Red Falcon
[H]ard DCOTM December 2023
- Joined
- May 7, 2007
- Messages
- 12,449
If you are using Windows with no AV, I've got news for you...
![[H]ard|Forum](/styles/hardforum/xenforo/logo_dark.png){kind=logo}
Do I really need antivirus programs running?
- Thread starter Magix
- Start date
If you are using Windows with no AV, I've got news for you...
anti-virus is not necessary but some form of protection online is...my online browsing is done through a virtual sandbox so I don't use AV...the people shouting from the rooftops that no AV is amount to a disaster waiting to happen, I disagree
Red Falcon
[H]ard DCOTM December 2023
- Joined
- May 7, 2007
- Messages
- 12,449
It depends on what one is doing.
With what you are doing, you are totally fine.
But the majority of people on here are running their main OS and web browsers, with no sandbox/VM/snapshots/etc, and state that they are fine.
They are not.
In general, if an individual is using Windows outside of a sandbox environment, then yes, they absolutely should be using AV + anti-malware apps.
I agree but it also depends on the individual's browsing habits, how long they surf the net etc...you can probably get away with no AV if you stick to somewhat safe sites...there's a difference between getting infected with a virus and spyware...spyware doesn't have to be desctructive where it destroys your system or steals your personal info...it could just be tracking your online viewing habits etc
certain websites are safer then others (banking, retail shopping sites)...so if a person sticks with higher then normal rated sites then they are probably OK
Red Falcon
[H]ard DCOTM December 2023
- Joined
- May 7, 2007
- Messages
- 12,449
That's the problem, there is no such thing as a "safe site".
Even Google has been known to be occasionally laced with malware.
I'm sorry, but anyone who says stuff like this doesn't know squat about the potential security risks involved with web pages or how it can affect their system (assuming Windows OS).
No, they aren't, comments like this are just plain ignorant.
Also, how will the user know if the site is clean if they aren't running anything to detect the malware/spyware/virus/etc???
That makes zero sense.
It's the same as people who say "I've been using Windows and no AV for over a decade and I've never been infected".
Um, how would they even know they have or have not been infected without some kind of detection software at a minimum.
They've just been flying blind and never even realized that their system has been fucked for years, but because they haven't seen it in the GUI, then that means they've never been infected. lulz
If a user wants to run with no AV, then I highly suggest a Linux/UNIX distro.
If a user is running Windows outside of an enterprise environment (meaning at least one powerful hardware firewall), then they should at least be using AV + anti-malware + software firewall + hardware firewall.
Holy shit, the ignorance and general stupidity in this thread is just astounding.
That's the problem, there is no such thing as a "safe site".
Even Google has been known to be occasionally laced with malware.
I'm sorry, but anyone who says stuff like this doesn't know squat about the potential security risks involved with web pages or how it can affect their system (assuming Windows OS).
No, they aren't, comments like this are just plain ignorant.
Also, how will the user know if the site is clean if they aren't running anything to detect the malware/spyware/virus/etc???
That makes zero sense.
It's the same as people who say "I've been using Windows and no AV for over a decade and I've never been infected".
Um, how would they even know they have or have not been infected without some kind of detection software at a minimum.
They've just been flying blind and never even realized that their system has been fucked for years, but because they haven't seen it in the GUI, then that means they've never been infected. lulz
If a user wants to run with no AV, then I highly suggest a Linux/UNIX distro.
If a user is running Windows outside of an enterprise environment (meaning at least one powerful hardware firewall), then they should at least be using AV + anti-malware + software firewall + hardware firewall.
Holy shit, the ignorance and general stupidity in this thread is just astounding.
certain websites ARE safer...that is a fact...log into your banking website and transfer $$...are you telling me they don't use a highler level of encryption?...is purchasing something with a credit card online through Amazon the same as visiting a porn site?
I'm not saying not to use AV...I'm saying that in extreme situations you can get away without one...I use my router's firewall plus Sandboxie with no AV...is it 100% safe? no...is loading up with anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-malware etc 100% safe? No
when I said stick to safe sites I meant safe relative to known unsafe sites...plus like I said there is a big difference between a destructive virus and spyware
MindBuster
2[H]4U
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2002
- Messages
- 3,115
Holy shit, the ignorance and general stupidity in this thread is just astounding.
