Safe browsing/downloading in a PC DAW - can two separate...

[alexis]

"... Can two separate "places" be "quarantined" from each other for safety? "


I didn't use the words, "Separate Partitions", or "Dual Boot", because though I've looked them up I'm not sure I completely understand what they are, so didn't want to confuse the issue ...

But what I'm wondering is, in a new potential PC tower or laptop, is there a way to "quarantine" a general use area (email, downloads, browsing, etc.) from the DAW portion so that even if the worst case scenario happens and the general use partition is brought down by a virus/trojan/evil-thing-of-the-month, the DAW can still hum along like nothing has happened?

The reason I ask is that my main home computer is looking like it's going to die soon, so I'm hoping maybe I can buy one computer and safely use it for DAW work AND general use.

Thanks!

[Steve Fogal]

Until someone else answers, I believe a 'dual boot' is an option of what you'd want to isolate those above mentions. Also there are 'User' profiles as well that can be created, which I believe they also isolate...not sure as much of isolation as a dual boot gives.

I used to do a dual boot for a long time. It was kind of a hastle, so you have to ask yourself if it's worth it. When I was raising a family, we created user profiles on the family machine...every user has their own custom 'Desk Top'.

A 'Partition' as far as I know, is only a way of separating area's of your hard drive(s) or dividing hard a drive into sections, so that they 'appear' as separate physical drives (but they're not), each with their own assigned drive letters. But I don't see this as 'isolation'.

Personally, I just use a separate machine for anything internet. You can't better isolation than that.

[alexis]

Until someone else answers, I believe a 'dual boot' is an option of what you'd want to isolate those above mentions. Also there are 'User' profiles as well that can be created, which I believe they also isolate...not sure as much of isolation as a dual boot gives.

I used to do a dual boot for a long time. It was kind of a hastle, so you have to ask yourself if it's worth it. When I was raising a family, we created user profiles on the family machine...every user has their own custom 'Desk Top'.

A 'Partition' as far as I know, is only a way of separating area's of your hard drive(s) or dividing hard a drive into sections, so that they 'appear' as separate physical drives (but they're not), each with their own assigned drive letters. But I don't see this as 'isolation'.

Personally, I just use a separate machine for anything internet. You can't better isolation than that.

Hey, thanks for that Steve.

My DAW is almost an internet virgin after 8 years, but my home computer, even older, gave me a BSOD the other day, so I figure it's a sign it needs replaced. So, I was thinking about killing two birds with one stone, and combining a "civilian" computer with a DAW.

Don't mind the hassle of a dual boot, if it saves me the price of one machine!

I'll go look up dual boot ...

Thanks -

[Jarno]

How about running "general use" system in a virtual machine (like Sun's VirtualBox)?

[alexis]

How about running "general use" system in a virtual machine (like Sun's VirtualBox)?

Thanks, Jarno! I have been looking at what I think is one of those, http://raincomputers.com/rainzone/ . It sounds reasonable, though I **think** the weak link is when one downloads files, as they have to be stored on the real machine.

[Steve Fogal]

Regardless of your choice of using one computer for both internet & music....If your older machine is half way decent, and just for internet it probably is, I would fix it...just a thought

My preference is to use a small laptop or smart phone for internet in my music room. Though many here use one machine for both tasks & say it's not a problem. Being I have 5 desktops & 2 laptops, there's no reason to connect my music machines to the net.

[Yutaka]

I think W7 is very safe, if you :

- don't use Internet Explorer.
- don't install Java.
- don't use email client program and use something like Gmail. (don't download local copies of e-mails)
- use Firefox and block ads, popups, and redirection
- check where the links are taking you in status bar before clicking every time.
- don't open attachments from guys you don't know.
- don't download and install free software that would install some "extras". (You can google and see if the installer may do something weird before downloading.)
- read up on what's updated in monthly windows updates, and install as necessary.
- use legit software.
- use page previews for Google search results before actually clicking on the links.

I have been using my W7 x64 PC just like I used to use my Macs in the past, and I really don't see any reason to fear internet. I use 64bit Firefox Nightly as well - nobody would bother to exploit something with such a small user base. I do have MS Security Essentials on my machine just in case, but I think Firefox and Gmail pretty much blocks anything bad from happening.

My DAW is connected 24/7. DPC latency @ idle hovers around 15-20 micro seconds on my machine. I've thought about dual booting my machine before I assembled it, but I really don't see the need after 2 years of constant use.

If you really think it's necessary, you might as well go Linux for the general use partition. W7 & W8 are said to be more secure than OS X, though, and I seriously doubt that you need to worry about viruses like on XP.

[Jarno]

I think W7 is very safe, if you :
[...]
W7 & W8 are said to be more secure than OS X, though, and I seriously doubt that you need to worry about viruses like on XP.

Even XP is very safe if you follow your suggestions.