Why I don't use AntiVirus programs

Question

I'm often criticized for not using and/or recommending that users remove their antivirus software. My advice comes as a troubleshooting technique and is based on my experience as a long-term user and consultant.

Please use your judgement when using this or any advice from public Forums. Thank You.

First let me clarify. Viruses (I use this term broadly) exist and users need to protect their equipment and information. Also, I do use, on my Windows box, Windows Defender and Windows Firewall - they're free to maintain and work well with Vista SP1.

Many years ago, after spending much time and money on products that failed me, I decided I was not going to use antivirus programs on my computer. Like some of you; my friends, family, and clients find this unbelievable - but they are more surprised when I tell them that throughout the years this decision has never came back to haunt me.

Reasons I don't support (ongoing use of) antivirus programs are:

1) Your system will get infected regardless (dispute that)

2) AntiVirus programs (they’re not all created equally) can and will damage your system

3) Performance penalties outweigh the benefit (of their protection)

4) The so-called risk of "true" damage is rare and not worthy of long-term expense and aggravation of installing, maintaining, and managing antivirus programs.

To protect against loss I:

- rely on my instincts and experience

- don’t use any P2P software and don’t visit sites that support use of the technology

- don't visit off color sites

- don’t mess with (unknown) executable (.exe) files

- don’t accept any unknown media (and certainly don’t use a floppy drive)

- backup consistently

- use a NAT-enabled router

- never open unsolicited email

- never install "novelty" software (read blooming mouse cursers and cute animals licking my screen)

- read all EULAs (helps me understand what's being installed on my machine)

Life without antivirus software is not only possible, but also very successful. Of course, this requires a lot of work.

Message Edited by XPSM1530_owner on 08-26-2008 07:25 AM

mfinnan101 · Answer

One way to eliminate the need for antivirus/antispyware completely (and the added risk of not having it) - Use Linux. ;) Message Edited by mfinnan101 on 08-26-2008 02:33 PM

ejn63 · Answer

That's not sound advice - malware happens to all networked computers - Macs and Linux machines are not immune to it.

HeyGuy101 · Answer

XPS1530 Owner, While I appreciate your reply to the question that no one asked, I think your advice might be dangerous for alot of users.  You obviously have alot of experience with networked systems and have a knowledge of the OS that most users don't possess.  I think that your experiences give you an potential to see the signs of a virus before other people would, thus your advice, while sound for you, might decrease the security of other user systems.  I have always run an anti-virus software, even on my Macs, and have never regretted it - it seems like a sound idea given that mine and most everyones computer are on different networks most of time, and I can't control thier security but I can do something about mine. Message Edited by HeyGuy101 on 08-26-2008 03:09 PM

hotrent1 · Answer

I did not install any antivirus programs on my x64 install and am not regretting it at all. I too use windows defender and firewall, but most of all, my common sense. My xps is only mine and no one touches it, but me. That being said, the rest of the 10 computers i keep up, all have mcafee security, because i cant control what they go to and what they open in their email. they still have become infected and i usually do a complete reinstall. If you are the only one using it, i think you can make it work for you. If more than one person is using it, protect it.

XPSM1530_owner · Answer

@HeyGuy101 wrote:

XPS1530 Owner, While I appreciate your reply to the question that no one asked, I think your advice might be dangerous for alot of users...

Re: "...that no one asked..." Quoting TheRealFireblade: "So I'd be very interested to know why you don't recommend leaving any anti virus program on any machine long term?"

http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=Tech_Talk_XPS_Laptop&thread.id=26199

Re: "...dangerous..." Really? I posted the requisite caution statement.

bobwalt · Answer

My interest in Personal Computers predates the IBM PC by several years and I have worked in the industry almost that long. During this time I have seen the damage virii can cause. I have done data recovery for various file types and I would never connect to a network without antivirus software running. In addition to the use of antivirus software I also practice all the items mentioned in XPSM1530_owner's post. My system has been attacked unsuccessfully by virii several times this year. The problem not running antivirus software is that your system may get infected and you may never know it. At that point your system may start to spread the infection. It has been many years since good antivirus software caused system problems and now its use is pretty much transparent. I would strongly Virgil recommend against anyone how connects to a network to go without antivirus software.

Bob

HeyGuy101 · Answer

If your going to reply to a message then just hit reply, starting a new thread indicates that you have other intentions, FYI.  As for my use of dangerous, I was being nice - I could have used foolish instead.

XPSM1530_owner · Answer

@HeyGuy101 wrote:
If your going to reply to a message then just hit reply, starting a new thread indicates that you have other intentions, FYI. As for my use of dangerous, I was being nice - I could have used foolish instead.

Gotcha. BTW it's: "If you're going..." As for my use of Gotcha, I'm being nice - I could have used ???? ??? :smileytongue:

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Why I don't use AntiVirus programs

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