Naah, it's just you being paranoid.
This just in, McAfee is laying off some of their 7100 employees...
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1721461
Yep, I love going to Amazon and putting in my payment info, or going to my bank and entering my login credentials on a system with no AV...
Seriously? Those are the worst possible things you could be doing on a system with no protection. The most amazing encryption in the world running on the Amazon/bank server isn't going to mean a damned thing if you have a keylogger installed on your system and you don't know it.
Red Falcon
[H]ard DCOTM December 2023
- Joined
- May 7, 2007
- Messages
- 12,449
It's called a keylogger, noob.
Even the best encryption in the world isn't going to save your ass from what you input on your keyboard.
FFS, I bet you've been hacked dozens of times and don't even know it.
Like the others have stated, yeah, I'm going to enter in my bank/security info without AV, right.
No, in extreme situations, use Linux/UNIX distros or Windows+AV+Anti-Malware.
A sandbox that is already infected (again, you won't know for sure without AV) isn't going to save your login info from getting hacked or breached, it just prevents your main OS/system from getting hosed.
Your recommendations on "not all sites are dirty" is absolutely ignorant at best.
There have been so many accounts of banks and other "secure sites" getting hacked, and the individuals using them getting infected.
You beat me to it!
Last edited:
MrGuvernment
Fully [H]
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2004
- Messages
- 21,812
your main OS could still get hosed as many malware infections will search local networks to spread it's self around.
Just think, if it wasn't for people thinking they "browse safe" we wouldn't have jobs!
Just think, if it wasn't for people thinking they "browse safe" we wouldn't have jobs!
leeleatherwood
[H]ard|Gawd
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2011
- Messages
- 1,582
I used to never run Antivirus at all for many many years with no problems.
About a year ago I accidentally clicked on a fake download link at kickasstorrents and was instantly greeted with a nice virus/malware/whatever. Installed Avast and cleaned it right up.
Now I just run Avast, never finds anything so its kind of meh. If I was to reinstall windows I would not take the time to reinstall AV.
About a year ago I accidentally clicked on a fake download link at kickasstorrents and was instantly greeted with a nice virus/malware/whatever. Installed Avast and cleaned it right up.
Now I just run Avast, never finds anything so its kind of meh. If I was to reinstall windows I would not take the time to reinstall AV.
Red Falcon
[H]ard DCOTM December 2023
- Joined
- May 7, 2007
- Messages
- 12,449
Since the issue is exploits in render engines or javascript engines to gain access to the machine, a program should be run to keep the browser contained, not to have a program to continually scan your computer looking for a specific data signature since the point of failure is the browser.
It's like designing a complete bio-suit, when a condom can do the job.
It's like designing a complete bio-suit, when a condom can do the job.
Red Falcon
[H]ard DCOTM December 2023
- Joined
- May 7, 2007
- Messages
- 12,449
^ Or one can just use Linux.
wtburnette
2[H]4U
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2004
- Messages
- 3,580
Three words, infected ad banners. If you didn't see my previous post, I've been infected from the [H] and Arstechnica in the past. Considering I just read an article a couple days ago talking about exploits in routers being taken advantage of to send people to look alike banking sites, I don't even know if hardware firewall router, software firewall, AV and anti-malware is enough, but it's a darn site better then nothing. Even sandboxing your browser, as you're doing, may not prevent that type of exploit, since it's not installing anything.
To the OP the answer is yes you do. Really? pirate bay with no protection, looking forward to the post about "i got a virus".
nope...I'd say never...as I said I havn't used an AV for the last 1.5 years or so ever since I started using Sandboxie...when not using Sandboxie I always used Kaspersky AV but now don't feel the need for it...Sandboxie is my virus protection (plus router's firewall with WPA2)
I also frequently reformat my hard drive every 3-4 months as 'routine' maintenance
don't you have to click on the ad to get infected?...regardless why wouldn't sandboxing my browser prevent it?...I have Sandboxie automatically delete the contents of the sandbox every time I exit my browser...so shouldn't anything within that sandbox be erased?
RocketTech
2[H]4U
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2009
- Messages
- 2,359
Let me see if I can understand this- one of the big reasons AGAINST running Anti-Malware is it negatively impacts performance and reliability.
