Do I even need antivirus software?!?!

[swamyg1]

I was using Norton NAV for sometime and realized how much resources it was eating up... then I was looking into Avast! or Antivir... but here's the thing. I have gotten really used to making Trueimage backups of my C drive. So, when something goes wrong or I even get a virus on my system drive I simply restore my C drive with that image backup. I have everything I need on this backup, and I'm only running 22 processes with 116MB of mem, and that makes me happy. SO: here is my more specific question:

Do I have to worry about getting a virus on any of my partitions? I have D,E,F,G,H, and I split across 2 hard drives... but is it possible for a virus to spread on these other drives? If I get suspicious I can always install Avast! and wipe it clean... right? Also, say I get an virus on my G drive, is it possible for that virus to infect other partitions?

I hope this isn't a stupid question. Thanks!

 

[ITPaladin]

I didn't use AV for a long time. I never downloaded weird things and never receive attachments.
I would occasionally use the online Trend Micro scanner.

I never had a problem.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Yes, virus (especially worms) can spread across your system. And it is easier to prevent them than it is to clean an infected system. How much do you need those resources that would otherwise be delegated to AV software? So you don't *need* to worry about it--you just have to determine if it is worth the risk for you. I sure as hell wouldn't do it though, but that's just me.

 

[CalvinHobbes]

I don't have any A/V on my game PC but this PC is not on any network so it's never going to be exposed to anything infected.

 

[SleepWalkerX]

Haven't had a virus in over 4 years. I don't use an antivirus, just keep my system patches up to date and watch what I open.

 

[swamyg1]

Well, I guess I don't really "NEED" those resources, but it's always nice to have a simple system without a ton of junk running in the backround... it keeps things nice and tidy, not to mention speedy. I am concerned about undected worms spreading throughout my system though, who wouldn't be. That is just SCARY!

Doesn't Windows firewall have a built in Worm Blocker, or am I holding too much faith in Microsoft? Would I be better off with a different firewall, or do I need to install Avast! to keep the worms out too? Thanks again.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Your use of NAV has made you hate antivirus applications. Antivir (last i checked) uses only about 15mb of memory. It is freeware, solid detection rate, does not eat cpu cycles, has real time protection and you wont notice that it is there.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

You know how people cringe when we see people building really nice AMD X2 systems with 2GB of RAM and a 7800 GTX video, but they spend $50 on the case and power supply? Well, not having anti-virus for your software is basically doing that with your software. You are going to be selling yourself short.

Instead of not using any at all, find something that will suit your needs. But do as you wish--my suggestions are only that.

 

[n7]

Personally, i don't use antivirus software running realtime.

Now some people would say that's foolish of me, but i have not gotten a virus for a long long time, so the need for one just isn't there, & if i do get one, unless it somehow hops partitions or HDDs, all i have to do is reformat, & all will be well, since nothing important is on my Raptor.

I do run AntiVir occasionally, bascially meaning when i remember to, i run it.
Usually that's about once a month.

 

[swamyg1]

Thanks for all your input guys!

 

[KoolDrew]

Just use AntiVir. You probably won't even notice it is running.

 

[spherrod]

Originally posted by: tasburrfoot78362
You know how people cringe when we see people building really nice AMD X2 systems with 2GB of RAM and a 7800 GTX video, but they spend $50 on the case and power supply? Well, not having anti-virus for your software is basically doing that with your software. You are going to be selling yourself short.

Instead of not using any at all, find something that will suit your needs. But do as you wish--my suggestions are only that.

QFT

 

[mechBgon]

I left the front door open today like usual. But there are no invisible people in my apartment. And I know that, because I turned on all the lights and looked REAL HARD after I closed the door, and I didn't see any invisible people anywhere.

Rootkits. Once a good one is installed, you can forget about any confidence you have in after-the-fact scans using TrendMicro HouseCall or any conventional antivirus scanner. Because it's intercepting the info that the antivirus scanner is getting, and replacing it on the fly with "the right answers" that would indicate there's nothing wrong.

Due to their stealthy nature, it evidently can take a while for even the antivirus vendors to get hold of samples of rootkits, and develop detection for them. So even up-to-date, fully-armed, real-time antivirus protection is not a sufficient guarantee that your new piece of warez is actually clean and not just the nice juicy bait on the hook.

