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Thread ID: 107935 2010-03-08 05:32:00 Virtual machine and Host anti-virus nedkelly (9059) Press F1
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864882 2010-03-08 05:32:00 I was using one of my virtual machines today and was wondering if my host machine has anti-virus does my virtual machine need it as well? nedkelly (9059)
864883 2010-03-08 06:02:00 Some say yes, some say no (www.google.co.nz). Altho it looks like a VM can get infected, but it probably wouldnt infect the main system. If it does, just start all over again Speedy Gonzales (78)
864884 2010-03-08 06:07:00 I was using one of my virtual machines today and was wondering if my host machine has anti-virus does my virtual machine need it as well?

Yes.


... it probably wouldnt infect the main system. If it does, just start all over again

Depending on how your guest VM is set up for networking, it could spread malware to your host machine (or other unprotected machines on your network), as for all intents and purposes, it would just be configured another machine on the network.
somebody (208)
864885 2010-03-08 19:52:00 It's an independent OS so needs its own AV.

Same for OS Updates.
Chilling_Silence (9)
864886 2010-03-08 21:29:00 If you were restoring from a known safe saved state and using it once a week then its highly unlikely.

If however you were using it to find serials, warez etc then it will be infected sooner or later.
pkm (13527)
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