Soo... what kind of performance do you get while re-formatting your computer? What kind of FPS do you get watching the install progress bar?
I know how to re-build my car's engine- it doesn't mean I neglect maintenance and just plan on re-building every 6 months for top performance.
For me, needing to reformat every so often is the OPPOSITE of stability and reliability. If you aren't infected, why re-format? If it's stable, why wipe? If you are having constant stability issues, maybe you need to look at what else you are doing wrong.
If all you have to do all day is play games, then yeah, re-formatting your computer is no great stress in your schedule. For those that make a living on their hardware... re-formatting, wiping, even a fast recovery can be a pretty big stress.
If you are trying to pass yourself as some 1337 cognoscenti of computer security, you're doing it wrong.
Soo... what kind of performance do you get while re-formatting your computer? What kind of FPS do you get watching the install progress bar?
I know how to re-build my car's engine- it doesn't mean I neglect maintenance and just plan on re-building every 6 months for top performance.
For me, needing to reformat every so often is the OPPOSITE of stability and reliability. If you aren't infected, why re-format? If it's stable, why wipe? If you are having constant stability issues, maybe you need to look at what else you are doing wrong.
If all you have to do all day is play games, then yeah, re-formatting your computer is no great stress in your schedule. For those that make a living on their hardware... re-formatting, wiping, even a fast recovery can be a pretty big stress.
If you are trying to pass yourself as some 1337 cognoscenti of computer security, you're doing it wrong.
The problem is chances are your AV app doesn't know about it either. Antivirus is always playing from behind, that's why it's not the savior that some people in this thread are making it out to be.
RocketTech
2[H]4U
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2009
- Messages
- 2,359
Wrong- no one is saying A/V or A/M is a magic bullet- they are saying it is highly advisable. Read the whole thread and you will see many sugestions to use layers of security, rather than a single solution.
I don't think you will find any rational person on this board suggesting elimination of sandboxing, virtualizing, ASLR, execution disable, de-escalation of user running context, quickly applying critical updates, etc- or even occasional offline scans.
Its good to at the very least add another layer of security on your machine. Does is solve every issue no? is it 100 percent no? but it makes your computer that much harder vs another to infect with a juicy virus.
There are plenty of free choices that are good to use. MSE or Avast to name a few. Even with a fully patched windows 7 you can still get drive by downloads and rootkits. The part is that you think "nothing could infect me" is wrong. The best surfing "practices" in the world are not enough these days.
There are plenty of free choices that are good to use. MSE or Avast to name a few. Even with a fully patched windows 7 you can still get drive by downloads and rootkits. The part is that you think "nothing could infect me" is wrong. The best surfing "practices" in the world are not enough these days.
thedocta45
[H]ard|Gawd
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2007
- Messages
- 1,325
What is the point of this?
I just like to clean my system out every few months...a clean system with updated drivers, software, Windows Updates etc is always better then multiple driver updates on top of one another, new versions of programs on top of each other etc...even by 'uninstalling' older drivers, software etc there will always be remnants left behind...cleaning everything out (while backing up all my saved games and other important info) is no big deal and only takes a few hours which is worth it to me
is it necessary?...no...but it's good to do
firas
2[H]4U
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2006
- Messages
- 2,458
I used to say I don't need an antivirus in the past untill a virus corrupted most of my exe files. losing the OS was fine but that was long ago during the dialup days when downloading all types of software was cool and I lost most of them.
also used to do this during the XP days (same days mentioned above when I had tons of useless software installed) but I don't do it now. so what if an old driver left a dll file or a registry key? I make sure my OS drive space and background services is at minimum.
also used to do this during the XP days (same days mentioned above when I had tons of useless software installed) but I don't do it now. so what if an old driver left a dll file or a registry key? I make sure my OS drive space and background services is at minimum.
