I'm not knocking your choice, but I'm a little surprised by it. Was the problem of the failed Win 7 update not worth solving? Did you consider a dual-boot instead of the emulator (which I assume is WINE)? KDE is the graphic desktop environment (as opposed to GNOME or other options). We still don't know which distro you are using. I've used ClamAV but can't say of my own knowledge if its useful or not. Its never found anything noteworthy but I wouldn't expect it to since I make every effort to avoid virus-malware problems. It is slow and reviews I have read on it were mediocre at best. I tried Avast for Linux for a few weeks but then uninstalled it. After a few scans it failed to update and I decided not to bother with it. I think it may have had a conflict with Ubuntu, but not sure of that. I suppose I would try it again if there was a need to.

Claims to have had his Linux gateway hacked by someone using an "SSH over an unusual port number". It's like shooting yourself in the butt ... hard to do and you have to do several foolish things in a row. He would have to have had an ssh server installed, which most Linux distros don't do by default unless you select "set me up a server" from your install options. I just checked, and I have a client, but not the server. He would have had to have deliberately configured to answer requests on unusual port numbers instead of silently ignoring them. The default ports are what you get on a vanilla install. It would have to be answering SSH requests over the Internet, not sitting behind a router, unless that router was also deliberately configured to allow unusual port numbers. ========= To check, open your Software manager or Synaptic and look for openssh ... if it's not installed it can't be hacked.

"Multi-platform attacks are rare, but they represent a considerable evolution to be considered. Multi-platform malware represents a great evolution for cyber crime because they provide the opportunity for an attacker to infect a greater number of machines. The mechanism is simple: Using a JAR, the malware is able to identify the OS and then download the right files to infect the targeted machine. After identifying the type of operating system a unit is running, a Java class file will download the appropriate malware, with the purpose to open a backdoor to allow remote access to the machine. This isn't the first multi-platform malware detected. In 2010 for example the Boonana malware was detected which also used a malicious Java applet to spread itself. Malware of this type will increase in number in coming months, and no platform is immune, so it is desirable that internet users are aware of the threat and take appropriate precautions. A backdoor trojan differs from a trojan in that it also opens a backdoor to your system. They're also sometimes call Remote Access Trojans (RAT). These are the most widespread and also the most dangerous type of trojan. They are so dangerous because the have the potential to allow remote adminstration of your system. As if a hacker were sitting at your keyboard, only worse. There's almost no limit to what they can do. Some common uses: 1 Use your system and Internet connection to send spam (yes, the majority of spam is now generated by infected systems). 2 Steal your online and offline passwords, credit card numbers, address, phone number, and other information stored on your computer that could be used for identity theft, or other financial fraud. 3 Log your activity, read email, view and download contents of documents, pictures, videos and other private data. 4 Use your computer and Internet connection, in conjunction with others to launch Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Modify system files, disable antivirus, delete files, change system settings, to cover tracks, or just to wreak havoc. Backdoor:W32/GetShell.A is the Windows-specific payload of Trojan-Downloader:Java/GetShell.A, a malicious Java applet that detects your OS and installs an appropriate type of backdoor Trojan. Backdoor:W32/GetShell.A is responsible for the same dangers that are common to most backdoor Trojans, including opening up your PC to unwanted control by third parties, disabling or reducing your computers security features and, potentially, downloading additional PC threats or stealing private information. Keep your Computer up dated, practice safe surfing habits as always.. Joe

My knowledge of virtual machines is very limited, but I'll give it a go. With your approach, you're using a linux "box" which is much less susceptable to intrusion. Less susceptible, yes, but not completely safe. You're presumably doing so with no antivirus running in the virtual machine instance. It's true that there's some protection if the virtual instance can't write to the hard drive, and everything goes away when the virtual instance is closed There is malware that can be harmless on one machine but then seek out vulnerable nodes on the network. That could be your Win machine, still running and still connected to the network while you're using the virtual linux PC as an additional node on your network. Again, my knowledge is limited but your approach seems like bulky overkill to me. If you spend your time on reliable sites and you have a strong antivirus/anti intruder running, the precaution is unnecessary. If you're paranoid about internet risks, just use linux for surfing. I think your halfway approach is a false security, you'd probably be better off either entirely with linux and antivirus, or with Win (OSC?) and antivirus.