Poll: How many use anti-virus software

[afireinsideme]

I believe that as long as you watch what attachments you download. You don't open anything that has the script symbol or ends with .vbs it's hard to get viruses. I downloaded an mp3 and it was amazingly only 13K hmmm..... i wonder..... yeah virus but i didn't open it so no harm done.

So who uses them who doesn't.

 

[PowerYoga]

i think its pretty safe to say that if you scan all the files you download you should be fine.
Also, watching which e-mails you open can help also... however, for hacker attacks, who knows...

everyone should have the awareness that small exe files and strangly small stuff is evil.

 

[jjones]

I run my AV almost continuously. Occasionally, I'll turn off the real-time protection but not very often.

 

[NeoMadHatter]

on all the time. trust no one when a virus comes around.

 

[PicPop]

Norton 2002 is very good. they update the virus definition very often

 

[exp]

I use a personal firewall, scan downloaded files, take care with odd emails and manually scan for viruses about once a week. I don't have an antivirus program running in the background. Is that a stupid way of doing things? Maybe but I've been doing it for years without any trouble.

 

[Spankthru]

been using inoculateIT PE with good results for almost a year now

 

[Mem]

I use two anti-virus programs(AVG & the one in Ontrack SystemSuite V4)& Sygate firewall.

Virus wise over the years only ever had one warning with MSN when somebody I know had a worm on a file,and two Script Exploit warnings during browsing which mean



<< Script/Exploit

The Script/Exploit is not a virus, is it a heuristic scan warning, that there is a file on your computer which is able to use a security hole. It is necessary for such a program to have rights to change the Windows registry settings, and the program gets these rights by a dirty trick. This script does not contain any destructive action. If such a file is present on your computer, it is necessary to delete this file to avoid any further security damage done to your computer >>

.

Better safe then sorry

.

 

[Biggs]

Used to use one during my early days on the 'Net. However, I've learned quite a few tricks of the trade through the years so I just exercise extreme caution and common sense whenever needed.

 

[DIRTsquirt]

I have used norton for years since 97 and in that time I have had a few virus's sent my way but norton always caught em and didnt cost me bit of down time or trouble.
As far as not leaving your virus scan on Real time. There was a time when the power of computers wasnt enough to leave it on when gaming.. but that time is passed.. IMO if you got a 800 mhz or better leave it on
But I am paranoid I have hardware firewall and run Zonealarm along with Norton antivirus.
If you ever had to format due to a virus you can understand the need for a good AV

 

[RalphTheCow]

It always seemed to me that running in the background always messes up something, so I often have to turn it off.

 

[Alex]

there should be another option:

i have an antivirus and run weekly scans and update it weekly too but never had realtime protection cuz its annoying

 

[Insidious]

I use PCCillin for scans once a week or so....

Also, keep an imaged HD (image weekly or so with Ghost) on the ready.

Finally, ZA to keep things quiet.

In days gone by... all this was much less painfull than trying to fix all the intrusions from AV software...


However, some AVs are very good now. (NAV 2002 seems to have lots of happy users). If I wasn't

already set up as I am, I'd probably consider using it.

 

[BFG10K]

I never use anti-virus software and I've never had a virus. I do use the internet firewall in Windows XP though.

 

[asiagian]

I use AVG anti-virus.

 

[YaKuZa]

I run a scan every once in awhile, but don't leave autoprotect on.

 

[Grendel99]

I use AVG and ZoneAlarm. I have had a few viruses and there aren't any fun. I am usually very careful with what I download and stuff, but I guess not Since I have been running both of those programs I have had no problems at all.

 

[Mitzi]

I have been using a virus scanner for many years. I upgraded to XP on the weekend and get strange errors at bootup because of it so I'm no the prowl for something which works under XP.

Suggestions?

 

[Mem]

Mitzi,
go with AVG it works great with WinXP,don`t forget it`s free as well, btw what anti-virus was you using before?

 

[manly]

If you use Winblows w/o any virus protection software, you're a dumb ass.

On any 300 MHz or faster processor, I'd highly recommend the real-time protection as well. Most people can't be bothered to manually scan downloads, and it only takes one infection to cause a crisis.

 

[Nothinman]

You don't open anything that has the script symbol or ends with .vbs it's hard to get viruses.

If you use OE (or anything that uses IE's HTML renderer) to read email or browse the web in IE it's amazingly easy, even without your knowledge.

I browse with mozilla and only run 'suspicous' programs in a VMWare, air-tight case and always have IE security level set to high. If you run Windows you pretty much have to now a days.

 

[Dundain]

I use Norton 2002 in turn with Tiny Firewall and I havent had a virus problem in a year with this combination. I just let Norton run in the background with Auto-Protection on and have it do a weekly scan and it works great. Though I do turn it off when Im doing some really heavy CPU rendering or gaming because I hate even slight slowdowns.

 

[CTho9305]

<< I never use anti-virus software and I've never had a virus. I do use the internet firewall in Windows XP though. >>



you can't be sure. you may have a virus/worm and be spreading it wihtout realizing this.

i always use virus protection

 

[BFG10K]

you can't be sure. you may have a virus/worm and be spreading it wihtout realizing this.

Perhaps but I doubt it. My computer has limited contact with the outside world and I control pretty much anything that comes in or goes out of it. It's not a trash tip like a lot of other machines I've seen.

 

[Nothinman]

Perhaps but I doubt it. My computer has limited contact with the outside world and I control pretty much anything that comes in or goes out of it. It's not a trash tip like a lot of other machines I've seen.

You know how many people are still propogating nimda and have no idea they're doing it?