I have pfsense as stateful firewall with pfblocker blocking junk from IP's I don't need. I pay attention to what I am doing on the internet, don't visit too many off-the-wall sites, I use adblock and noscript on firefox, never touch IE, and have never had a problem with malware. It has never been like, oops all of the sudden I am infected with 50+ spyware, trojans, tracking cookies, adware FREAK OUT! No. Never happened to me. Even if it does big deal I guess. I've installed a program a time or two, and felt like it might have been something malicious, run a scan and taken care of the problem. Doesn't happen often at all. It doesn't even happen on the girlfriend's pc who is a LOT less technical than I am but still has enough common sense to avoid it. Antivirus/antimalware is for Mr & Ms Smith soccer mom & kids who need to be explained how to power cycle a modem on a support call and do not know the first thing about being safe online. (Or the grandparents) I run a scan periodically just to be safe, and then I uninstall it. One less thing I do not want running on my pc chewing up resources, potentially conflicting with other programs, or blocking things I do not want. Microsoft security essentials is excellent, and I do run that on my laptop because I often take that to other places and connect to other networks, and have had issues with younger kids using it and infecting it. I just don't NEED it though. Like, if it isn't raining, I don't need an umbrella. Or if I don't walk outside in the rain, I don't need an umbrella. Common sense goes a long, long way as far as this subject goes.
MrGuvernment
Fully [H]
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2004
- Messages
- 21,812
IE actually runs in sandbox mode FYI for those that still choose to claim IE is some garbage insecure crap, in fact wasn't IE running in sandbox mode even before Firefox started...
it is great if it is not raining, but it could just as easily turn cloudy and rain and your caught with no umbrella cause you assume it was going to be a nice day out.. just as people assume the sites "they" visit are somehow safe from all evil things
it is great if it is not raining, but it could just as easily turn cloudy and rain and your caught with no umbrella cause you assume it was going to be a nice day out.. just as people assume the sites "they" visit are somehow safe from all evil things
PornoSatan
2[H]4U
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2004
- Messages
- 3,493
From what I can see, there's two 'schools of thought' in terms of types of malware being created these days.
The first malware school is the older late 90s and early 2000s type where when a user visits a malicious site or gets hit by malicious ad banner it executes a file that installs tons and tons of random bloatware, spyware, crapware and nagware. This is the type that will change the wallpaper telling you your system is infected and that it has a solution. These are the most obvious because they directly let the user know something just happened. This is usually the type that makes a computer 'slow' and is the one most people recognize.
The newer school is that of the silent type that just runs in the background and doesn't take up many system resources. Keyloggers, rootkits and such. Modern botnets belong to this group also. You visit a site, nothing happens and then all of a sudden your game account is stolen and your credit card is used a few days or weeks later. This is the kind that a user has to be able to recognize himself or have an AV recognize for him. You can literally visit a site and not see a thing but be infected. It's no longer sufficient to just "browse safe sites" with all the cross site scripting, ads and shit going on these days. Whenever you go to site A you have to trust that B C D E F G sites are secure also because content is being ran from them as well.
Anyway, if you want to see both types in action for yourself on a test system (don't let it get out of hand), check out Malware Domains List and test some of the URLs. You sure as hell better keep the environment on lock down though, don't want that shit spreading. Talking an isolated test system or a secured VM. Actually, bad idea regardless, don't check them out. Though, I personally think they're interesting, and kind of keeping track of general malware trends and such is one reason I'm able to stay malware free without an AV. If you look at it right now, you'll see most malicious sites are using Blackhole Exploit Kit and Phoenix Exploit Kit, both of which just basically shotgun your browser and its addons with various types of Java, Quicktime, Acrobat exploits and such.
Last edited:
MrGuvernment
Fully [H]
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2004
- Messages
- 21,812
Good info to know, but i am sure those who swear AV is not needed will still claim they can "browse" safe
DreamBliss
Limp Gawd
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2005
- Messages
- 205
We share the same sort of setup and mindset I think. As long as you stay out of the porn sites and stick with reputable p2p sites like Pirate Bay and Share The Files you should be OK.
All you need is a simple anti-virus scanner, and it does not have to start with Windows. This is how my dad's computer, which I use, is set up. It's how I set up my own laptop before this, and a gaming computer I used before that.
I have as few items running with Windows as possible. I have all Remote Access type services off except for those required for internet usage. I do not allow any software I install to update automatically. Windows update and most of its security is off. I do not run a firewall. I have my hard drive partitioned, so in the rare case of a rare system failure (or virus attack - even rarer) I just restore an OS image and I loose no data. No automatic backups with Windows, no system restore.
