As I understand it, Vista has a more secure firewall than WinXP. So,
running within a virtual machine, if the WinXP system gets infected,
or broken into from the internet, the Vista system and all its related
program files can't be accessed by the intruder. The only thing that
could be affected is the WinXP system and a network that's directly
connected to it. Do I understand that right?

------------------------------

On Wed, 28 Feb 2007 10:10:53 -0800, Malke <notreally@invalid.invalid>
wrote:

>kjk wrote:
>> If WinXP is running as a VirtualPC within Vista, what degree of
>> internet security does it have . . . WinXP security, or Vista
>> security?
>>
>It has exactly the same degree of security it would have if it were
>running on a standalone box. Your virtual machines are *real* operating
>systems and need to be protected exactly as you would protect them on a
>standalone box. The only difference is that if your virtual OS gets
>infected you can just delete the virtual machine. HOWEVER, please be
>aware that if your virtual OS is networked and it gets infected by a
>network-aware worm, all your other computers on that network are in
>danger - just like they would be if the OS were installed on a separate
>physical computer connected to your network.
>
>Malke