How do windows viruses install on a mac?

I have read online that generally mac users dont need to worry about viruses for the mac, but we do need to be aware of window viruses and passing those on to windows users.
How exactly would that occur though? As far as I know Macs have completely different file extensions and I don't see how a windows virus would be able to recognize where it is and then execute itself to go off to another computer unless I actually sent it as an attachement in IM or email someway.
Anyone care to enlighten me on how the virus is passed between systems?

A virus is simply code, and while it cannot run on your Mac, the embedded code can be transferred to any computer.
It is not a matter of your Mac sending the virus along as it would not do so automatically. If I am using Windows and send you a file containing a virus, you would be able to receive it without being affected by it. If you in turn forwarded that same file to a Windows user, it would then be able to be run and do its damage.
Think of a Mac like a a "carrier" of an illness. Same concept.

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