I never run files I have downloaded with suspicious names (like setup.exe for example, unless I have downloaded some program from its creator's site and I know it's OK), and I scan all files before opening and running.
In something like 12 years I can count on one hand the number of virus crashes and issues I have experienced. I think I have had more hard drive crashes than virus attacks! It's just a matter of being smart and careful. Now there was an incident with an ad banner on a reputable site some years back that installed malware or something. But that is the only time having a virus program running may have been of some help for me. In 12 years that's not bad. I think I have just as good a chance at winning the lottery as encountering something like that again.
Ultimately its up to you. If you have partitioned your drives and segregated Windows, keeping a good backup just in case, then you can probably get away without running a virus program with Windows. All you will probably need is a scanner. But I am not a professional, just an experienced user. You have to make your own decision and you are responsible for whatever you decide.
- Deathbliss
wtburnette
2[H]4U
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2004
- Messages
- 3,580
You do not have to click on an infected ad banner, it will execute something as soon as the page and ad loads. I wasn't responding to the fact you are running in a sandbox, I was responding to this:
You're right that some sites are more secure then other sites. That does not mean that those same, more secure sites, can't be hacked or infected. Any site can be infected nowadays. That's the whole point of people like me saying that you need to run AV, or do like you do and sandbox everything. Running AV, along with using a firewall and doing active MW scans is pretty simple for anyone and everyone to do. Running everything in a sandbox works too, if you want to do that. I'm just saying that something needs to be done, that you can't just trust "knowing what sites are safe" and having "safe browsing habits" as there is no such thing anymore.
RocketTech
2[H]4U
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2009
- Messages
- 2,359
The common theme I am seeing is all the self-proclaimed experts advocating less security are all idiots.
You do realize the geniuses at Sony Online Entertainment had the same thought as you- 'Security Updates- DANGEROUS! We no like them, they make big heap problems!" Yeah, that was a smart decision. And just to be clear where this is leading...
Windows update and most of its security is off.
Because we all know the best security is no security, right? Windows has been the first to fall at the yearly Pwn2Own with it's constantly updated security, so why bother? Wait... it hasn't fallen? It took a deliberate download from a Flash site and ignoring the UAC warnings to Pwn the computer? Still, I think no security is much, much better.
In over 20 years, I've seen many, many examples of malware in daily use. I see them virtually every day, because I clean them up. I add a customer drive to my workstation, and usually first thing is an alert that the malware was found and killed.
I offer a malware clean-up service, with a lifetime garantee- do I tell them to NOT run anti-malware? No. I set them up as a non-root user, turn-on Windows Auto updates, and install MSE, as well as updating Reader, Flash, and Java. Is it 100%? No. Is it the best bet? Yes.
Wrong. As mentioned before, any site can be hacked, any site with ads can have malicious ads. The 'safest' sites are actually the biggest targets. Why are 'safe' sites so heavily protected? Because they are under the heaviest attack.
Do you have any credentials to backup your claims of experience? Industry wisdom says one thing, you say another... some credentials/experience would be in order. You once got to touch your Dad's laptop? You sound legit to me.
Remote access is off by default in all Windows OSes since XP, and I think even since W2K. Just what, exactly, are you turning off? Windows Vista and Windows 7 are pretty secure out of the box, so I'm somewhat curious as to what was missed.
Idiot. Full stop, no smiley. Ok, I'll say if you are talking about a sandboxed virtualized lab environement (VMs can still be part of a botnet) this is OK for research, otherwise- idiot.
You do realize the geniuses at Sony Online Entertainment had the same thought as you- 'Security Updates- DANGEROUS! We no like them, they make big heap problems!" Yeah, that was a smart decision. And just to be clear where this is leading...
Windows update and most of its security is off.
Because we all know the best security is no security, right? Windows has been the first to fall at the yearly Pwn2Own with it's constantly updated security, so why bother? Wait... it hasn't fallen? It took a deliberate download from a Flash site and ignoring the UAC warnings to Pwn the computer? Still, I think no security is much, much better.
A/V would be much, much faster if it only looked at file names and the site it was downloaded from. Actually, IE9 has this feature (that you probably turned-off) and is used as a first line of defense. So, did you turn this feature off in order to do it more slowly with less accuracy, or were you just not aware of this feature?
Ok, this quote is petty and out of context, but I'm a little bored and you did lob it out there...
