Do I Really Need an Antivirus Program?

Everybody apart from me says "yes, you must have an antivirus program".

I say "no".

My machine has been permanently connected to the Internet, 27/7/365 for four
years without antivirus software of any kind. The most recent 18 months
have been running Vista, prior to that XP SP2.

I've left the Vista security features in their default modes, as installed.

I'm connected via a standard off-the-shelf ADSL router with NAS and the
usual firewall features.

Just to be sure, I run Kaspersky's on-line scanner twice a year (it has the
same detection capabilities as their full-blown product) and my machine
comes up clean every single time.

To be fair, I don't download files from dodgy sites, and I observe the usual
sensible precautions when online. Other than that, I use my machine just
like anyone else would.

I think the threat from viruses and malware is massively overstated. I've
got a good backup regime, so even if my machine does get infected one day,
I'll simply vapourise the disk and reinstall from scratch.

Personally I don't think that will ever happen, and it's wonderful using a
PC with no security software at all (apart from the built-in Vista stuff).

SteveT

"Steve Thackery" <nobody@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:e1wJ7DT$IHA.3392@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Everybody apart from me says "yes, you must have an antivirus program".
>
> I say "no".
>
> My machine has been permanently connected to the Internet, 27/7/365 for
> four years without antivirus software of any kind. The most recent 18
> months have been running Vista, prior to that XP SP2.
>
> I've left the Vista security features in their default modes, as
> installed.
>
> I'm connected via a standard off-the-shelf ADSL router with NAS and the
> usual firewall features.
>
> Just to be sure, I run Kaspersky's on-line scanner twice a year (it has
> the same detection capabilities as their full-blown product) and my
> machine comes up clean every single time.
>
> To be fair, I don't download files from dodgy sites, and I observe the
> usual sensible precautions when online. Other than that, I use my machine
> just like anyone else would.
>
> I think the threat from viruses and malware is massively overstated. I've
> got a good backup regime, so even if my machine does get infected one day,
> I'll simply vapourise the disk and reinstall from scratch.
>
> Personally I don't think that will ever happen, and it's wonderful using a
> PC with no security software at all (apart from the built-in Vista stuff).
>
> SteveT
>


I've run XP for 6 months no AV .. no problems.

Vista I use Kaspersky because I have 16 months left on my subscription.

Not only massively overstated ... intentionally overstated.
You have to convince users of the "disease" they sell the cure for.

--
Hobbes, Tiger Extraordinaire

Well if you know what you are doing on the computer as in no one other
than you uses the comp, then you don't actually need the AV. Be careful
of what websites you visit and also the pen drives you connect to the
PC. Besides that keep UAC enabled and your PC can live w/o an AV.


--
iMav

It's a Microsoft world kid, I am just living in it.
http://beingmanan.com
twitter: manan | Last.FM: manan
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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View this thread: http://winvistaclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18945

Simple answer to your question is Yes, you do need an anti virus
application. Don't think you'll ever get a virus? Then think again because,
I can assure you, you will! Play safe and re-install the anti virus
software.

--

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
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use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..


"husky86" <husky86@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:458663B0-E968-4B54-815E-AB59458292C8@microsoft.com...
> I have just about had it with all antivirus programs. They slow down my
> system, they cause problems with individual programs -- for instance Adobe
> Acrobat 8.1 cannot convert webpages to PDF documents when antivirus
> programs
> are installed -- and in general they just seem to make my computing
> experience much more of a headache.
>
> 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?
>
> 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?
>
> Many thanks for any and all comments!
>
> (I'm running Windows Vista Ultimate, by the way, with Microsoft Office
> 2007,
> and Firefox 3 as my web browser.)

On Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:39:12 +0100, Steve Thackery wrote:

> Everybody apart from me says "yes, you must have an antivirus program".

A pompous remark.

Not if you switch to Linux.

ray;82253 Wrote:
> Not if you switch to Linux.You want to have an OS war?


--
iMav

It's a Microsoft world kid, I am just living in it.
http://beingmanan.com
twitter: manan | Last.FM: manan
------------------------------------------------------------------------
iMav's Profile: http://winvistaclub.com/forum/member.php?userid=35
View this thread: http://winvistaclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18945

>> Everybody apart from me says "yes, you must have an antivirus program".
>
> A pompous remark.

You what? When I wrote my reply, every other reply to the OP said "yes", so
I was the only one who said no.

Pillock.

SteveT

husky86 wrote:
<snippage>

Yes, you need one.

--
"...every non-modular OS SUCKS...Speaking for myself only."
- zachd [MSFT]

DRM and unintended consequences:
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/se...35&tag=nl.e101

On Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:40:21 -0700, husky86
<husky86@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> I have just about had it with all antivirus programs. They slow down my
> system, they cause problems with individual programs -- for instance Adobe
> Acrobat 8.1 cannot convert webpages to PDF documents when antivirus programs
> are installed -- and in general they just seem to make my computing
> experience much more of a headache.
>
> 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.


That's not my experience at all. Yes, Norton and McAfee will slow down
your computer, but unless you have a very slow computer to begin with,
I haven't seen any noticeable slowdown from Avast or AVG.



> 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?


"Need" is a very difficult thing to evaluate. There are some people
who are extremely cautious in everything they do online, run without
an anti-virus program, and have never been infected.

On the other hand, if one day you are especially tired, had a bad day
at work, had a fight with your spouse, etc., and your guard gets let
down, you can very easily do the wrong thing and get infected.

I think of myself as very cautious person. Nevertheless I have always
used an anti-virus program (as well as several anti-spyware programs),
and wouldn't think of running without one.



> Especially if I don't open any attachments from any known or unknown
> senders,


Not opening attachments is good, and helps protect you.

Do you read E-mail in html? You can easily get infected that way.

Same with newsgroup messages; if you read those in E-mail, you can
easily get infected.

What web sites do you go to. Are you *always* sure that every site you
get to is safe?


> do I really need to have an antivirus program running in the
> background? Is it really essential?


It's your choice, of course. Nobody can tell you what to do, but I
think running without one is foolhardy.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
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