[Swordmaker]

Plus with the host/client integration these days, and that OS X can now natively read Boot Camp partitions, VMs could become an unexpected vector for stuff the can harm your Mac.

I think the key thing here is NOT to use your virtual Windows installation on your Mac for ANYTHING that interfaces with the Internet... do that from the Mac OSX side. Keep the Windows sand boxed, protected from harmful malware.

[Aliska]

Keep the Windows sand boxed, protected from harmful malware.

That's an excellent idea. How do you do that? I want it to work like my 2nd internal hard drive which is used for storage only. I suppose a virus could hop over if I save something infected off the web to it, but I NEVER load ANY apps on my 2nd internal hd.

I'm waiting to be able to afford Win 7 because the lady at apple thought it would be better than running all the XP updates since I got my pc in 2003. I hope it is compatible with my current Win only apps.

If I can button up the Win side of the Mac, I won't have to worry about AV, a bonus.

[NVDave]

For many financial applications, this is not an option.

The problem herein for Mac users is that too much financial s/w is not being ported to the Mac, which is why they’re running goddamned Windows in a VM in the first place.

[antiRepublicrat]

I think the key thing here is NOT to use your virtual Windows installation on your Mac for ANYTHING that interfaces with the Internet...

Sometimes you need it to do that, especially for updates. But there are things you can do to cut your exposure. I definitely don't do any regular surfing through the VMs.