Frankly, I don't recognize nor accept your experience. Nothing you have said so far lends any credence to accepting you as accomplished in Desktop Security, much less a sage or expert.
In over 20 years, I've seen many, many examples of malware in daily use. I see them virtually every day, because I clean them up. I add a customer drive to my workstation, and usually first thing is an alert that the malware was found and killed.
I offer a malware clean-up service, with a lifetime garantee- do I tell them to NOT run anti-malware? No. I set them up as a non-root user, turn-on Windows Auto updates, and install MSE, as well as updating Reader, Flash, and Java. Is it 100%? No. Is it the best bet? Yes.
Except for suggesting useful experience, I would agree with this- weigh the advice and the source.
leeleatherwood
[H]ard|Gawd
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2011
- Messages
- 1,582
It takes me less than 10 minutes to install Windows and drivers.
leeleatherwood
[H]ard|Gawd
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2011
- Messages
- 1,582
So your system can get hosed again.
My system was never hosed in the first place. It took me less and 10 minutes to get it removed and I only got the virus because I accidently clicked on a wrong link, 100% my fault and I knew it exactly when I did it.. Like I said, I have never ran an antivirus in my 15 years of computing, I have never had a problem except one time recently, which is why I installed Avast in the first place. Since I installed the AV it has never found another virus.
If I was to reinstall Windows, would I install AV? Nope, does not make sense for me. I have a pfSense firewall with peerguardian and snort.
On the other hand, you are damn sure my wifes and family members computers are running AV.
Just because you are paranoid does not mean everyone else needs to be.
And just because you are completely blind to the realities of modern day virus/malware/infection does not mean you should be recommending other people don't use protection. Your argument is bad, and you should feel bad.
Red Falcon
[H]ard DCOTM December 2023
- Joined
- May 7, 2007
- Messages
- 12,449
^ McTurkey +1
Dude, you are completely blind, ignorant, and a total noob.
Yes, your system is most likely compromised, and you would never know it.
The best firewalls in the world won't save you from port 80, laced websites, and yourself.
All it takes is one piece of malicious code, and your accounts are toast.
Today's viruses and malware aren't so much about "wrecking systems" but stealing information, aka, your bank/monetary accounts; seriously, no hacking group in the world gives two shits about ruining your OS, they want your account info, and they most likely already have it.
Even if you have a sandbox environment, all that has to happen is compromising the sandbox environment, then the individual logging on to their bank website, then malware profit.
So much ignorance in this thread.
I hope none of you are working in enterprise environments; if so, it's no wonder anonymous has so many successes.
Dude, you are completely blind, ignorant, and a total noob.
Yes, your system is most likely compromised, and you would never know it.
The best firewalls in the world won't save you from port 80, laced websites, and yourself.
All it takes is one piece of malicious code, and your accounts are toast.
Today's viruses and malware aren't so much about "wrecking systems" but stealing information, aka, your bank/monetary accounts; seriously, no hacking group in the world gives two shits about ruining your OS, they want your account info, and they most likely already have it.
Even if you have a sandbox environment, all that has to happen is compromising the sandbox environment, then the individual logging on to their bank website, then malware profit.
So much ignorance in this thread.
I hope none of you are working in enterprise environments; if so, it's no wonder anonymous has so many successes.
+1000
leeleatherwood
[H]ard|Gawd
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2011
- Messages
- 1,582
RetardFalcon,
Never once did I recommend anyone else not use an antivirus, I simply said "I" do not. (On my own personal PC, the rest of my home network does run antivirus where applicable.)
I am perfectly aware of modern virus/malware potential, I remove them for a living. As far as my qualifications; during the week I am THE Systems Administrator for two 500+ host networks. I have 15+ years of experience along with A+, Network+, Security+ MCITP and CCNA. During the weekend I provide technical support for a number of large ISP's.
Again, never did I tell anyone else to not run an antivirus, I was simply stating what I myself do. I am knowledgeable enough to know when something is awry with my PC but I also have a firewall that blocks all connections to known bad IP's and network intrusion.
I do not need to argue with you anymore.
Never once did I recommend anyone else not use an antivirus, I simply said "I" do not. (On my own personal PC, the rest of my home network does run antivirus where applicable.)
