Do you really need an Antivirus?

The Black Shadow · May 04, 2014 12:44 PM

For awhile I had Avast installed on my Windows 8 laptop, but since I found that it never alerted me to any kind of problem, I removed it from my system. I know that isn't recommended, but I feel like an AV installed is like having training wheels on a bike. Once you know how to stay safe on the internet, the training wheels can come off. I keep my computer up to date, third party programs up to date, and I scan regularly with Malwarebytes. So for me I personally don't think it's necessary to have an AV installed.

Your thoughts? Do you think it's necessary to have one?

Clock-la · May 04, 2014 3:05 PM

Enjoy your viruses x

36IStillLikeSpyro36 · May 04, 2014 3:54 PM

... Malwarebytes *is* an anti-virus program, isn't it?

Stormy · May 04, 2014 4:39 PM

Yes, but it's an on-demand scanner rather than one that's always working in the background.

In my (somewhat) professional opinion, you should really never be online without an antivirus, especially if you're using Windows. An antivirus is not "training wheels" that you just grow out of by knowing what you're doing; it's a necessity that both periodically checks for and protects you from threats. Just because it's not telling you anything is wrong now doesn't mean nothing will ever be wrong, and in fact it could be that your system has only b been safe thus far because you had the AV. All the safe practices in the world can't keep you safe from everything; there is malware that can get on your system without you having to try to download anything, without you knowing about it, and you'd never know because it would just run sneakily in the background.

The only way I would EVER even kind of think it's okay to use Windows with no AV is if you either never connect to the internet or you're okay with completely reinstalling Windows every couple weeks or so.

Last edited by Stormy (May 12, 2014 9:12 PM)

Flapjacks · May 04, 2014 5:48 PM

A lot of people make the misconception that Macs can't get viruses. This is wrong. It's just that most viruses are only made to work for a particular OS. I got a virus on my android device once. It kept spamming me with chinese ads ;_;. The reason it's harder to get viruses on a Mac is easy to understand. Why bother making viruses for a useless operating system? HOH ZING

Swaffy · May 04, 2014 6:22 PM

Here's the thing.

Day by day computer guys write new malware programs because they either enjoy it or simply because they can do it. The reasons can go on for a while. If you don't have any way to protect yourself from their malware, consider your computer AND yourself their playground. They might even put a logical (digital) key logger on your computer that records every single key you press (including when you type log-in information).

And if you don't secure yourself they might even view your screen as if you were running a screen share with them. They can also take over your controls (mouse, keyboard, etc) on your system and do whatever they want.

So yes, anti-malware is very important.

Last edited by Swaffy (May 04, 2014 6:24 PM)

CuttingEdge · May 04, 2014 6:39 PM

I'll put it as simply as i can: If you have many experience with malware, viruses etc. Then you should need only some sysinternals (Eventually MalwareBytes (it's free to use)). If you are green in this stuff then try some antiviruses like Kaspersky, AVG, COMODO etc. (heard they are pretty good). Just try different antiviruses and see which one works best for you.

NeoReaper · May 04, 2014 10:54 PM

Also include a good firewall, mine picked up a port scanner the other day trying to find an open port on my router and blocked it. Find a good one, keep the good one. (Me is Bitdefender)

Last edited by NeoReaper (May 04, 2014 10:55 PM)

Clock-la · May 05, 2014 8:33 AM

I'm not an expert on al this stuff you bare on about..but isn't this like saying "I know how not to get a cold," then not doing anything to avoid getting a cold? I mean better safe than sorry right?

Slvr99 · May 05, 2014 4:10 PM

Well, I can safely say that I literally have No AV on both my PCs. The only two instances of an infection my PC got was a long time ago when I was stupid, my PC got infected and I had to format most of the drive. The other is a minor little one that is in the form of a Google Chrome Ad-on(GET IT? AD-ON? CUZ IT'S AN AD! ehh... forget it...) that isn't too horrible. I still can't seem to remove it, even with the built-in Windows AV stuff(Which is the only form of AV on my PC, and I can tell you I don't use it often at all). I "fixed" it by switching to Chromium. I really believe if you surf responsibly you can avoid threatening viruses. Don't download crap or click ads or visit risky websites. Chrome even stops you from going to certain website if it thinks it's malicious!

Swaffy · May 05, 2014 4:34 PM

Slvr99, your computer can be loaded with malware without you knowing it. If someone makes a malicious program, they don't want you to know you have it. Not like it's going to pop up with a message saying "You have my virus! Yay!"

Slvr99 · May 05, 2014 4:51 PM

Swaffy wrote:

Slvr99, your computer can be loaded with malware without you knowing it. If someone makes a malicious program, they don't want you to know you have it. Not like it's going to pop up with a message saying "You have my virus! Yay!"

I understand, but nothing has happened yet, and the PC is running fine still. I know I'll probably be sorry IF it does get infected, but I hope that never happens. But AV slows a PC down considerably, and for a Gaming PC, that's not good.

CuttingEdge · May 05, 2014 4:55 PM

Swaffy wrote:

Slvr99, your computer can be loaded with malware without you knowing it. If someone makes a malicious program, they don't want you to know you have it. Not like it's going to pop up with a message saying "You have my virus! Yay!"

