Safe Luxury

How safe are home networks?

Is a home network safe? Will my computer get a virus? I currently have a wireless router (home network) hookup for my 2 Macbooks. I think it's through the WAP connection. However, my dad wants me to add his computer to the network, he has an older Dell Inspiron (running Windows XP). I hate to say it, but he's pretty clueless with electronics and whenever he's had a PC he's managed to get several viruses (even with a lot of virus and spyware protection). If he does end up getting a virus or spyware junk while he's on the home network, will it travel to my computers?

Public Comments

1. doubt it, viruses don't normally travel from computer to computer. Some worms do, but even so from a computer to computer on a LAN is rare. Also there is the fact that the macbooks work off a different platform then windows. I have not yet seen a virus that is truly cross-platform yet.
2. Based on my experience, I would say they are pretty unsafe. But most type of networks usually are. You need to take precautions as to how you are going to maintain this network. That would include regular updates to your virus protection software, enabled on-access software scans and scheduled spyware and malware scans.