Hello,

Does "Portable Ubuntu" run separate from Windows? Point being, would I be vulnerable to Windows based trojans if I ran Firefox from Portable Ubuntu on Windows?

Sorry for the silly question. I'm trying to get a better understanding of what and how its actually running.

Thanks.

That depends on how you define "separate". "Portable Ubuntu" ("PU" hereafter) only runs because of coLinux ('colinux-daemon.exe'), some services (winpcap, TAP driver), a few registry entries, a patched Linux kernel ('vmlinux') and a (CLOOP?) image, all files residing on an accessible mcrsft file system. Regardless of how you define "separate" PU at least depends on the host OS.


Apart from the coLinux binaries, registry entries, Linux kernel and file system image residing on the host OS unprotected, introducing files unchecked from PU via SCP, COFS, Samba in the host OS could cause contamination indirectly. The Linux kernel, its OS subsystems and its userland applications however are not vulnerable to malware that target mcrsft vulnerabilities specifically. Be aware that running PU does not equal running Linux all by itself and that Linux has its own set of problems.


Then there is no beter place to start than the coLinux Wiki, the coLinux source code and the coLinux mailing lists.

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