't be any more secure than browsing on your host as the guest is running XP and unless you plan on running some AV software within XP Mode, then XP leaves a far more open door than does Windows 7. As far as being able to configure the VM without being connected on the host side, that would not work as XP Mode depends on your host to access the internet and if the host cannot access the internet, then the guest will not be able to either.

magma · 10 Jun 2011

Thanks for your response Darician. What I am wondering more specifically is whether by having the internet connected in my host active with no security while I am using the VM to browse the net will my host system be vulnerable to an attack.

Darician · 10 Jun 2011

Theoretically it is vulnerable but with most home class routers providing built-in firewalls plus Windows Firewall and Windows Defender built-in and the fact that Windows 7 is more secure out of the box than XP ever was, you should not experience any issues with the host provided you don't do any internet browsing on it.