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| Thread ID: 100052 | 2009-05-24 09:22:00 | Look ma, no AV | Saucy (14844) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 776505 | 2009-05-24 09:22:00 | I mentioned on another thread that I run Win7 without antivirus . It caused a bit of discussion and I don't want to hijack that other thread with an off topic discussion so I'll create a thread for it . As an expert user, running a standard user account with automatic updates on, daily backups, and defaults like UAC and the firewall switched on, and being very conservative about what I install on my computers, I feel very comfortable without antivirus installed . I've never had a virus on my computer . I've seen plenty of viruses on computers of people with the fanciest antivirus, usually because they automatic updates turned off, or they open email attachments and install software indiscriminately . Those people usually also use administrator accounts and don't do backups regularly . Seems to me, antivirus is mostly overhead that doesn't actually catch viruses consistently . If I'd been running antivirus the last 15 years it would have done me more harm than any virus . Sometimes, the antivirus is an attack vector itself! It's not what I recommend for everyone, I agree it's better for most people to have all the protection they can get, and antivirus does add one more layer . Unfortunately it seems to create a false sense of security, and causes people to forget other layers that are more important . So I recommend standard user accounts and UAC and switching on automatic updates and doing regular backups for everyone even if they have antivirus . I realise it's a bit controversial, but it's far from unique, there are a few others who have similar experiences ( . net/btudor/archive/2009/02/16/129431 . aspx" target="_blank">geekswithblogs . net) running Windows without antivirus ( . technet . com/steriley/archive/2007/09/25/more-on-the-necessity-of-antivirus-software . aspx" target="_blank">blogs . technet . com) . Anyway, curious what people's views are . What do you do? What do you recommend others do? Do you use all the layers of defence built into the OS or ignore some? For example, using antivirus but reducing your security by using an administrator account instead of a standard user account, or by switching off UAC . |
Saucy (14844) | ||
| 776506 | 2009-05-24 09:34:00 | Previously I have ran a PC without an AV, and windows updates (on dial up it's not very feasible to be downloading 10MB files every week, thus not allowing use of the phone). Now though, I wouldn't dream of it. On broadband I now have windows updates running, with either Nod32 or Avast running on all household pc's. |
davidmmac (4619) | ||
| 776507 | 2009-05-24 09:47:00 | Same here I run Nod on an admin account SWMBO and step son run avast on non admin accounts on their machines, incidentally only step son is on Vista we are both on XP me home and SWMBO Pro | gary67 (56) | ||
| 776508 | 2009-05-24 12:03:00 | UAC can hardly count as a layer of protection but to a very inexperienced user. That thing always stays off, probably the first thing I do when I install Vista on any machine is to turn UAC off. --- I see your point of view on not having an AV installed, I feel the same as I am carefull of what I install on my computer too. But what about when a friend comes over and puts a flash drive/usb stick into your machine to get some files?! If that drive is infected your PC will now be too, and you won't even know. It's just a piece of mind having an AV, even though I stick with the free versions like AVG and Comodo/Zone Alarm for the firewall. |
WarNox (8772) | ||
| 776509 | 2009-05-24 20:32:00 | My AV is probably bored most of the time, it never finds anything. However there have been a couple of occasions where, when browsing, I have gone to a website and NOD has blocked it and sent a warning. You never know, careful or not. |
pctek (84) | ||
| 776510 | 2009-05-24 21:02:00 | Well, just for the records I have run two computers for over two years with No AVG, No updates and No problems. One has Win ME O/S and the other and the Other XP SP2. Both are on Broadband and both run 24/7. I’m starting to think these Virus’s are like the Y2K bug, Global Warming, Bird Flu, Swine Flu and all the other Media Bull S… we’re expected to panic about. Just my :2cents: worth. :) |
B.M. (505) | ||
| 776511 | 2009-05-24 22:12:00 | I run win7 on the kids laptop, no AV installed, its still going after 2 months, I may give it a scan after another 4 months to see if anything has made its home there. I have also run XP for over 4 years with no AV, it now has NOD32. This computer also never got an infection. I have vista on my work computer, when I first installed I had no AV for over 6 months. I run a computer repair business, I was interested to see how hard it would be to get infected, it would apear most virus are installed by the user on purpose blindly clicking yes to anything that pops up. |
Rob99 (151) | ||
| 776512 | 2009-05-24 23:47:00 | If you haven't got an AV then how do you know you have never got a virus infection? My AV is probably bored most of the time, it never finds anything . However there have been a couple of occasions where, when browsing, I have gone to a website and NOD has blocked it and sent a warning . You never know, careful or not . Ditto, though I have been sent emails a few times with suspicious attachments that my AV has picked up . |
FoxyMX (5) | ||
| 776513 | 2009-05-25 00:13:00 | I was interested to see how hard it would be to get infected, it would apear most virus are installed by the user on purpose blindly clicking yes to anything that pops up. Install a P2P program, and use it then see what happens :p |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 776514 | 2009-05-25 00:27:00 | Install a P2P program, and use it then see what happens :pDoes µTorrent count, a few years ago I used Direct Connect. | Rob99 (151) | ||
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