 

[g8wayrebel]

It is a good idea to run AV for at least one reason. Some of the nasties out there are dedicated to using your computer for deviant purposes in the background without being detected. That means that if you get something that could have been prevented you are protecting those that you contact who might not have your skills. Sorry , but you are in the know. Are all the other people you contact via email and chats/forums? It amazes me the number of poeple who are clueless.You being aware of this , I would think you would do what you could giving your knowledge. What is a few CPU cycles to an ATOT'er anyway? You can always have it off if you aren't connected to the jungle and need the cycles.

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
I left the front door open today like usual. But there are no invisible people in my apartment. And I know that, because I turned on all the lights and looked REAL HARD after I closed the door, and I didn't see any invisible people anywhere.

Rootkits. Once a good one is installed, you can forget about any confidence you have in after-the-fact scans using TrendMicro HouseCall or any conventional antivirus scanner. Because it's intercepting the info that the antivirus scanner is getting, and replacing it on the fly with "the right answers" that would indicate there's nothing wrong.

Due to their stealthy nature, it evidently can take a while for even the antivirus vendors to get hold of samples of rootkits, and develop detection for them. So even up-to-date, fully-armed, real-time antivirus protection is not a sufficient guarantee that your new piece of warez is actually clean and not just the nice juicy bait on the hook.

Easy solution...don't use warez/freeware/shareware/P2P, browse with safety in mind, and don't browse as an admin.

I have a linux based IPtables firewall, and my computer natted behind that. I run MS Anti spyware (had a few very minor infections) and no AV for the last 2 years. I normally do an online scan every month or two, nothing yet. I use FF and my wife (she uses it normally, I'm normally wireless on my linux laptop) practices VERY safe browsing, i.e. she clicks no to active X stuff, unless I look at it first, she doesn't download ANY apps, we use only original disks or signed zips to install stuff, etc.

 

[networkman]

In the days prior to FREE antivirus software, I could see people having this discussion, but with a number of different programs out there like AVG for example, there's no reason not to have some protection in place. Just because you're not on a network and don't have internet access, there's nothing to stop a virus being introduced to your system via the floppy disk with your resume on it.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: nweaver
Easy solution...don't use warez/freeware/shareware/P2P, browse with safety in mind, and don't browse as an admin.

Like firefox?

 

[sandorski]

One could probably go a longtime without an AV program, but one day they'll get infected and rue the day they chose not to have one.

 

[stnicralisk]

Originally posted by: tasburrfoot78362
Yes, virus (especially worms) can spread across your system. And it is easier to prevent them than it is to clean an infected system. How much do you need those resources that would otherwise be delegated to AV software? So you don't *need* to worry about it--you just have to determine if it is worth the risk for you. I sure as hell wouldn't do it though, but that's just me.

I have been using the internet for more hours a week than I would care to admit for about the last ten years or so. I have never used antivirus on my personal computer. I have gotten a trojan once, it took me ten minutes to get rid of it. I keep a copy of all of my schoolwork in my email and there isnt anything else that isnt replacable on my computer.

Honestly stay off of the gay porn sites and you wont have so many virii.

 

[ValuedCustomer]

Originally posted by: swamyg1
I'm only running 22 processes

I've only got 20 processes running and that's w/ AVG on 24/7.

 

[xboxist]

Haven't used one for years. Finally installed one recently out of suspicion of having a virus. Turned out to be a bad driver.

Don't open email attachments, ever. (People you know are ok, obviously)
Update drivers often.
Scan for spyware often.

 

[mechBgon]

she clicks no to active X stuff, unless I look at it first,

If she's browsing as a Limited user then she should not be seeing any ActiveX Yes/No-type prompts in the first place

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: xboxist
Don't open email attachments, ever. (People you know are ok, obviously)

No, they're not.

 

[networkman]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: xboxist
Don't open email attachments, ever. (People you know are ok, obviously)

No, they're not.

Roger that. If the people you know are like you in that they don't see a reason to have anti-virus software installed either, then you're still opening your machine up to infection if one their PCs got infected. Those folks you know may not be as careful as you are.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: networkman

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: xboxist
Don't open email attachments, ever. (People you know are ok, obviously)

No, they're not.

Roger that. If the people you know are like you in that they don't see a reason to have anti-virus software installed either, then you're still opening your machine up to infection if one their PCs got infected. Those folks you know may not be as careful as you are.

Too true. People you know can be the biggest source of Virus laced attachments. For months I and my brother received 2-3 infected e-mails per day from his in-laws. This went on for months until my he went to visit them and installed NAV.

You can't trust e-mail attachments period.