Guest OS security and Privacy

Now that my plotter problems are solved I am concerned with the guest OS (XP Home SP2) security and privacy. I think I am right that my Win7 anti virus will not protect my XP. I tried to download AVG free through XP but it said I couldn't download the file. The alternative is to download to Win7 and copy to the XP. I use ESET in Win7 but am up to the 3-user limit. I unplug my router cable to disable my internet connection when using XP.

What suggestions does anyone have so I don't have to unplug the cable every time I use the guest OS?

Hi there

as far as XP is concerned there's not much you can do on it SO LONG AS YOU DON'T CONNECT IT TO THE INTERNET. Use on a LAN by all means to share files or simply use share with LOCAL HOST ONLY if you just want to print files etc with the plotter or even set Networking to NONE..

Set the networking on the VM to HOST ONLY or if you are in real paranoid mode simply from the VM settings just disconnect the Virtual network adapter !!!! "Seeeemples !!!!!!".

In fact a machine used this way will be FAR MORE SECURE than in XP MODE. !!!

If you need Interenet access on the VM say for email (Outlook express) that's OK so long as you don't use a browser or download anything on the XP system.

Cheers
jimbo

Hi Jimbo,

Once again you have come to my aid. I set the VM to host only but as I am new to virtual machines I'm not sure how to carry out "Use on a LAN by all means to share files or simply use share with LOCAL HOST ONLY if you just want to print files etc with the plotter or even set Networking to NONE.."
Are thee settings in XP or the host (Win 7)? The only things I will use XP for are to run a couple of programs AutoCAD 2000 and Borland's Dbase 5.0 and to send ACAD drawings to the plotter. For the internet, downloading and e-mail, I will use Win7.

Thanks
Frank

If you're ever in Canada I'll buy you a beer or if I ever get to Iceland I'll buy you whatever you drink over there.

Hi there

You set Networking in the VM configuration. ==>settings.

Set Sharing on the HOST HDD's you want to allow the XP machine to see. Same on the XP machine set the HDD (from within the VM by windows explorer (properties) against the HDD you want to allow the HOST to see.

Ensure the HOST (Windows 7) is set in the network properties (on the HOST) to allow it to be seen on the network.

Then from either W7 or within the XP VM click on Networking and you should see the disks that can be shared between the machines.

HOST ONLY networking isolates the VM from any other machine you might have on the LAN but allows file sharing between the HOST and the VM. If you don't need it -- you don't have to use it but it might be easier to save your data on the HOST and then use the applications in the VM to read the data files.

Cheers
jimbo

Thanks again Jimbo,
I think the information you have given here will solve my problems. When I have a few minutes, I will try that out and mark this thread solved.

I e-mailed ESET and they said that even though I have reached my three user limit I can still use another installation on the VM and gave me instructions on how to proceed.

Frank