Question of the week: do you use antivirus software?

[HEXUS]

Antivirus software has evolved rapidly, but do more knowledgeable users still require a software solution to keep them safe?

Read more.

[chuckskull]

NOD32 Though I have to admit, that its been a long time since it flagged anything. Guess I'm just more cautious now.

The only time it has recently was someone else getting an MSN virus and trying to send it to me. TBH if a mate of mine from London suddenly starts speaking in really broken English and wants to send me lots of dodgy looking files, it gives me a hint

[Noxvayl]

NOD32 here as well Its a great program, uses such a small amount of resources you hardly notice its there. I also haven't had anything flagged for quite a while now but caution is best as in-between purchasing licences I got a virus

[shadowmaster]

It’s been a long time since I last had a major virus or trojan resulting from my own activity. However I still need an anti virus just in case I receive files from family and friends who are not as careful as me

[nFuriate]

I have no antivirus software on my PC. Frustrates me more than anything so... Computers been living fine without it.

[DevilMayCry42]

Norton, actually.
I don't see why everyone bashes it, I don't see it taking up TOO much RAM, plus I have a lot to go around anyway.

[lodore]

Kaspersky here.
the new 2009 version has white listing and a new HIPS for better proactive protection. along with the hourly updates.
my twoc omputers are malware free. mainly keep it active due to the number of legitimate site sbeing hacked and hosting malware until the company finds out and changes the site back.

[neonplanet40]

AVG Free. Lets be honest who actually gets a virus these days? I don't. However if you open an email saying click here for £10000 then what do you expect to find

No if your smart you should never really need one. I just have this to give me that required placebo effect which tells me im safe.

[Bob Crabtree]

I think that the question may not address the answer that's needed.

In my view, people absolutely do need anti-virus software but an additional BIG threat today comes from those nasties which attempt to take advantage of you, not just bugger up your computer or your head.

And, trouble is, too often, folk lump everything together with viruses (as, has happened here, me thinks), forgetting (or not realising) that they'll also need protection against Trojans, spyware, malware, keyloggers, etc.

Now, some anti-virus apps claim to address all these threats but some don't and can't - and some don't and can't and make no mention of the fact!

Typically, if you run freebies, you'll need multiple apps to cover all sides.

If you are willing/able to stump up the cash, you'll need an app that addresses all threats.

Here, I no longer use freebies - except to sometimes check that, in fact, my paid-for stuff is doing its job ie when I get paranoid.

All my PCs (six-plus) are now protected by Kaspersky Internet Security Suite 7, which is as good as all the unbiased reviews say it is (actually, in my view, a bit better), and a whole lot better than the two big-name apps (especially the older versions which do not protect against anything except viruses).

Oh and some of my email addresses (non-HEXUS) are so widely known (and so have got on to so many spam databases) that I use Spam Sleuth Pro to trap the many hundreds of spams that arrive here every day - many of them loaded with nasties that Kaspersky spots and kills.

Bob

[directhex]

avast on my rarely used windows partition, nothing on any of my linux systems. the wife has kaspersky

don't see the point in buying AV for an os i rarely boot and don't care about anyway (formatting is easy)

[menthel]

Kasperky (free with a magazine for 6 months) and avast for the others. Not had any problems in a very long time, but better safe than sorry.

[Lee H]

I use Kaspersky IS 7 on my main PC at home as it's in the DMZ of the router and as such has unadulterated access to the internet.

It's all part of the using the internet to have security software installed. Anyone who has an operating system which is plagued with holes (Windows for example) needs to ensure they're secure before going online.

Going online without protection is probably like sleeping with a hooker without using protection. You never know what your going to catch once your on it

[Lucio]

I usually rely on a security package, more for it's firewall and anti-spyware capabilities rather than just for the anti-virus. There are times when you may do a bad Google search and end up on a dodgy website, or as Yoyotech showed last year, even the most trustworthy sites can get hacked by malicious users.

You simply cannot say your "safe" on an online machine because you know about computers.

[Saracen]

I use a paid-for package, but it's been a LONG time since it's hit an alert. If you're careful what you do and where you go, and don't use dodgy software from iffy resources, my experience suggests that a properly set up OS is pretty resilient.

But for belt and braces reasons, and peace of mind, I still use AC software. It's cheap enough to not care about it, and there are good free alternatives. And the impact on system performance isn't an issue for me. So why wouldn't I?

[Rolphus]

I haven't done for a long time. I use nothing on Vista machine, and nothing on my Mac. I didn't use anything on my old XP partition either. I think the last time I had a resident AV scanner was 2002, but I'm not sure.

[Nikumba]

Dont use it never have done on my home machine. I use Vista Ult, so leave its security tools switched on, just know what to click on and what not to click on, if I do ahve to go to a dodgy site then I use a virtual xp machine and delete it once done with it

Kimbie