5 ways to protect your Mac from Windows

Thanks to the innovative technologies that allow users of Intel based Macs to run Windows, we now possess an amazing opportunity to have the best of both worlds. And the worst...

As in real-life, living on the edge of the tracks on the wrong side of town (whew, metaphor overload...that reads like a BonJovi lyric.) has it's downside.

Viruses, spyware, malware, trojans, worms, ActiveX and more can turn your $2000 Mac into a lump of shiny plastic that does nothing more than taunt you and question your parentage.

To protect your Mac from the nasty stuff that can be found on Windows computers, there are a few ways to go. In this article, we'll recap some of the obvious and not-so-obvious methods you can use to make your Mac run Windows safely and smoothly.

Don't run Windows on your Mac

Ok, sure that sounds smarmy and sarcastic, but think about it. Do you really need to run Windows on your Mac? Can you get by with using Remote Desktop, a web client or a Mac application instead? Does your need to play a game or two equal the risk to your work, music, movies and other documents?

Take a moment and weigh out the pros and cons of your particular situation.

Do you need to use Windows for a specific application, such as Microsoft OutlookClick here to purchase or ProjectClick here to purchase? Can you use an alternative program, such as Entourage or Apple Mail (both support Exchange, IMAP and POP connections, though admittedly not as seamlessly as Outlook), or perhaps a compatible Mac project manager such as Steelray, OmniPlan or Intellisys?

Does your company offer web based Outlook or Project access? Although Mac browsers don't support ActiveX controls (which is both good and bad), many web based apps offer at minimum a modicum of basic functionality for these browsers.

Many times the cost of a third party Mac application is substantially lower than the cost of a Windows license for the same program, or for a VM app such as ParallelsClick here to purchase or VMWare, or even the TCO of supporting a new Windows installation (ask your IT guy which costs more to support!).

Use BootCamp, not a virtual machine

By using BootCamp instead of a virtual machine (such as ParallelsClick here to purchase or VMWare), you can take advantage of what is actually a weakness in Windows (depending on your viewpoint, of course. Some may see it as a Mac flaw, but not we, the loyal!).

The flaw: Windows can not read a Macintosh partition without the assistance of third party software, such as MacDriveClick here to purchase. By using BootCamp, you've got built-in protection of your Mac partition by virtue of this particular non-feature. Since Windows can't access the partition, viruses and malware can't touch the files on that partition. Kind of an 'ignorance is bliss' thing...

However, there are a couple of caveats to this:

  • If you access Windows files from your Mac, and execute a Mac shell script or app from the Windows folder, it is possible it can cause damage to your Macs filesystem. This is, however, more of a social issue than anything, as you as the user have to actually launch a Mac compatible program, and then allow it to execute.
  • A Windows virus CAN remove entire partitions or filesystems. This is rare, but a clever virus can run a script that will clear an entire partition table from a hard drive, which causes you to lose all data on that drive. Again, this is not a common issue, but be aware that this possibility exists.

Run an app, not an OS

There is currently a project underway called CrossOverClick here to purchase (based on the age-old WINE project) that allows you to run specific Windows applications inside what it refers to as 'bottles'.

This approach allows you to run Windows-only applications separately from a full OS installation. There are some downsides (for instance, the aforementioned Outlook doesn't work with Exchange connections), but if you simply need to run one or two Windows applications and keep your Mac safe in the interim, Crossover is a potential solution.

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  • Just look at it in a practical way: if I want to test ma Webpages, created on my Mac, it's very usefull to test it via Parallels with InternetExplorer - it's just a shortcut. I don't need to install Networks, boot a noisy PC an switch keyboards etc. Just one machine for everything. As long as Windows Apps behave different than others there's no other way than testin your Code in Windows. I don't have to use e-Mail or other things - so it prevents me from getting a worm or virus.
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