Tech Tip of the Week: How I Keep Clean Without an Antivirus Guarding My System

I have Core i7 as well now but I was talking about since I started using computers (1997). If you read all the comments and my last comment, you will know that performance is not the only reason why some people stopped using AV 24/7.
There are other and better ways of making your PC more secure and stable then just relying on AV and leaving it on 24/7 thinking you’re safe.
I have managed to survive with out AV so far and I don't think I will ever install one.

I absolutely refuse to use any antivirus OR software firewall. (however my router does have a firewall)

They are TOTALLY unnecessary and a complete CON.

Why spend money slowing down my PC, when all you have to do is exercise common sense.

I have had a PC for 15 years, and the only time I had a virus was when Norton uploaded one to me via an update.

Antivirus programs don't just prevent, they diagnose. How do you know you don't have something very quiet?

I wasn't being specific to any one person when I said what I said. I have always run antivirus software. I used the windows built in firewall and safe browsing habits and antivirus software mean I feel quite safe knowing that if I get a trojan or something that want to fire my information into the ether, I will get a warning and be able to react.

I think its quite unrealistic and maybe even irresponsible to tell people they dont need antivirus. I do not think people need norton or mcafee but I do know that there are plenty of good free solutions out there that dont slow the machine to a crawl.

The days of 4mb graphics cards and turning off antivirus to increase the framerate in quake are over. Multicore, ram to burn and raid. And keep everything safe with a good AV program to diagnose bad stuff. You only need to get unlucky once and you won't know about it but all your details might be in the possesion of randoms. No thanks seriously, no matter how safe you are. Its like driving third party on my car insurance - I know I dont usually cause accidents and I drive safely but if I get unlucky and hit something I will have to pay for everything out of my own pocket. Screw that - I would rather go fully comprehensive and save the worry.

Or just use a Mac.

But seriously, I use Windows daily, have 5 Windows machines at home (mostly for games), and one at work. I haven't used an anti-virus solution at home since before I first bought a Winders machine over 12 years ago (I used to use Disinfectant on my old Macs). I've had ONE infected machine in that time, and it was due to hooking up an un-patched Windows 2000 system directly to a cable network, and before I could even patch it had been owned like nobody's business (I was in the process of moving, so didn't have my NAT box or anything else handy).

I don't use an OS-based firewall either. It's useful for most people, though, if it checks outgoing connections, but for me it's pretty useless.

I also download plenty of skankware, unauthorized patches (wink, wink), and go to some of the worst sites ever.

The only guidelines I use are:

1. Don't use IE, use Firefox or at the least anything else.
2. Don't EVER run any program, screen saver, script, etc, that you don't know for SURE is virus free (if it didn't come from you, you don't know). If in doubt, send it to yourself in an e-mail through yahoo, google, or one of the other free services, as it'll scan it for you.
3. Stay patched. All OSes have security advisories. All of them need patches, period.
4. Be NAT'ed. Inbound firewall rules are pretty useless if nobody can initiate an inbound connection.

Hmm

With Due respect , Please go back and read my posts again.
I did mention that i do use online virus scanners, I have just not installed an AV on my system ever. "Been computing since 1997 and never installed an AV"
I never advised any one to stop using AV , I was only talking about installing an AV and leaving it on 24/7.
Another line from my previous post "There are other and better ways of making your PC more secure and stable then just relying on AV and leaving it on 24/7 thinking you’re safe. "
Keywords " then just relying on AV "

This was nonsense. This was like saying, "How do i keep dry when it is raining outside?"

If you're going to use a computer and network it via the internet or some other means, YOU must have security software. If not, you're a fool.

If it is a stand-alone computer that is NEVER connected to anything, and all the software you use is certified viri free, then perhaps.... but who does that?

Hmmm....i guess using AV is no longer an issue as PC is getting much faster unless is an old system.....or else get an Apple......w/o AV one silly mistake is all it takes.....kaboom...hahaha

Hmmm...dangerous advice! Unless only YOU use your PC, and you know all of the material on the web sites you visit. While I know my browsing habits are "clean and safe", my kids are not as internet savvy as myself...I'm a wizard, they are not, so being the good parent I have installed AV as well as firewall, anti-spyware, and "trusted" sites.
As for the "go Mac or Linux" comments...get real. We're talking "real life", where 90 percent of the home users run some version of Windows...get over it, that's just the way it is. Sticking your head in the sand and ignoring the problem doesn't mean it goes away.
Wiz <{;-)

True, but that is changing, and Linux is free anyway. It just takes some effort.
Actually I hate linux , but that doesn't mean its bad per se...

I also recommend using a VM with snapshot enabled and unplugged from the network, to run the pesky programs that give you what you want and what you don´t want, also any good virus will just kill your AV or your AV will never detect them in case of 0 day exploits, and very very important is not to let anyone use your PC.

at the end of the day,one still needs at least a free virus scanner.maybe windows and viruses go hand in hand

its only the mac users that are truly free from this crap

technically true, but if only because its a relatively unpopular product. if mac became anywhere near as popular as windows, they would be a target as well.

If one is new to computers and the internet (there is still a large % that are), avoid taking the details of this to thought until you are fully aware of the dangers. Online scans are susceptible to intruders and viruses too, especially when the Online Scan company needs you to download a script onto your computer then at the end of the scan tells you to take advantage of the full program click here which leads to a link to pay.
I have used many various AV programs throughout the years, currently using Comodo.

It's all very well trying to run a pc without an AV programme but that can only really be an option if you are the only one using it.

Most of modern day pc's are to be found in the family home and have many users accessing them and in my case at least 2 of the users are likely to click on a download without really knowing the possible consequences. BTW yes I have now set up individual accounts and limited their accounts to non-admin, the only downside of this is having to go to the pc each time they want to add an app. and get my blessing.

The most important thing in staying malware-free is to remember to always close pop ups with ALT+F4 rather than clicking on them, as the "X" button is often not really the "X" button. If my customer's knew that I would lose lots of business on virus removals.

A router + firewall + an LUA/UAC login is a very reasonable security configuration.
Adding the Hosts file and Spywareblaster then helps with access issues.
Then if the user is silly enough to access Poker, Prono, and P2P files, then nothing
can protect the system from a dumb user.

I agree with some of the other posters. This is a lot more work than just having an AV package. I have used many and found a good amount of them to perform well and actually protect me. The HOSTS file is a very good idea as is the firewall and a good router. I have decided to try another idea and it should be BULLETPROOF. I am going to do all my web surfing on a virtual machine. If I need to download something I can do it to my NAS drive and make sure it's scanned regularly. I will always have AV on my computers, it's just the smart thing to do.

http://TechReview.LIEconomy.com

I haven't used an active antivirus for years on my home system. I went through the same thought process and figured this out. We get spyware and other crap regularly. I run programs that detect this stuff. Probably the awesome hosts file from mvps is largely keeping me safe.

I have a couple free antivirus programs on my comp, but not active. I have avg antitrojan. I have a couple spyware programs not-active. I just run them regularly. Plus, I leapfrog backup onto external drive.

I do run and online scanner, usually trendmicro, when something funny seems to be going on.

I guess my philosophy mainly runs on this: if you surf wisely generally, your main problem is from trojans. If you yourself are clicking to accept some download, you yourself are your own worst enemy - antivirus will not help you.

With friends and family who have virus/trojan problems, this is pretty much the problem: they themselves click to accept the problem, rather than the problem jumping at them out of nowhere.

I just don't opem those funny emailed pictures and weblinks. Except for the Polish digital clock (google if you have not seen the polish digital clock.)