Wine & MS Windows viruses
 

When I install Wine on my linux, I can use MS Windows softwares... but what's about windows viruses?

I've seen some work looking at Windows viruses running under Wine. Most commonly the virus would not execute or would not be able to find a necessary dll and would fail. In a few cases though, they got some level of functionality (a few subroutines would run) or were able to crash Wine. None of the viruses they looked at were able to infect or damage the Linux OS though.

Actually there is a web page covering WINE and virus compatibility. Short of the long is that most viruses are totally incompatible with WINE and those which are, don't do very much damage at [i]all[/]. Google for "WINE virus compatibility" and your first hit ( http://os.newsforge.com/article.pl?s...30222&from=rss ) is an excellent article on this very topic. :) You should read it - it's a great read - informative and entertaining.

So basically what they've done with Wine is a lower-rate-of-infection-Windows :)

Ha. That ought to hurt Microsoft, their own product is safer when run on another OS:)

EDIT: heh, that article was worth reading..

I'm using vmware server, and I don't have to save the changes I made to the virtual machine when I am done using Windows, elimating any viruses. I put windows in the best place, in a window. I also have the added security of Linux iptables firewall for everything that goes in and out of XP running in vmware server.

Use your computer wisely and even under Windows viruses aren't an issue. I have a Win2k box behind and intelligent firewall and it's been a good few years since I needed to reinstall it.