Re: Do I Really Need an Antivirus Program?

husky86 wrote:
I have just about had it with all antivirus programs.


You've actually tried all of the many dozens of antivrus products available? I'm impressed. How many years did it take?


They slow down my system,


Some do, yes.


... they cause problems with individual programs

Again, a very few can do so, yes.

... -- for instance Adobe Acrobat 8.1 cannot convert webpages to PDF documents when antivirus programs are installed


That is completely untrue.

... -- and in general they just seem to make my computing experience much more of a headache.



That's true of any software that one doesn't learn to configure and use properly.


I have tried Norton, AVG, Avast, McAffee, and others (free and full-paid editions). Once I remove any of these programs from my system, it's like the sun has come out, the rain and clouds have gone away, and everything functions beautifully.

I know that this is an age-old question (at least in computer terms), but do I really need an antivirus program running on my system?



Not as long as you never, ever connect to the Internet, another network of any kind, or have any way of inserting removable media (CDs, DVDs, thumb drives, floppy disks, etc), no. Otherwise, yes.


Especially if I don't open any attachments from any known or unknown senders, do I really need to have an antivirus program running in the background? Is it really essential?


Attachments are just one of many infection vectors.


There are several essential components to computer security: a
knowledgeable and pro-active user, a properly configured firewall,
reliable and up-to-date antivirus software, and the prompt repair (via
patches, hotfixes, or service packs) of any known vulnerabilities.

The weakest link in this "equation" is, of course, the computer
user. No software manufacturer can -- nor should they be expected
to -- protect the computer user from him/herself. All too many people
have bought into the various PC/software manufacturers marketing
claims of easy computing. They believe that their computer should be
no harder to use than a toaster oven; they have neither the
inclination or desire to learn how to safely use their computer. All
too few people keep their antivirus software current, install patches
in a timely manner, or stop to really think about that cutesy link
they're about to click.

Firewalls and anti-virus applications, which should always be used
and should always be running, are important components of "safe hex,"
but they cannot, and should not be expected to, protect the computer
user from him/herself. Ultimately, it is incumbent upon each and
every computer user to learn how to secure his/her own computer.

To learn more about practicing "safe hex," start with these links:

Protect Your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/default.asp

Home Computer Security
http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/

List of Antivirus Software Vendors
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;49500

Home PC Firewall Guide
http://www.firewallguide.com/

Scumware.com
http://www.scumware.com/


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: firewall??
    ... I don't mean to sound unnecessarily harsh, but given today's widely-publicized and well-known hostile Internet environment, only a fool or a masochist would go on-line without both a firewall and antivirus protection. ... No software manufacturer can -- nor should they be expected to -- protect the computer user from him/herself. ... All too few people keep their antivirus software current, install patches in a timely manner, or stop to really think about that cutesy link they're about to click. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Reply to Shenan Stanley on my original post
    ... > and your antivirus software is running happily in the background at the ... > Windows is not the only product you likely have on your PC. ... > better protect your Windows system: ... You should at least turn on the built in firewall. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: new install needed?
    ... reliable and up-to-date antivirus software, ... to -- protect the computer user from him/herself. ... Home PC Firewall Guide ... They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: adaware
    ... reliable and up-to-date antivirus software, ... to -- protect the computer user from him/herself. ... Home PC Firewall Guide ... They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Reply to Shenan Stanley on my original post
    ... and your antivirus software is running happily in the background at the time ... Windows Update ... Protect your PC ... You should at least turn on the built in firewall. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)