Do you really need anti-virus software?

[buenosdiaz]

here's mine

[10fttall]

Well, honestly, computers ARE getting awfully cheap, and if you keep your documents on the web, or an external hard drive, or back up to DVD...you might not need to worry about the anti-virus.

Come to think of it, 2 of my 3 computers could melt down right now, and I wouldn't really lose anything.

[royallypwned]

I am anal (no pun intended) about having anti-virus software on my comp and running virus checks allll the time. I have my comp so that it runs a scan automatically whenever I am away from my comp for more than 5 minutes. I don't mess around.

[SkinsFanOMG]

Yes you need antivirus software. If you dont have it you WILL get a virus at some point. Its just a matter of time. Download AVG like some other posters have said. Its free and works just as well as the ones you have to pay for. Just run a scan at least once a week and keep windows updated and you should never have any security issues

[“Misdirection”]

Ok, I've got a few questions. When I'm on the web I usually go to the same 5-8 sites everytime. ES, youtube, facebook, ESPN, that kinda thing. And I have everything bookmarked so I don't mess up any usernames or passwords or type the wrong URL or something like that.

At the moment I do not, nor have I ever had limewire or anything like that. But say if I did want to use it, what kind of protection would I need? I'm looking for something free if it is necessary.

And also, even with the protection software, how much does it affect your computers speed/performance having those music files or protection software on your computer?

[Mickalino]

I don't think that I (me, personally) need anti-virus software. I don't download porn

I think you are okay... Everyone knows the only way to catch a virus is to surf for porn.

Yes, you need anti-virus software. suppose that Predicto has sent you email in the past, and you're in his address book.

Now Predicto gets an email virus

Wait, so now Predicto is surfing porn all the time, now ??

[Redd]

If you don't have Virus scares here and there on your computer your surfing the internet wrong.

[Mickalino]

I don't think that I (me, personally) need anti-virus software. I don't download porn, I don't stream porn,

I thought stream porn was safe.

There was even a thread on that.......

http://www.extremeskins.com/showthread.php?t=270120&highlight=tiava&page=4

[greenspandan]

i'm a software engineer and i build computers for my friends and family as a hobby. i use windows. i even use internet explorer. i stopped using anti-virus software about 6 years ago and have had zero viruses in that time. i do a lot of web surfing, but i never install activex controls when prompted. i look at porn but never download special plugins to view it. i don't use peer to peer apps. i don't trade a lot of files with people. i don't use pirated or shady software. the 4 computers in my house have all stayed clean.

the point of my post is NOT to criticize anti-virus software or the people that use it. most people do need it. and i don't mean because they're dumb, but because their habits and their area of expertise are different than mine.

antivirus software is necessary if you do use peer to peer apps, trade a lot of files, use shady software, or are just generally technologically clumsy. for *some* users, though, it's a waste of processing power and money.

my mom's computer, for example, is constantly bombarded by viruses. every time i go over there, she has horrible issues with malware and popups and shady search engines taking over her browser, and Norton is down in the task tray blinking about virii it found. this is despite me reformating it every few months.

[greenspandan]

I thought stream porn was safe.

There was even a thread on that.......

http://www.extremeskins.com/showthread.php?t=270120&highlight=tiava&page=4

stream porn is fine as long as it doesn't ask you to install an activex control or browser plugin. beware of any file you download to your pc, though (obviously).

[PokerPacker]

If you're using Windows, you really should have some antivirus on there. Even if just using a bunch of free programs, you'll want some kind of defense against all the crap out there. When I used Windows, the first thing I did whenever I installed the OS was to go online and install Ad-aware, Spybot, and AVG.

[chipwhich]

I never run virus protection on my machine.

Spyware protection, can't live without it. You get spyware no matter how safe you surf.

If you use a web based mail tool and don't run active x controls there is no need for it in my opinion. Some people have to have. They don't know what a virus is.

[Enter Apotheosis]

Just get AVG. AVG has a very good free anti-virus program that is very light on the resources and speed. I've had it for years on several computers and it is great.

AVG has become a little bit bloated over the last version or two. Avast and Avira are both a bit more lightweight. Avira has the best detection rates of the three but some people seem to experience problems downloading definition updates.

At the moment I do not, nor have I ever had limewire or anything like that. But say if I did want to use it, what kind of protection would I need? I'm looking for something free if it is necessary.

And also, even with the protection software, how much does it affect your computers speed/performance having those music files or protection software on your computer?

Do not use Limewire or any Gnutella-based software (Limewire, Frostwire, Morpheus, etc.) for file-sharing. It's just a bad idea for a couple of reasons I won't really go in to.

If you must use some sort of peer-to-peer software I'd suggest looking into torrents and installing uTorrent. If you must download content of questionable legality I'd suggest looking into a good private tracker for said torrents.

i'm a software engineer and i build computers for my friends and family as a hobby. i use windows. i even use internet explorer. i stopped using anti-virus software about 6 years ago and have had zero viruses in that time. i do a lot of web surfing, but i never install activex controls when prompted. i look at porn but never download special plugins to view it. i don't use peer to peer apps. i don't trade a lot of files with people. i don't use pirated or shady software. the 4 computers in my house have all stayed clean.

I'm curious as to why you stick with IE. Even ignoring the usual security concerns aspect of it, does the lack of standards compliance not annoy the hell out of you?

