# Does Anybody not use Antivirus Software? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 30, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-not-use-antivirus-software/617323 "2012-03-30T21:14:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-not-use-antivirus-software/617323/81 "2012-04-06T02:52:39Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Hey, did anybody hear about 500,000 or so Macs in some kind of Trojan botnet? Thats impossible..macs are immune to viruses šŸ˜ƒ must be some scam perpetrated by microsoft to crush poor apple. ---
**Author:** ![ColdPhoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@ColdPhoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdPhoenix)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-not-use-antivirus-software/617323/82 "2012-04-07T07:47:39Z")
This thread was the first thing that came to my mind when I read the mac virus story! šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Bemused](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/46a35a/32.png) [@Bemused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bemused)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-not-use-antivirus-software/617323/83 "2012-04-07T08:09:49Z")
You name it, I run it. Windows, Linux, Mac. I develop for them too, all of 'em. I do not run any antivirus or any active antimalware software on any platform. My primary platform is Linux and all but one of my Windows installation are virtual machines hosted in Linux. On the Windows machines (2000, XP, and Win7 Pro) I do use software like spywareblaster which prevents malware from writing its stuff to the registry. However, since these are virtual machines, I have absolute control over their internet connections via iptables in Linux, and I exercise that control to only allow them to do what I want them to be able to do. Generally, theyā€™re just cut off from the internet, and when I do let them on I block them from a lot of things. On all platforms, I use Privoxy. I mostly browse with Firefox and I use noscript, and by default I donā€™t allow scripts. I only allow them case by case (even in Linux) as required to make a site useable. I do a substantial number of other things to protect my privacy. For instance, although I live in the USA, my current connection to this site appears to be from Germany, thanks to TOR. I not only never get malware infections, I am not successfully tracked around the web by anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-not-use-antivirus-software/617323/84 "2012-04-07T09:43:13Z")
Nah 500,000 Apples infected? Beowulf would have stomped on that! I tend to listen to people like Drach- and still run Trend. How many not having any form of anti virus have insurance on their car? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-not-use-antivirus-software/617323/85 "2012-04-07T10:36:34Z")
> [@Bemused](#): > > I do a substantial number of other things to protect my privacy. That seemsā€¦ excessive. Both excessively geeky, and somewhat paranoid, no offence intended. If only it wasnā€™t so complicated to be as secure as you, more people would opt for that Iā€™m sure. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-not-use-antivirus-software/617323/86 "2012-04-07T11:17:38Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > Nah 500,000 Apples infected? Beowulf would have stomped on that! > > I tend to listen to people like Drach- and still run Trend. > > How many not having any form of anti virus have insurance on their car? Since itā€™s illegal to drive without car insurance, probably most of us. Whatā€™s your point? ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-not-use-antivirus-software/617323/87 "2012-04-07T11:28:17Z")
Oh really? Your jurisdiction must apply throughout the world. I apologise for making you post. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-not-use-antivirus-software/617323/88 "2012-04-07T11:38:07Z")
Doubt Iā€™m wrong that most of the people in this thread live somewhere where it is illegal to drive without insurance. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-not-use-antivirus-software/617323/89 "2012-04-07T12:23:06Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > Nah 500,000 Apples infected? Beowulf would have stomped on that! > > I tend to listen to people like Drach- and still run Trend. > > How many not having any form of anti virus have insurance on their car? STOMP! Well, that 500,000 number is being bandied about with very little verification, so Iā€™m skeptical. I havenā€™t seen a _ **single** _ post from someone who has actually been afflicted by this malware (and Iā€™ve seen hundreds of posts from people who are worried). Not to say that it isnā€™t a significant and momentous event, but I seriously think itā€™s being over-hyped. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-not-use-antivirus-software/617323/90 "2012-04-07T12:32:48Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > How many not having any form of anti virus have insurance on their car? I have insurance on all four of our cars, our boat, and our jet ski. And homeownerā€™s insurance. And life insurance, health insurance, short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, plus we pay for an umbrella policy. I DID have anti-virus protection, but it didnā€™t stop my computer from getting infected. So much for ā€œinsurance.ā€ ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-not-use-antivirus-software/617323/91 "2012-04-07T12:53:41Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > STOMP! > > Well, that 500,000 number is being bandied about with very little verification, so Iā€™m skeptical. I havenā€™t seen a _ **single** _ post from someone who has actually been afflicted by this malware (and Iā€™ve seen hundreds of posts from people who are worried). Not to say that it isnā€™t a significant and momentous event, but I seriously think itā€™s being over-hyped. Well Iā€™m glad you stopped that - far too much going around I reckon. Pundit Lisa, I have insurance on my car but it didnā€™t stop some bastard swiping it at the car park. Insurance guarantees nothing- I could get it fixed and lose my no claim bonus. ---
**Author:** ![Bemused](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/46a35a/32.png) [@Bemused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bemused)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-not-use-antivirus-software/617323/92 "2012-04-07T15:55:03Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > That seemsā€¦ excessive. Both excessively geeky, and somewhat paranoid, no offence intended. > > If only it wasnā€™t so complicated to be as secure as you, more people would opt for that Iā€™m sure. I donā€™t believe it is possible to be paranoid enough about privacy, in the modern world. [http://online.wsj.com/public/page/what-they-know-digital-privacy.html](http://online.wsj.com/public/page/what-they-know-digital-privacy.html) ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-not-use-antivirus-software/617323/93 "2012-04-08T11:41:25Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > Pundit Lisa, I have insurance on my car but it didnā€™t stop some bastard swiping it at the car park. Insurance guarantees nothing- I could get it fixed and lose my no claim bonus. I donā€™t expect insurance to do anything except cover me financially should a covered event happen. Not sure what the connection is between that and anti-virus protection. (Perhaps you can expound on it since youā€™re the one who brought it up.) When a virus made it through my anti-viral software, they certainly didnā€™t offer to pay for the time I wasted trying to get rid of it, or the software I lost when I finally did a system restore. Hell, they didnā€™t even refund the money I paid for the subscription. They just said, ā€œSorry, we canā€™t catch everything!ā€ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anybody-not-use-antivirus-software/617323.md?page=4)