[url=http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/vmware/baintro.php]Mike Healan @ SpywareInfo [/url] said:
....Even if - and this is a HUGE "if" - something does manage to exploit Firefox AND installs some malware AND the malware actually works on Linux AND it manages to elevate its privileges to the "root" (administrator) level, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
The virtual machine and the real machine are two separate computers. If, against all odds, the Browser Appliance becomes infected with something, just delete it and start over with a fresh copy. Nothing that happens to the Browser Appliance will have any effect on your real computer......