cozumel

I was browsing through HardForum and it appears that a significant number of their members, for whatever reason, don't have any antivirus software installed.

So now I'm curious.

Please feel free to vote in this poll.


Edit: Wasn't sure to whether to post in the software forum but thought that more people visit off-topic. Please move this poll if you feel it is appropriate. Thanks

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Zelig

I don't use one, I'm careful in my computer use, keep everything up to date, and have never inadvertantly installed a virus on any of my computers.

However, I'd say they're necessary for the majority of computer users.

Not sure what I should vote for, as neither of the "No" options really matches my opinion.

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Sandok

Kaspersky ftw!

jp306

I voted yes, but I wouldn't pay for it. There are some good free Antivirus Programs out there like Avast(That's what I use) and AVG.

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Falstaff

I think someone would be a real doofweener if they chose not to use AV.
just my two cents really.

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EcPercy

Been running AVG for awhile now.

I could get SAV from work free, but I see no reason to use it since SAV seems to think it needs to disable Windows Defender (in Vista) in order to run.

cozumel

Wouldn't that be the "No, I don't need one" option.

BTW, how do you know you haven't got any viruses?

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cozumel

Agreed. That's what I hate about these goddam polls. There's no going back to edit the options.

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Vikingod

I use avast and have for years. I wouldn't run my system without AV, no reason to not have it installed.

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Zelig

Yes, it would be the "No, I don't need one" option, except I don't see any option with that wording in the poll. I don't think they're not needed or a waste of money in general, I just don't need one personally.

A virus wouldn't be doing much if I did have any, everything runs as it shoulds, I know what all my running processes are, I monitor all my network activity, I'm networked to computers with AV programs in my house with which I share large amounts of files.

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BlueMak

Zelig you are just asking for trouble. No reason whatsoever to not use at least a free anti virus.

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The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

Randomletters

Heres a good reason blue.

Im currently using linux as my main operating system and while yes there are linux based virus' its no where near as risky as keeping a windows based pc antivirus free. While on a windows box I rely on a free AV

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Hurock

Yes, proud user of NOD32!

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Da_Jewish_Fonzy

Avg

cozumel

Thats another option I should have had. I dual boot with XP or Linux and probably use each os on 50/50 basis. I don't have any AV protection on Linux as the risk is minimal. I use NOD32 for XP.

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Zardon

Its a social thing, like running linux. it is perseved as being extremely cool. If you don't use an antivirus client you are "able" to deal with anything thrown at you, manually, whether it is email viruses, malcious scripts on websites or trojans. You are also able to double your frame rate because you have one less running process and another 50k of available memory.

I have a friend, who dual boots windows and a linux distro and told me for years he never needed an antivirus client on windows, he is a self proclaimed "guru". which is great, until 5 years later he lost most of the files on his hard drives due to a rogue virus he mistakenly opened. Of course he blamed his sister.

I found it quite hilarious.

Tipstaff

I use Symantec Anti-Virus 10 Corporate Edition on all my personal machines, and I usually install BitDefender 8 Free Edition or AVG Free on all the machines I sell unless a client has purchased one. Along with that I usually install XoftSpy, Spybot S&D, and SpywareBlaster with the last 2 on clients machines too (since they're free).

However, on the other 4 machines at work I run different AV on each, such as Kaspersky Internet Security, Trend Micros PC-cillin Internet Security, which are the best 2 I have ever used, and McAfee Internet Security and Panda Platinum, which are the cheapest OEM software you can buy, and the ones people buy the most. The main reason is that I sell those AV software, and I need to know how they run for when a client calls if they ever have an issue with it. Although, I usually shy people away from Panda these days though due to their incompetence. They once had a great AV software, but now, they suck. They have the worst customer service out of all AV suppliers, and have consistent issues with their registration/cdkey system where their 1 year subscriptions end in 90 days (and they are unwilling to resolve the issue with you). If you buy it once from them your fine for the year. Renew it, or buy a new version, your screwed.

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Grace

I don't care that much about AV and Anti-Spyware software, but I always keep AVG installed. It's free and it doesn't consume a lot of resources. There is no reason at all why not to install it.

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mainman

That is sooo f'in true and hilarious....

GutterPunk

No, its not needed and is a waste of money

Haven't used one forever and still don't. I reformat enough it doesn't matter.

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Zardon

well im not sure how free clients are a waste of money, but then again you are very cool gutterpunk so I guess its fitting with your image

u = greatest dude

mainman

hey..it's the 1337 thing to do..lol

mkk

Absolutely critical for anyone who might ask me to help when their system acts wierdly. Just not any Norton security suites or I'll eventually get questions about that instead... Lately I've only used Avast for manual scanning on my own system. AVG Free on others.

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Zelig

Well, last time I had checked, there wasn't any 64-bit compatible free (nor any commercial solutions that I felt like trying) AV software, I see Avast has added support.

I back everything up though, my hard drives in this computer could all die simultaneously, and I'd just be inconvenienced with the time it would take to order new drives and copy everything back over.

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cozumel

NOD32 is Vista 64-bit compatible.

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OmegaRED

The Hand of Nod32 protects my PC.

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Tipstaff

I can understand that if you format your computer all the time that you might think you don't need it, or that you backup your computer all the time so that if you ever got a virus you could afford to redo everything in a heart beat. However, what IF your backedup data was, or always has been infected? If you've never had an AV software installed on your PC you'd never know you had a virus, right? Then, once you accessed the data on that drive or media you run the risk of reinfection, but then, you'd never know until it's too late. All you'd know is that your PC is running slow, or there is too much internet traffic, so you decide to backup your data, again, which could be infected, again, and reformat/install.

Also, you can look at the startup programs all you want, being careful of what gets installed, or what processes are running, but if it's a rookit, something of which is very rampantly running around right now, you would never know it's there, because in most cases it hides itself even from the OS itself. Besides which, did you know there are a dozen startup locations within Windows that can be used for launching programs and viruses? Places like the print spooler? Not to mention about the same amount of files that can be used for the same purpose? Probably not, right? Well most AV software do. By the time you figure it out things will have gotten out of hand, and all your data could be compromised. Hell, not to mention any data you sent to others could be too.

Free is free. Sure, with a free AV software comes a certain level of protection, maybe less than what you'd get if you paid for it, but why risk anything when it's not costing you a thing for even the slightest bit of protection?

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mike2h

iguess as long as u dont email & tranfer progs,etc to other peeps comps having no av is ok. but anybody that emails on a reg basis & gives files to other peeps in whatever fashion & doesnt have av installed is just an ass imo.

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BlueMak

You don't need to transfer files to get infected. It is possible to visit a web site and still get infected without clicking on any link.

Zelig, I can't comment on the 64bit bit, but if you have a virus and you constantly back up your data, how on Earth do you know that you don't already have a virus not only on your PC but also on all your data?

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The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

Robert McClelland

huh Me I never had virus in years which is truth lol Unless you go bad sites that try highjack your IE lol. Me I used all kinds virus protection I have fix it pro 2007 avg scans all the time and for firewall I used Zonealarm SI or Mcafee totat protection even though I got for free after rebates. I just hate because you can't shut it down like ZASS do. So I'm going back to ZASS because I have a free full year a key I beta tested them still good hehe. And you can shut off you play games and stuff but since I won that free router from zonelabs which has build in firewall and anti virus I'm total protection now lol I'd can't wait get my wireless boardband This Wed afternoon.

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