Who actually uses Antivirus?

[KeeperOfThePizza]

I never use anti virus at all, I dont feel it's necessary. I mean if you know what your doing and what your downloading I think your safe.

[S_Herbie]

I currently use NOD32, although in the past I have used Norton AV (going back to 2000), Norton 360 (Beta), AVG and no protection at all.

My license is due tp be renewed soon, so I am still undecided about what to use - I am not confident enough to go without as I am not the only user on the machine... Although, I do think that AV software in it's current format is not going to be around for a lot longer.

[YaZoR]

I have norton anti virus corporate running on my server, and i've got client AV on all my PC's just as peice of mind to be honest., and the good thing about the corportate is that there isn't really a GUI or uses loads of resources, it uses about 28k of memory.

28k?! Screenshot or lie. :p

[Ricardo Gil]

Not if you use a decent AV - that's exactly what they're meant to stop. I think it is foolish for people to use computers without an antivirus - even if it's only one of the free ones. It's ridiculous to think you'll be able to know if you've got a virus by simply looking at your process list occasionally. It's also ridiculous to think that "safe" practices will protect as even trusted sources like websites and new products (iPods, flash drives) can be infected. Heck, Neowin was compromised and pushed malware onto people's systems a while back. Still, I couldn't care less whether people want to stick their heads in the sand and pretend they know what they're doing - just don't come to me for sympathy / assistance.

I think you're twisting what I said. I never said it's 100% secure, nothing is. But I can tell you that using a good set of "Best Practices" is better than using any kind of AV on the market.

[+Ryster Subscriber²]

I don't use AV on my main gaming PC, however I do have AV on my file server box.

Anything I download gets put over the my file server and is therefore scanned before I launch it. And if some virus infects my PC, theres nothing terribly important on there and I just restore my Ghost image take when I built the machine.

[Volatile]

NAT router... now as long as you don't bring the virus to you...

Haven't used anti virus for over 5 years.

[markwolfe Veteran]

I think you're twisting what I said. I never said it's 100% secure, nothing is. But I can tell you that using a good set of "Best Practices" is better than using any kind of AV on the market.

Don't you think that using an anti-virus would be among the "best practices" you hold so dear? :ermm:

[+allan MVC]

As far as I'm concerned there is no reason NOT to use an AV. If you don't want to use one that's your business, but my recommendation is that everyone should use a top notch AV utility and make sure the definitions are always up to date. I've literally seen instances of systems being infected within 30 seconds of going online after the OS was installed

[gaurav]

I have an anti virus installed, but I enable it only when I am connected to any network or plugging in any storage media.

[s3pHiX]

I personally prefer an AV solution of some type, since in today's world you have no idea how Virus, Ad/Spyware infections will harm your PC, so you definitely need some sort of protection from that.

I've always used AVG, but really prefer Eset NOD32 now.

Thanks,

[SolidSapphire]

I use AVG now. I like NOD32 as well though. It's essential because you never know what you will run into. Even Neowin has been attacked.

[Ricardo Gil]

Don't you think that using an anti-virus would be among the "best practices" you hold so dear? :ermm:

That would create a paradox... having the AV as part of "best practices" for not needing an AV.

But I get your point, it should be used as an added security. It's just that for me in specific, that added security doesn't make up for the downside of having one installed.

[+allan MVC]

What possible downside can there be to having a good AV installed?

[markwolfe Veteran]

What possible downside can there be to having a good AV installed?

Stolen megahertz. :ninja:

[+allan MVC]

Stolen megahertz. :ninja:

Please.

[Burned]

I never use anti virus at all, I dont feel it's necessary. I mean if you know what your doing and what your downloading I think your safe.

LOL! I have come across viruses just browsing web pages. These weren't shady pages either. The viruses were coming from the advertisers they were using.

I use NOD32 for X64

[spacer]

I have one running, but I never "use" it because I'm smart about what goes onto my computer.

[Avatar Viper]

I have one running, but I never "use" it because I'm smart about what goes onto my computer.

haha. me too :D

[+allan MVC]

I have one running, but I never "use" it because I'm smart about what goes onto my computer.

If it's running then you are using it. And that's fine :)

[Ricardo Gil]

Please.

Mock all you want but back in the day I actually used AV's the perfomance hit was HUGE, and still I got burned.

Why buy a new computer and have it perform like it's 2+ years old? I'll take higher level security anyday.

And from what I see nowadays in other people's PC's, things haven't changed a bit performance wise.

[+allan MVC]

As I said earlier, if you don't want to use an AV that's your business. I happen to think it's a foolish choice though. And with that, I'll try to stop preaching :)

[SnowRanger13]

What possible downside can there be to having a good AV installed?

Paying for a good AV. When you use another OS then windows for most stuff and only use Windows for a few games it seems like a waste of money yearly. I probably won't use Windows at all with Crossover Games (built on Wine witch is a re-implementation of the Windows API, letting you run Windows applications in Linux/Mac OSX with very little overhead) is coming out and looks promising.

[markwolfe Veteran]

Mock all you want...

While I was making a joke, I wasn't mocking.

I'm OK with people preferring not to use one, as long as they understand the potential risks and accept the possible consequences (which may or may not ever happen).

I recommend using one, and think it is silly not to, but your PC is your PC, and you can run it any way you please. :)

[inactive]

i do use av(i always have)i prefer to play it safe.

thats pretty much the bottom line right there! ;)

on a side note... im fairly careful myself although there's always once in a great while that a virus does attempt to get into my pc.

it's just not smart if you ask me, no matter how good you are with PC's to not run a anti-virus program.

[+allan MVC]

While I was making a joke, I wasn't mocking.

I'm OK with people preferring not to use one, as long as they understand the potential risks and accept the possible consequences (which may or may not ever happen).

I recommend using one, and think it is silly not to, but your PC is your PC, and you can run it any way you please. :)

Actually I think he was talking to me :) - and I misinterpreted your post as being your actual feeling - sorry, I didn't go back and read the entire thread.

[Piggy]

I have to admit this thread gave me a good laugh.

Why is that (fill in the blank) people always say they know what they are doing so (fill in the blank) won't happen to them.

:laugh: