VARs Mull Windows On Mac Attack

Intel-based Mac users to install and run Windows XP

Mac users haven't had to deal with the endless stream of viruses, Trojan horses and other malware that are familiar to Windows users, and solution providers said they'll take steps to warn customers about the heightened risk.

Although most of his clients are aware of the various pitfalls of Windows security, Scott Schaefer, president of Techknowsphere, New York, expects that some customers that do choose to run Windows on their Macs will encounter problems.

"My personal opinion is that anyone who voluntarily runs Windows when they have a Mac machine is a little bit insane," said Schaefer.

However, Schaefer admits there are certain scenarios in which running Windows on a Mac could be useful, particularly on the support side with applications such as Visio.

"Visio is a great application that has no equivalent in the Mac world, but it's only for computer support, not for the average user," Schaefer said.

Ed Crelin, president and CEO of MacInsight, an Apple partner in Wallingford, Vt., is curious about the possibility of Windows-based rootkits affecting OS X operations. A rootkit is a type of malware that attackers install underneath the OS and can allow a wide range of hidden activities, including installation of hidden files and interception of network data and keystrokes.

Apple posted a message on its web site warning Intel Mac users of the potential dangers of running Windows: "Word to the Wise: Windows running on a Mac is like Windows running on a PC. That means it'll be subject to the same attacks that plague the Windows world. So be sure to keep it updated with the latest Microsoft Windows security fixes."