Lobsang
Oh there’s definitely a need for anti-virus software.
I’ve been using Trend Micro PC-Cillin which (allegedly) blocks viruses (viri??) , malware and trojans. It seems to do a good job but since this is the Dope, what do the more knowledgeable folks think of it?
To reinstall OS, progs, and reconfigure everything (assuming you remember everything) as it was took me 4 days not long ago when I was forced to do so (not because of a virus). Although not all of that required operator presence; if you don’t keep a close eye on what’s going on, you may come back to the computer after an expected 2-hour procedure and find out it was asking you something during the first 5 minutes and is still waiting for an answer.
A disk image restore is much better, but that needs to be balanced with the time it takes to make an image backup and the fact that the computer cannot be used for anything else during the procedure.
My Antivirus program didn’t find any viruses. So what is the point of having it in my case? If I was bitten despite having run a complete scan and found nothing what is the point of it?
BTW the ebay thing is the first and only thing ever to have happened to me in thirteen or more years of antivirus-free computer usage.
OK… well, carry on then. Just seemed like a bit more than coincidence to me.
A while back, I had a problem with a site I visited-it said that the FLASH SW I had was interfering, causing my machine to crash. I deleted FLASH (the version I had), and now, my Internet service (VERIZON DSL) provides AVS for free (McAfee). Unfortunaley, it (McAfee) prevents me from downloading FLASH-so I can’t vie YOUTUBE any more.
What should i do?
I just felt like a rant. I’ll continue using it. And probably do a complete system reinstall soon.
Uninstall the Mcafee, then install AVG Free Edition. Then reinstall Adobe Flash Player 9.0.
I support cutting edge computer scientists and engineers for a living. A good antivirus program is essential. The threat may be overstated at times, but the number of systems that have had to be pulled from the network as security risks until they were completely wiped and reimaged by me or my peers is not a small number. There are people out there who are very smart and are looking to use your computer as a surreptitious vector for their own agendas.
And I won’t say that AVG is perfect, but it is an excellent and free product which is updated daily. If you aren’t using decent antivirus, spyware, and firewall tools, and you use your computer online, then it would be amazing if you don’t have some infection, though it may be subtle.
[computer shop owner hat on]
I am on the fence…it is a fact, especially in product centric businesses, that AV and spyware issues are blown WAAY out of proportion to move the latest $69 copy of Norton internet Security 2k3,2k4,2k5,2k6…etc.
In more service centered businesses, we make our money on the labor so we don’t care about selling stuff we point people at all the cool freebies.
Open office, AVG, superantispyware, zone alarm, dozens of my customers are chugging along on these products and happily did not spend $300 on brand name software to perform the same tasks.
However running with no AV protection at all, especially in a business where down time can cost you real money, is just stupid.
My new crusade is secure offsite backups…possibly because I am now a reseller of www.mozy.com 's pro service. 
Just adding to the AVG / spybot testafyin’.
For me it blocked the “WinAntispyware2007” trojan/ virus/ whatever that was the reason for this http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=431870&highlight=computer+virus
thread. About once a month or so it warns me and I do a full system check.
My computer god tells me I have a very clean system. I like him, he gets benefits. (OT I know, but I’ve had a recent ‘system check’ of my own.
If it takes you this long to do these things, you’re doing it wrong. For example, you can completely skip step two (and half of three) by using nLite to slipstream everything into the installer.
I know about that. However, as a piece of advice to the average home computer user, it’s about as useful as suggesting they fly to the moon.
I understand why so many people dislike Norton products from the complaints I’ve heard over the years, but I’ve been using Norton AntiVirus at work and at home for over 10 years and have never had any problems. Never had any viruses, and never had a problem with the program. Maybe I’m just lucky?
Right, since there has never been a Mac virus. :rolleyes:
I used to recommend Autopatcher, which was an excellent off-line Windoze patch tool. I could install from a pre-SP1 WinXP disk and update to SP2 + all current security patches without ever connecting to the net to expose the PC to potential infection. Sadly, MS shut down the project after looking the other way for 4 whole years. What a loss!
No anti-virus software for me either. I haven’t been infected since DOS days when I got the Stoner virus. I don’t think I knew what a virus was back then.
Conventional wisdom has been if you don’t run IE and Outlook, you have much less to worry about. I think IE and Outlook have been largely fixed, but they are still the target of much malware.
The secrets to not getting infected are Firefox, Opera, and a good firewall. I use Firefox for everyday surfing, if I go to a no-CD crack site or something I’ll use Opera. I run a firewall and understand it, I know which ports I do and don’t want open on my system.
And if I’m suspicious of a file before I run it I scan it here: http://virusscan.jotti.org/
Much more useful to suggest they ask a nerd buddy for a copy of WinUe, LastXP, or similar. Throw it in the drive, boot, watch TV. Come back, tick off all the programs that you have licences for, watch more TV. Connect to Win Update, download a month or two worth of patches, keep on trucking.
In fact, it’s worth doing on general principles, since the default install options are far more secure than a standard XP install.