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Thread ID: 61604 2005-09-10 20:43:00 Virus Query kjaada (253) Press F1
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387363 2005-09-10 20:43:00 Is it possible for a Windows virus to sneak in when useing a duel boot system.
I use linux 99% of the time but have been warned to still run my XP AV once a day
to prevent passing on virus's ?Is it neccessary if I have not used XP dureing the day.?
kjaada (253)
387364 2005-09-10 21:27:00 If you haven't used XP, then you don't need to scan for viruses. Linux is not susceptible* to viruses, and if spyware/trojans/viruses are encountered while surfing the internet they cannot touch your Linux OS and therefore will not affect your Windows partition.

The only thing you have to be careful with is sharing files (whether from emails/removable media/downloaded) that are then saved to a Windows partition and not scanned before running/opening under Windows. If you received a infected email that your ISP email scanner hasn't detected, and then forward that infected email onto a user running Windows you will infected them (while remaining completely unaffected yourself).

You can get antivirus software for Linux that can be used to manually scan email attachments, but most ISP scan for viruses anyway. :)


*yes, there are a couple of viruses out there for Linux, but the chances of getting one and executing it is the same as being kicked to death by a giant duck.
Jen (38)
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