Anti-virus software, is it needed? a topical question.

M

mikekelly

New Member
Hello,

I guess I just wanted to open a topical debate on Anti-virus software and other related security software.

Do we really need it? and when I say we, I mean people who aint niave enough to download some dodgy looking files or a stupid enough to choose to click 'yes' when asked to download some stupid file that pops up when we visit a site.

What really got me asking this is I read an article In PC format (in the ask luis section) which basically ridiculed anti virus software and the market they have sometimes created for themselves. Antother article (which was in PC pro mag) remarked on who was responsible for protecting us from nasties in the first place?, it made a comparison to the supply of gas in which it stated, If someone worked out away to steal your bank details via your gas pipes (or any other utility for that matter) who would be responsible?, the gas board, the government? which I think is a valid point, who should be paying for all this and is there a real threat worth paying for if you are a
cautous surfer.

On top of that spyware removal apps, I would guess the last six spyware scans I have did removed nothing but cookies which are pretty harmless although some spyware apps regard them as a moderate threat Its somethin you can delete manually if you clean your cache out regulary.

All said and done, there is lots of free apps to download for your PC but how many do you need to be running and why do you have to pay for the big names and why do the persit on scaremongering new computer users into thinking they cant do with out it.

As I stated this is a topical discussion, I understand there are many people on this forum who understand computing much better than me but I would be curious to know your views on this.
 
The short answer is "yes, we all need protection". I infect my VM from certain websites, very innocuous sites, as soon as i click the link, my AV on the main comp starts going mental, it's called a "drive-by download". No amount of responsible behaviour can protect against that. If you go surfing unprotected, it's asking for trouble.
 
I understand you point Buzz (and your knowledge on the subject :) ) but in reference to another point regarding the two authors if you like that didnt care to use any protection, would you agree that a careful browser dosent need protection other than knowledge on where to avoid a virus and how to delete one manually should he be infected?

also, I guess I missed this off the main thread, when corperate industry is probably the biggest investor in AV another security apps. Why do they pay so much when a skidda like the dude from london (who access all the main USA goverment website/networks) can access all there systems with very little knowldege. even though he was dumb enough to get caught surely there is more able people around to break security without being caught.
 
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mikekelly said:
would you agree that a careful browser dosent need protection other than knowledge on where to avoid a virus and how to delete one should he be infected?
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I would say yes, but that's alot of extra work that you can easily avoid by "shutting the door" to your computer with an AV software that prevents all of that work in the first place. I think I am right in saying that any malware/virus can be removed from a machine with time and of course the "know-how"...but why waste all your time doing that when you can easily prevent it with an AV software in the first place?
 
4W4K3 said:
I would say yes, but that's alot of extra work that you can easily avoid by "shutting the door" to your computer with an AV software that prevents all of that work in the first place. I think I am right in saying that any malware/virus can be removed from a machine with time and of course the "know-how"...but why waste all your time doing that when you can easily prevent it with an AV software in the first place?
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but cant a smart person leave the door closed in the first place? how many nasties have you had since you became wise to the threat?

before Anti-vir and such when the security industry was ripe who di you pay to tell you what you all ready know?
 
mikekelly said:
I understand you point Buzz (and your knowledge on the subject :) ) but in reference to another point regarding the two authors if you like that didnt care to use any protection, would you agree that a careful browser dosent need protection other than knowledge on where to avoid a virus and how to delete one manually should he be infected?

also, I guess I missed this off the main thread, when corperate industry is probably the biggest investor in AV another security apps. Why do they pay so much when a skidda like the dude from london (who access all the main USA goverment website/networks) can access all there systems with very little knowldege. even though he was dumb enough to get caught surely there is more able people around to break security without being caught.
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On your first point, yes, if your browsing habits are like mine (BBC, CNN, and a few forums) on my main comp, but most people don't know how to get rid of a virus if their AV can't do it.

On your second point, the really clever people are writing spyware and adware, that's where the money is. :)
 
I guess also one of the questions that might go un-answered is who should actually pay for the projection? There are to ways you can look at this, the 'car insurance way' and the ' gas pipe theory way' both have a different perspective and different consequence and different finanical implentations.

where do you stand?
 
Buzz1927 said:
On your first point, yes, if your browsing habits are like mine (BBC, CNN, and a few forums) on my main comp, but most people don't know how to get rid of a virus if their AV can't do it.

On your second point, the really clever people are writing spyware and adware, that's where the money is. :)
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cool, I agree with your first point i guess i agree 100%, although you dont get infected more than 0 times a year by anyhting even remotley serious:) , rather your second point, by your logic, there is no security breach because all the people who are smart enough to breach the security are writing it? is this true? no, because security still gets breached (and i would glady suggest there is 1 smart ass in IT for every smart ass not in IT who understands IT as well or better than the industry simply because he has followed his own path that dosent blind him from security issues and his professional IT skills un-aknowlegded simple because the indursty rules all and he is not part of IT as far as industry is concerned) and security still has to improve to stop being breached. So are you suggesting that people who breach security are ex-spwyare program writers or just people you have forgot or just people you dont acknowldge to be people smart enough to know how to breach security in the industry you think the smartest people all ready work? to answer the question you have to allow the world of computers to be bigger than your mind? and Im sorry, I say again I am not a computer expert, but rather someone who can understand...I guess I would make a good lawyer :)
 
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