Spyware protection, can't live without it. You get spyware no matter how safe you surf.

Actually, if you run something to the effect of Firefox's AdBlock and NoScript plugins you don't really even need spyware protection. I haven't had to deal with a foreign bug of any sort on my personal-use machines for a couple of years. Usually if something goes wrong its because I've been messing with something

As I said earlier, however, I still don't see a reason not to have anti-virus and anti-spyware installed as a precaution.

[HA1LV1CT0RY]

No, unless you have a Mac.

butttt if you know what to click/what not to click and what to download/what not to download you are fine....for the most part. I havn't had any virus problems in a looong time, mainly because I have figured out the art of the internetz.

However, it would probably be wise to have anti virus because sometimes a smart programmer/hacker will come around and hack/infect a "legit" program and upload said program to "legit" site, and then said site will uknowingly distribute infected product to tons of people before realizing there is a problem. But even so if that is the case, your anti virus won't catch it until the anti virus people find out there is a problem, come up with a solution, and then send an auto update to the anti virus software, and by then it may be too late.

[HA1LV1CT0RY]

AVG has become a little bit bloated over the last version or two. Avast and Avira are both a bit more lightweight. Avira has the best detection rates of the three but some people seem to experience problems downloading definition updates.

Do not use Limewire or any Gnutella-based software (Limewire, Frostwire, Morpheus, etc.) for file-sharing. It's just a bad idea for a couple of reasons I won't really go in to.

If you must use some sort of peer-to-peer software I'd suggest looking into torrents and installing uTorrent. If you must download content of questionable legality I'd suggest looking into a good private tracker for said torrents.

I'm curious as to why you stick with IE. Even ignoring the usual security concerns aspect of it, does the lack of standards compliance not annoy the hell out of you?

Actually, if you run something to the effect of Firefox's AdBlock and NoScript plugins you don't really even need spyware protection. I haven't had to deal with a foreign bug of any sort on my personal-use machines for a couple of years. Usually if something goes wrong its because I've been messing with something

As I said earlier, however, I still don't see a reason not to have anti-virus and anti-spyware installed as a precaution.

Everything this man said.

And with the fall of The Pirate Bay, and Mininova, definetly use a private tracker if you download anything pirated, other wise you may get a knock at your door. Also, read the comments before you download anything to be sure there isn't a virus or anything else malicious.

[Devastate]

If you're not an idiot you don't need a av software.. I haven't had one ever and I've never gotten a virus. But if you're going to get one.. get NOD32, it's by far the best I've seen and I recommend it to my customers. Very little overhead, very stable, frequent updates and good database.

[kuraitengai]

You could call it living dangerously, I call it saving money.

right because the free version of comodo internet security, with anti-virus and a firewall, cost so much money. and from what ive read, its on par with or better than the ones you have to pay for...

free doesnt cost anything.

and my dad does go to any of the porn sites or anything like you said you dont...and no hes not hiding it cuz he doesnt know how to delete internet history or cookies or anything. and he still got a crazy ass virus that made me have to completely reformat everything for him. so just cuz you dont go to porn sites or anything doesnt mean you cant get one.

and i installed a free anti-virus on his computer and he hasnt had any issues since. so didnt cost anything...

[Mickalino]

free doesnt cost anything.

Sure it does.

Havn't you ever seen the billions of ads, saying "Buy one, get one free" ?

[greenspandan]

I'm curious as to why you stick with IE. Even ignoring the usual security concerns aspect of it, does the lack of standards compliance not annoy the hell out of you?

YES, it does. IE basically sucks but i'm very lazy. i do most of my web browsing at work, to be honest (haha). when i'm on the pc at home i'm generally just playing WoW or hitting a tiny handful of sites.

[Destino]

You absolutely do need an anti-virus and you should scan your PC for Malware on occasion as well. The people that claim they've never had a problem, what sort of problem were you expecting? You could have virus and not know it. The goal of every malicious piece of software is not to slow you down and give you pop ups. It could be to capture and steal info or use your pc to spread itself.

You think because you don't go to porn sites you are safe? That's hilarious. You can get them from any friend or from a site that you access that seemed serious researching a home plumbing problem. MS has a free anti-virus as does AVG. Get one. Have your system scanned regularly while you are sleeping and run a anti-malware scan as well Malwarebytes is my favorite.

[GibbsFactor]

SpringfieldSkins... sending out spam and viruses since 2001.

[Mickalino]

You think because you don't go to porn sites you are safe? That's hilarious. You can get them from any friend or from a site that you access that seemed serious researching a home plumbing problem. MS has a free anti-virus as does AVG. Get one. Have your system scanned regularly while you are sleeping and run a anti-malware scan as well Malwarebytes is my favorite.

I got Malwarebytes, and the updates are weirding me out.

They have like 3 updates PER DAY, including weekends and holidays, whereas other AV and anti-spyware softwares only update once or twice a week, or less, and never on weekends or holidays.

Just seems strange they update that much, and with all that, they never find anything malicious on my computer, whereas my anti-spyware and ad-aware are always finding stuff.

[Enter Apotheosis]

Mick, all anti-virus and anti-spyware programs worth their weight in salt have extremely frequent definitions updates. Most are just set to automatically update only once a day.