True. But if you're not completely green, it doesn't have to. You can see your PC's acting too slow, or just notice that homepage/search engine has changed all from itself for an example.

Gekoncze · May 05, 2014 5:08 PM

Or they can upload some stuff from your computer, get your passwords secretly, watch your personal stuff etc... You should be careful especially with internet banking.

Stormy · May 05, 2014 7:13 PM

There's really no good reason not to use one. It's like Swaffy says, you could be infected with tons of crap, and you would never know until it's too late. The only downside is a slight performance decrease, but isn't that worth it to keep your PC clean? And really, I think if an AV is slowing down your PC so much that you're noticing performance issues, you either need a better computer or a better AV. I never notice mine at all unless I have it scanning at that moment.

I also have to point out that when you get viruses you can spread them to other people. To use Clock-la's analogy of a cold, going online with no AV would be kind of like going around hugging everyone while you're contagious. That's why even when Macs were supposedly immune to viruses, some people still recommended having an AV just to protect Windows users and stop malware from spreading.

Swaffy · May 05, 2014 8:59 PM

Stormy wrote:

... I also have to point out that when you get viruses you can spread them to other people. To use Clock-la's analogy of a cold, going online with no AV would be kind of like going around hugging everyone while you're contagious. ...

Oh my, I almost forgot about worms and other types that spread through networks.

The Black Shadow · May 06, 2014 1:58 AM

I suppose I see your points. I have re installed Avast.

Stormy · May 06, 2014 3:34 PM

It's probably worth noting that I've been pretty paranoid about this kind of thing ever since I got that unexplained virus. It was one of those search engine redirectors, so nothing too serious, but I was still scared that if that could get on my computer without me knowing, worse stuff probably could too. Now I use ad-ons that block ads and scripts, and even have an antivirus on my phone, and I still can't even honestly guarantee that any of my computers are completely clean.

I also worked at the school IT helpdesk in college, and I saw some pretty messed up computers, haha. And this was on a network that required an antivirus to even get online.

Swaffy · May 06, 2014 4:39 PM

The Black Shadow wrote:

I suppose I see your points. I have re installed Avast.

If you are worried about your antivirus annoying you with pop-ups and such, I'd like to suggest either Kaspersky (paid) or Microsoft Security Essentials (free). Those are just my personal favorites, I'm sure there are other good ones out there. I use MSE and it is very unintrusive and works well in the background.

Last edited by Swaffy (May 06, 2014 4:39 PM)

CuttingEdge · May 06, 2014 4:41 PM

Stormy wrote:

It's probably worth noting that I've been pretty paranoid about this kind of thing ever since I got that unexplained virus. It was one of those search engine redirectors, so nothing too serious, but I was still scared that if that could get on my computer without me knowing, worse stuff probably could too. Now I use ad-ons that block ads and scripts, and even have an antivirus on my phone, and I still can't even honestly guarantee that any of my computers are completely clean.
I also worked at the school IT helpdesk in college, and I saw some pretty messed up computers, haha. And this was on a network that required an antivirus to even get online.

I can smell a virus on a lenght of one mile. Not just through performance decrease, even by processes which cannot be closed (restarts 3 seconds after killing it) or having suspicious names. (just like stij.exe (that's a one big piece of annoying malware)), i have some average experience with malware, adwares, worms. I'm using only MalwareBytes and AdwCleaner (among a few sysinternals), and that's good enough for me.

Stormy, if your search engine has been redirected to some crap (like snap.do/do-search) then i recommend you to download AdwCleaner from Xplode Team's official website and delete everything it detects. (Folders, files, services, substituted shortcuts, registry keys/values, everything) .And if you want something to scan for viruses then download MalwareBytes and quick-scan (MB is free (best if you download Chameleon addon for it, it makes it impossible for a malware to become "Invincible" for MB) Some viruses use that option. "Kryptik" is just the worst thing i can think of for you to catch >.<

Swaffy · May 06, 2014 4:53 PM

If I don't know what a process/exe is I just Google it. That's how I learned about all of the processes that run on my system. big_smile

CuttingEdge · May 06, 2014 5:17 PM

Yeah, for example rundll23.exe ;D That's a hard one to guess: "System" xD

The Black Shadow · May 07, 2014 1:38 AM

Swaffy wrote:

The Black Shadow wrote:
I suppose I see your points. I have re installed Avast.
If you are worried about your antivirus annoying you with pop-ups and such, I'd like to suggest either Kaspersky (paid) or Microsoft Security Essentials (free). Those are just my personal favorites, I'm sure there are other good ones out there. I use MSE and it is very unintrusive and works well in the background.

I used to use Kaspersky, actually. My mother has a paid version of the 2013 version, but I don't know if I were to install it that I could receive a free upgrade hmm I was able to when I had it on another computer. But as for Microsoft Security essentials, I personally wouldn't feel safe with it. And if I'm not mistaken it's built into Windows 8.

For now I'm content with Avast.

Swaffy · May 07, 2014 6:41 AM

You have used Avast and you know it, so don't feel pressured to use anything else. And I've heard it's a fine AV program.

Unless I am getting it mixed with AVG ... I forget. No, I remember not liking AVG.

The Black Shadow · May 07, 2014 2:56 PM

AVG is one of the worst I here.

#1 May 04, 2014 12:44 PM

Do you really need an Antivirus?

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