Do you run Anti-Virus?

[iwrock]

I want to know how many of you guys actually run some sort of Anti-Virus on your computer....


I personally do not run anything, but I always tell people to run it...


So what about you? (And reasons...)

[Hatterasguy]

No, don't want to pay for it and don't know much about computers.

[jt20]

yes, but I have better results w/o it. It works like a homing device for mal-ware.

[raymr]

Windows yes, Ubuntu (linux) no.

[diametricalbenz]

Originally Posted by iwrock

I want to know how many of you guys actually run some sort of Anti-Virus on your computer....

I personally do not run anything, but I always tell people to run it...

So what about you? (And reasons...)

I am shocked!

Running your computer without AV or spyware is like leaving a SL63 AMG with the doors unlocked.

Someone might steal it (virus) steal the registration information (spyware) or graffiiti the thing (adware).

[Ara T.]

I'd say you could easily run without anti virus software, provided you never surfed for porn or used P2P programs like Limewire and BitTorrent to download games/music/movies/whatever.

[David Wilson]

I've been running without AV for 2 years now. Not one problem. The trick as I have been told is to NOT use Internet Explorer, and if you use a PC, don't upgrade higher than XP service pack 1.
I use Firefox exclusively.
Apparently IE is a virus/hacker delight.

[pj67coll]

I use my office laptop at home and it has Norton on it. My girlfriends laptop which had XP till the drive bit the dust had Norton Anti Virus on it. It was so dog slow it was almost unusable until she eventually removed Norton. I have no problems with mine but then of course being and office machine I don't surf porn, or download suspect files. When I get my g/f's laptop loaded with a new HDD and gOS, a version of Linux, I shall see how things go without any anti virus software.

- Peter.

[tyl604]

Pull up the free virus program called AVG by Grisoft. It is recommended by PC Magazine. I have used it for years on all my computers and have never had a virus. It does not have a reputation for slowing down computers.

[diametricalbenz]

Originally Posted by Ara T.

I'd say you could easily run without anti virus software, provided you never surfed for porn or used P2P programs like Limewire and BitTorrent to download games/music/movies/whatever.

How do you know....perhaps from downloading all of the above?

One way or another a virus, adware and or spyware is going to get through to the machine and in a split second it'll be ruined. I have seen it a hundred times and they had to pay handsomely in either money or cookies for data recovery at places I have worked for.

BTW I do data recoveries on a sliding cost scale.

[TMAllison]

The first 12 years I was online I never used anything except common sense.

Two years ago when "Gpa" got online and started sending me everything he couldn't open or didnt understand i've started using AVG free. I've set him up with Norton out of self preservation. Have also taught him to search Snopes b4 believing everything his friends send him.

[iwrock]

Originally Posted by diametricalbenz

How do you know....perhaps from downloading all of the above?

One way or another a virus, adware and or spyware is going to get through to the machine and in a split second it'll be ruined. I have seen it a hundred times and they had to pay handsomely in either money or cookies for data recovery at places I have worked for.

BTW I do data recoveries on a sliding cost scale.

So thats why my computer business has picked up in the Bay Area.



I do IT stuff for money... I do data recovery from damaged, corrupt, or erased drives. Well, I also design networks, systems, databases, etc.

[Ara T.]

Originally Posted by diametricalbenz

How do you know....perhaps from downloading all of the above?

One way or another a virus, adware and or spyware is going to get through to the machine and in a split second it'll be ruined. I have seen it a hundred times and they had to pay handsomely in either money or cookies for data recovery at places I have worked for.

BTW I do data recoveries on a sliding cost scale.

Well lately there have been a lot of trojans being packed into (pirated) software on BitTorrent. Also I used to work at CompUSA dealing with BS caused by all of the above. Porn and limewire were usually the culprits.

We charged 60 bucks, flat rate for data backup. There were a few people who balked at that who turned out to regret the decision after we wiped their OS

[tankdriver]

I couldn't imagine not having it. I have the free AVG software. I also use CCleaner, also free.
IIRC, AVG even caught something from some ad that was on MShop.

[compress ignite]

'Just a very large(capacity) storage device for: Anti-Virus,Anti-Spyware,Anti-
Spamware.
'Lost track 2 years ago of which updates automatically and how often.
Spybot S+D HAS finally accepted Ad Aware and stopped "Ratting it Out" every
time it scans.
CC Cleaner is great!
AVG picks up all the dross everything else leaves behind.
Avira AntiVir is an excellent 1st line of defense (Thanks Ghurka!).

All the Norton and Macfee products do is clog up your drives.