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[cold_blade]

I've wondered this for a while:

I've NEVER EVER had a single virus or system error (ok, 1 BSOD and one virus from Maplestory, but that IS a virus) and I absolutely HATE anti-viruses (I considered stop using my work computer because the forced me to put on symantec and cisco).

I've noticed that every single system that come into contact with and anti-virus (even a quick scanner) suddenly gets viruses and system problems (which is part of the reason I refuse to come into contact with them).

I'd like do know why that might be and what I'm doing so right that everyone else fails at... and yes I actually have clicked ads before and nothing happens, I leave scripting on and no firewall...

[[VxE]]

It sounds like AV proggies are just alerting you to the presence of viruses/spyware/etc.

I agree that many AV available are more bloatware than actual protection, but there are some that do indeed deliver the goods quietly and with little bloat.
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[cold_blade]

I disagree, I've never had a hint of a problem w/o an AV, I've never seen a computer survive after being installed with any AV...

My computer is old but works like new, like when you first install windows (any flavor) and you feel the speed, I've never seen another computer keep it's initial speed like all the ones I've had

[Dragonscloud]

I fixed this computer for a friend some years ago when it had a crapload of malware on it. It was so messed up that at first I couldn't even open a folder. When she was given a new PC she donated this one to me. It has a 500 Mhz Celeron, 256Mb RAM and came with Win98.
In the 3-4 years I've had it, I've yet to run a scanner on the system,either for 98 or XP.

I think using Opera most of the time instead of IE has a lot to do with not having any scumware problems. The previous owner was using a version of IE that had severe exploit vulnerabilities.

From what I've witnessed from cleaning up peoples' PCs, the number one cause of problems is a teenager in the home, or adults who either surf pr0n sites or download crap like WeatherBug. Most of these people surf with IE.
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“yields falsehood when preceded by its quotation” yields falsehood when preceded by its quotation.

[Deller]

Antivirus programs and firewalls hog memory and CPU. There are 2 reasons why you would want them:

1:Your computer is on the cutting edge of technology and can run them without any problems

2:You are afraid/dont know how to take a virus off when you have one.

I personally use neither because i only download things i know arnt viruses.

It really depends on how good you are about downloading stuff and how fast your computer is.

[Red Hat Boy]

My two cents...
I recently had to kill a particularly nasty little app on my dad's laptop, which claimed to be an antivirus program. It was itself a virus...and a real pain. The first thing I did was uninstall McAfee (ugh) and install Avira. It removed some stuff, but not everything. Rebooted. Avira didn't load on startup. I reinstalled it, along with Spybot and let both pick through the hard drive. Avira loaded on startup, but there was still a nag screen from the malicious app. After I found it, I had to reboot in safe mode to kill the little b@$**rd.
So...don't just install any old "antivirus" app.
Also...I read an article about the future of antivirus programs. The way they work now, certain known malicious programs/virii are blacklisted (and the list keeps getting bigger). A future antivirus app may simply whitelist programs, and detect everything else as bad (at least initially). I'd like to know how well that would work out.
Oh yeah, and a firewall is a MUST! As long as you're connected to the internet, anyway...duh...
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[jaco0646]

[Superfraggle]

I only have anti virus on my laptop due to it being company policy, but on none of my personal machines.

Occasionally I will run an online virus check such as trend micro house call, and I keep my pc up to date with all security fixes.
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Steve F AKA Superfraggle

http://r.yuwie.com/superfraggle

[m^2]

[Superfraggle]

I agree, I wouldn't actually advise running without one, I just personally do not need one (Except the one time when my partner used the machine and managed to get a minor virus, which I removed manually).

My install of windows is now at least three years old, possibly longer and apart from the above the worst i've ever got through my own doing is just the ocasional bit of spyware.
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Steve F AKA Superfraggle

http://r.yuwie.com/superfraggle

[jaco0646]

The two posts I wanted to point out in my previous link were by m^2 and Superfraggle, who both responded within 45 minutes anyway... guess I could have waited for them to reiterate their own views.

P.S. @Superfraggle, if you want to know the exact date of your Windows install, run SystemInfo from the command prompt.

[Superfraggle]

[Captain Fizz]

IMHO, if you need to ask the question: AV, yes or no?

Then yes.

If you don't need to ask the question, then you know already.

Bit like RAID. If you don't know whether you need it or not - you don't.
AV is the opposite. If you are not sure if you need it, you do need it.

I have AV on my system (NOD32 - Small, lightweight and fast scanning) - It's a fast PC... Install can stay on for years.
I also go to certain websites and download certain torrents.

I like to scan the torrents before going anywhere near them

[jballi]

Just in case you're still unsure about installing AV protection...

Majority of malware attacks go undetected
http://www.scmagazineus.com/Majority-of-malware-attacks-go-undetected/article/113673/

[Wenger]