parallels and spyware

[mac new guy]

If Windows on the Parallels side of my Mac has spyware, such as a keylogger, can it watch what I do on the mac side if I am not running parallels? In other words can it keep track of my MAC safari surfing habits if I am not running Parallels?
Thankyou for your response, this may be an obvious question but my name says it all.

BTW- I have ran a spyware scan on my Mac and it has come back clean, that is why I am asking about Parallels and windows software...

 

[Hugh Watkins]

standard good house keeping on WinXp is the same for any PC

ante virus << norton freebie from google tools
fire wall << windows - I don't know a good freebie


freebies

spybot search and destroy 1.4
ad-aware
Spywareblaster

while I write i have them scanning


also defrag and disk clean up utilities

delete internet files now and then too

Hugh W

 

[Souken C.Ingram]

If Windows on the Parallels side of my Mac has spyware, such as a keylogger, can it watch what I do on the mac side if I am not running parallels? In other words can it keep track of my MAC safari surfing habits if I am not running Parallels?
Thankyou for your response, this may be an obvious question but my name says it all.

No, you will be OK. However, any interaction between Windows and your Mac means its possible (but not currently probable) for something to poke around your Mac, and perhaps leave something there.

The easiest way to deal with spyware and such is to run Windows with a regular User account, not even Power User. If you detect a problem with the account, you can delete the account's profile withotu having to go through long, arduous spyware cleanouts or reinstall Windows.