Do You Really Need Antivirus Software?

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After reading the first few paragraphs of this editorial on the need for antivirus software, I’ve decided that I like the way this guy thinks.

But first, let me rant a bit. It’s no secret that I dislike the security software industry. In one of my very first posts here, nearly four years ago, I called it a “protection racket” and said, “I can already see the beginnings of an ‘arms war’ among security software companies, with ads and whisper campaigns based on fear.” Back in 2005, I wrote a post arguing, “The security software industry wants you to be afraid.”
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Run without AV software and someday you'll likely be bring your PC to someboday like me to "fix" lol
 
I'm wondering how long it takes for this thread to reach 10 pages with arguments about safe computing. :D
 
I've never had an anti virus but maybe once a year i'll get hit and I need a reformat. Been going strong for a long while now. I use firefox and 'No Script' addon which disables pretty much every chance on getting a virus entering and unknown site.
 
Maybe, maybe not. Like condoms, and seat belts, using AV software just makes sense. But just like condoms don't guarantee you will not catch a virus, and seat belts don't guarantee you will survive an accident, AV software is no guarantee your PC will not be infected.
 
I only use it when I need to. Or if I can remove the virus/rootkit on my own. Common Sense is the best anti-virus.
 
Kangg said:
Run without AV software and someday you'll likely be bring your PC to someboday like me to "fix" lol
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silly.
i have built myself countless computers over the last 20 years. not one has ever had silly AV installed and none have ever been infected. sure i run an ad killer or malwarebytes every once in a while, but there is no need for silly on-access scanning and memory hogging on a gaming PC.

dont surf for porn and suspicious downloads. its not that hard...
 
I haven't used AV for years and I've been just fine. AV software probably slowed down my computer more than a virus would, haha. Just don't download stupid shit and you'll be fine.
 
I haven't used anti-virus since I built my first computer years ago. I've had less problems not using one. I like to reformat more than the average person too though so even if I was to get a virus it ain't no thang.
 
I've went months with no AV, and my PC was still spotless
but it doesnt hurt to have one, especially with MSE
 
I run Kaspersky and have for years and use it to make sure I'm ok. Does not slow my box down enough to notice and I might to have just that little added protection.

I am safe on my searching and everything just i'm happy with it.

And since i get it for free, I'll use it.
 
Seriously. So it protects me AFTER I know there's a problem that's potentially infected my system. And it may decide that benign files like ntoskernel are malicious and delete--I'm sorry "quarantine" them.

And why would I pay for this again?

As an earlier poster said, MSE is a cheap safety net for Windows users that I run on all of my Windows boxes. If I need to go somewhere sketchy or naughty, fire up Ubuntu in VMware Workstation or Player and hit the site or service through that.

At the end of the day, if someone is targetting me, they'll leverage one of countless undisclosed vulnerabilities in my phone, computer, alarm system, etc. All I can do is keep the script kiddies off my back.
 
people still use AV? Wow! I've been an avid PC gamer and user for more than I can remember and have never used AV.
 
I use it, have done since around 2000 when CPUs reached a point when AV didnt grind it to a halt.

However, there is a little logic. I can count on one hand the number of times since 2000 that my AV software has flagged up an issue.

So for me the chances of picking something up come on average once in every 2 or so years.

The only virus I see folks get are the driveby fake AV ones. So maybe I could run with no AV and if and when I see the fake AV thing pop up I could plug the HDD into my stunt machine and scan/clean it that way.

Buuuuuuut to be honest its no pain to just run MS Security Essentials and forget about it.

I love the idea of restricted accounts on Windows 7 but in my experience the two types are -

Admin and fully open or Restricted to buggery and no use to even the basic user.

MS need to create a midway user account.
 
I used AV software in the early 90's for a couple years... after I realized that suspect sites and downloads were the culprit behind viruses.

I've been going on ~18+ years now with no AV, and I think it's downright silly to run on personal computers. I have my parents run it (for obvious reasons) but for anyone who is remotely tech savvy, it seems a total waste of resources.
 
Kangg said:
Run without AV software and someday you'll likely be bring your PC to someboday like me to "fix" lol
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Most users get infected now by running code from a website. They also get infected before there is a definition. I have played this cat and mouse crap for years at work. I keep an up to date image of each workstation and just run MSE. It works as well or better than the other bloaty crap.
 
Yep, I used to not run AV. Especially when they only upgraded the virus data files once in a blue moon. Now that they have up to the minute virus info updates, I think it's worth it. Especially when I'm browsing the web and mistakenly type a URL and end up on some infected landing site.

But I have to agree with some of the others that have posted to this thread, per file scanning whenever an executable is run is overkill.
 
Screw all AV stuff except MSE, MSE is free and low overhead. After many years of being AV free, I've started using MSE just because its there.
 
I've been going on ~18+ years now with no AV, and I think it's downright silly to run on personal computers. I have my parents run it (for obvious reasons) but for anyone who is remotely tech savvy, it seems a total waste of resources.
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BS - every time there's a new PHP vulnerability, another wave of sites gets hacked and there's nothing a "tech savvy" person can do to stop an unpatched exploit in their browser or OS.
 
LeviathanZERO said:
silly.
i have built myself countless computers over the last 20 years. not one has ever had silly AV installed and none have ever been infected. sure i run an ad killer or malwarebytes every once in a while, but there is no need for silly on-access scanning and memory hogging on a gaming PC.

dont surf for porn and suspicious downloads. its not that hard...
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This is the biggest problem with this logic. If you dont use AV software how do you know you have never been infected?

I dont know if you have been living in a hole for the last 10 years but the resource usage of modern AV programs is next to nothing.

With some safe browsing you can live without an AV until the next blaster worm comes around then you will be the first to go down in flames.
 
I've never had a virus. If it wasn't for MSE I wouldn't be running antivirus other than the occasional scan. My girlfriends computer got a hit with MSE when she plugged her work USB drive into it. The place she works runs commercial AV.
 
Short answer: NO, just don't be stupid and visit sketchy, unknown websites and links you don't know.

And don't read stupid ass emails....

There, you're 99.99% safe from viruses.
 
Been years since I used an AV.

I usually reinstall windows about once every 2 years, haven't had any issues I didnt remove myself.
It's a bit amazing how much people lean on AV software assuming it offers protection.

It doesn't. You'll normally get hit before your AV even picks it up. UAC far surpasses any AV released.


The achillies heel of modern security is IE. Use chrome or firefox and your chances of getting anything drops significantly.
 
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVI said:
He mentioned how in his post. There are other solutions besides full time AV.
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Thats just it... If he is so confident why use an on demand scanner? Full time AV programs take less than 10 megs of memory his reasoning is just plain stupid.

Its not 1996 anymore theres no reason NOT to use an AV of some sort (MSE ;)) they take so little resources it simply dont affect gaming anymore.

Resources usage is no longer a reason to not use an AV so what other reason is there?
 
I run AV, but I don't buy the "suites."

I think MSFT has done a decent job with their security suite and malware killer deployment via WU. It's free, and they have a vested interest in keeping it current: less infections means lower support costs for them and their partners.

AV software is like internet porn: if you pay for it you're doing it wrong.
 
As I mentioned 99% of the infections that my customers get are the driveby fake AV ones.

But as they are updated daily its almost impossible for the average user to stop them. The folks all have decent AV installed but the drivebys still get through.
 
i'm a bit surprised that some ppl don't run AV ( i use mse btw). While i normally don't care since common sense goes a long way, some friends and/or family may not have that. When they transfer something to your computer via USB or something.. that's when u know u need one...
 
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