I am perfectly aware of modern virus/malware potential, I remove them for a living. As far as my qualifications; during the week I am THE Systems Administrator for two 500+ host networks. I have 15+ years of experience along with A+, Network+, Security+ MCITP and CCNA. During the weekend I provide technical support for a number of large ISP's.
Again, never did I tell anyone else to not run an antivirus, I was simply stating what I myself do. I am knowledgeable enough to know when something is awry with my PC but I also have a firewall that blocks all connections to known bad IP's and network intrusion.
I do not need to argue with you anymore.
Last edited:
Red Falcon
[H]ard DCOTM December 2023
- Joined
- May 7, 2007
- Messages
- 12,449
RetardFalcon? Nice one, leeleathernoob.
...and that's why certs don't mean shit, considering the guy who has them doesn't even use AV with his own personal Windows OS; yeah, I'm going to trust you as a sysadmin with over 1000 systems, right. LOL
I pity the organization you work for.
But hey, it's your system, your home network, and your accounts at risk.
Can't wait until the day I see the thread "I got hacked, plz help!" by leeleatherwood.
15 years experienced, multi-certified, noob. Sad.
...and that's why certs don't mean shit, considering the guy who has them doesn't even use AV with his own personal Windows OS; yeah, I'm going to trust you as a sysadmin with over 1000 systems, right. LOL
I pity the organization you work for.
But hey, it's your system, your home network, and your accounts at risk.
Can't wait until the day I see the thread "I got hacked, plz help!" by leeleatherwood.
15 years experienced, multi-certified, noob. Sad.
maybe people would take you more seriously if you didn't try and insult everyone who has a different opinion then you...your system works for you...my Sandboxie, no AV system has worked flawlessly for me for years (and yes I do sometimes test my systems before I reformat)...doesn't mean yours is any better then mine...you can psycho-analyze all you want and state that everyone who doesnt use AV all have viruses that they don't know about but you would be wrong
the people that are so rigid in their pro-AV or bust stance are probably the same people who are conspiracy theorists, wrap tin foil on all their electronic equipment and think everyone is out to get them
corporate environments are totally different then home environments so I don't know why people keep linking the 2 together
Last edited:
Red Falcon
[H]ard DCOTM December 2023
- Joined
- May 7, 2007
- Messages
- 12,449
Your sandbox environment might keep your primary OS from getting compromised, but if your sandbox gets compromised, and you (ambiguous 'you') decide to sign into, say, a bank account, your account info may be stolen or compromised.
That's not being paranoid, it's being intelligent.
Your method of general browsing really isn't a bad one, I have to say, but it isn't going to save any of your accounts from being compromised.
You continue to deny this when others have also stated this, yet you refuse to listen and keep repeating the same nonsense over and over.
Perhaps noob is too harsh.
Ignorant would be a better term.
Also, you keep linking people who use AV with individuals who are conspiracy theorists, yet you tell me to not insult individuals such as yourself?
Statements like that are completely ignorant.
Also, I give props to those who are using PFSense, you're definitely a step above rest, but not including AV + anti-malware apps like MSE and Malware Bytes is definitely putting you all at risk, even with sandbox environments.
No, AV and anti-malware aren't foolproof, but they are better than nothing, because one day, everyone is going to make a mistake by going to a laced website, and without thinking, may compromise their accounts.
But hey, do what you want, it's your accounts.
That's not being paranoid, it's being intelligent.
Your method of general browsing really isn't a bad one, I have to say, but it isn't going to save any of your accounts from being compromised.
You continue to deny this when others have also stated this, yet you refuse to listen and keep repeating the same nonsense over and over.
Perhaps noob is too harsh.
Ignorant would be a better term.
Also, you keep linking people who use AV with individuals who are conspiracy theorists, yet you tell me to not insult individuals such as yourself?
Statements like that are completely ignorant.
Also, I give props to those who are using PFSense, you're definitely a step above rest, but not including AV + anti-malware apps like MSE and Malware Bytes is definitely putting you all at risk, even with sandbox environments.
No, AV and anti-malware aren't foolproof, but they are better than nothing, because one day, everyone is going to make a mistake by going to a laced website, and without thinking, may compromise their accounts.
But hey, do what you want, it's your accounts.
Last edited: