Do I need to install an anti-virus software in Virtual XP Mode?

Layback Bear · 16 Oct 2011

My understanding is that if you share anything from VM to your computer you can get infected. I would use MSE on the VM.

C32C3 · 16 Oct 2011

Layback Bear said:

My understanding is that if you share anything from VM to your computer you can get infected. I would use MSE on the VM.

I am a bit concerned that using MSE in VM would conflict with KIS on my host computer.

I am not familiar with VM's. I think of it as two hdd's with different OS's on each. If that is an accurate example then having MSE on the VM and KIS on the host machine should not present any problems of conflict.

What are your thoughts on that?

Corazon · 16 Oct 2011

Actually you can think of it as two different computers, each with their own HD and OS. :)

So no, there should be no conflict between MSE and KIS just as there is obviously no conflict between the two
operating systems running in tandem.

Layback Bear · 16 Oct 2011

My understanding their should be no problem.

Kari · 17 Oct 2011

Corazon said:

I wouldn't worry too much about running an antivirus inside a virtual machine actually, since your real system is already protected. That said, you could install a different (free) antivirus if you really want to, it doesn't have to be the same product - alternatively you can simply disable the security warning in XP.

I have some difficulties to understand this statement. A virtual machine is like any other computer, a physical or a virtual one. So, this is almost the same than saying (modified your statement a bit):

I wouldn't worry too much about running an antivirus on your other computers actually, since your main system is already protected.

Of course there are different opinions on the importance of AV-protection and Firewall. Some people do not use any, some try to set their computers up as tightly protected as Fort Knox. Me, personally I like to stay on the safe side, using Microsoft Security Essentials and Windows Firewall on every rig I have, on real physical ones as well as on virtual machines. This combination gives quite a comprehensive protection, at least I have been satisfied and never had any infection problems.

Because a virtual machine acts and behaves like any other individual computer on your network, it does not have to have the same AV-protection than other computers but it needs some (personal opinion, as mentioned above). You can have Norton on XP Mode, Avira on your main rig, MSE on a Windows Vista virtual machine and so on.

Kari

pooly1 · 16 May 2012

You could just use Microsoft security essentials, it is free and is worth it if you are worried

amflores · 02 Jun 2012

....... alternatively you can simply disable the security warning in XP.

How do I disable this annoying baloon "Your system may be at risk" on VirtualBox?

Flores

cyclic · 02 Jun 2012

I can't seem to find a tutorial here for that, so I suggest reading this from how to geek

If there is one of our own tutorials please let me know, anyone.

amflores · 03 Jun 2012

.... so I suggest reading this from how to geek

Hello cyclic,

It worked.
Thanks.

Flores

DeaconFrost · 04 Jun 2012

I run MSE in all of my VMs that run Windows client OSes. I'm not sure why someone would think there's a conflict between that and the AV on the host. That would defeat the very purpose of virtualizing.