Do I really need antivirus software

[Vince]

As well as using 2008 R2 as a desktop I’m using it as a server too (Windows Workgroup, nothing fancy) but I follow good security practises such as:

Never running files which I’m not familiar with.
Running as a standard user as opposed to an Administrator.
Using browsers sandboxed.

On another forum the general idea was that I should have one installed anyway just in case I come across a dodgy site, however I’m pretty sure that it surely wouldn’t be able to just run a random file through a browser? and I don’t have Java installed either so malware through that isn’t a possibility.

I’d just like to know your opinions on this because I don’t really think that I need one installed at all.

As a long time Slackware and CentOS user I just don’t think it’s necessary to run A/V software in Windows if you keep up to good security practises however since I’ve only been using Windows full time for a year (I’ve been using Linux for the last 8 years so the last time I used Windows full time at home would have been with Windows 2000) I’m not sure if it really is necessary or not given the way I use my computer.

[aviv00]

its depended

if u downloading stuff from good places
and u advanced user then u can bypass AV

but if ur pc is used by another ppls its needed

[Indrek]

Also, if you use a flash drive to transfer files between your computer and another, I’d recommend having an anti-virus available for checking the drive, even if you don’t use it for real-time protection.

[Vince]

@Indrek wrote:

Also, if you use a flash drive to transfer files between your computer and another, I’d recommend having an anti-virus available for checking the drive, even if you don’t use it for real-time protection.

Yeah I’ve actually installed Comodo on here because obviously Avast Home doesn’t work and quite rightly so as it’s not designed to, once you disable the defence + and sandbox Comodo isn’t too bad!

Resource usage isn’t too bad on Comodo so that’s that sorted 🙂

[aviv00]

@Indrek wrote:

Also, if you use a flash drive to transfer files between your computer and another, I’d recommend having an anti-virus available for checking the drive, even if you don’t use it for real-time protection.

just disable auto run
i use vlite to pre config it

[Indrek]

Disabling autorun on the drive doesn’t give you full protection against malware, it only helps ensure the malware doesn’t run before you get a chance to scan the drive. If you don’t scan at all, though, your system will still be compromised if you manually open an infected file.

[Author]

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