Is Antivirus necessary on Vista 64

[Ataraxia]

What are your thoughts? Kinda of seems unnecessary to me... just makes my HD spin more than it already does extra in Vista

 

[Nothinman]

Without having any real facts to back it up, I'd say it's just as necessary as any other version of Windows.

 

[Schadenfroh]

This topic is covered often on these forums in regards to whether one needs an antivirus or not.

Most of the responses will be like this:

"I do not need an antivirus because I do not click to install random ActiveX protocols, aodfh.vbs, or oqhna.exe in my email attachments."

• "You do know that viruses can install on your system without prompting you are requiring your intervention, right?

"I do not need an antivirus because I do not use warez programs"


My view? If your system is able to handle Windows Vista, it should be able to handle an antivirus product without you noticing it running (as long as you do not use one that consumes a good deal of system resources). As always, keep windows updated along with your installed applications and browser plugins, run in a limited user account, use a router with a firewall, use common sense, and run a real-time protection antivirus product (as long as it is not a bloated on).

 

[Genx87]

There was an interesting article about this a couple of months ago.

It went something like this, Vista's built in access requires users to participate in spreading a virus on their machine. However stand alone AV products like Symantec or McAfee require hooks into the kernel. At that point the virus needs to target expoits within the AV application to gain access to the kernel and thus compromise your system.

It was an interesting stance when you think about it.

I gut still says you need it however.

 

[Kappo]

I dont use it on my vista boxes (I have a hardware firewall now, so im not just hanging myself out there), but keep in mind it IS windows. If you wanted to write a virus, who would YOU write it for?

 

[InlineFive]

If you're not going to use antivirus at least run as a limited user with SRPs in place. If you are willing to spend $39 buy NOD32, high detection rate and you don't even know it's there. Very, very efficient.

 

[Pabster]

Ditto on NOD32.

 

[HardWarrior]

Originally posted by: Ataraxia
What are your thoughts? Kinda of seems unnecessary to me... just makes my HD spin more than it already does extra in Vista

MS says that you should use AV with Vista. Whether it's needed is a decision you'll have to make for yourself. I won't even try to argue that, or Vista performance with you.

 

[HannibalX]

Originally posted by: Ataraxia
What are your thoughts? Kinda of seems unnecessary to me... just makes my HD spin more than it already does extra in Vista

Explain.

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: Ataraxia
What are your thoughts? Kinda of seems unnecessary to me... just makes my HD spin more than it already does extra in Vista

If you want to stop some of the HD activity,turn off System restore and Windows Defender,I have defender set to scan once every day.

There are some decent free Vista x64 real time AV scanners like Avast Home.

I have been using that for last 2 months with my Vista x64 and its decent,HD activity is low too.

 

[Pwnbroker]

Has anybody used Avast Premium? I've downloaded Avast home and I'm liking it so far, and just thought, paying $120 bucks for 2 licenses for 3 years is a whole hell of a lot better than say $450 for Norton's for the same amount of time.

 

[Smilin]

hehe too funny. One forum post asking if he needs antivirus for Vista 64. Another forum post 5-6 lines up saying he thinks he has a Virus on x64.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=34&threadid=2028122&enterthread=y

I kind of doubt that guy has a virus but my answer would still be "Yes, always run antivirus".