if i have no anti-virus should i....

[frogprincess]

stop surfin' da net??

[ebbomega]

No, you should get an anti-virus though.

I wouldn't put any important information you don't want someone else to get on your comp, and I wouldn't have anything on there you want to keep without backing it up.

Basically, you're flying without a net.

I'd also highly recommend that you get a firewall (I hear ZoneAlarm and BlackICE are both good).

Don't use WindowsXP SP2 Firewall. It's useless.

[mapleleaf4ever]

^ I'd use Norton Internet Security rather than BlackICE. It's a lot better imo. ZoneAlarm is kinda lame too... but there's nothing better than using separate Hardware like a LinkSys Box for the best kind of protection.

[ebbomega]

... or installing linux on a 486 with 2 network cards....

[mapleleaf4ever]

^ I don't think she's 1337 like us though. lol You can get a single disk 8088 *nix Kernel to do Firewalling too. It's a neat little project my friend and I did once.

[Lee]

I don't have Anti Virus but I do have a LinkSys Router/Switch so I do have a firewall, but I have it set so I am DMZ host so the firewall doesnt effect me. Last time I got a virus was over 2 or 3 years ago

[frogprincess]

thanks m4e and eom, i'll get right on all of that :P

my friend is suppose to install some avp for me, we just have not had a chance to meet up yet and my current avp ends at midnight :|

what about downloading bts, should i give that a rest until my baby is flying w/ a net?

[mapleleaf4ever]

Depends on what you're getting of BitTorrent. If it's movies and audio, there's not too much to worry about as far as I know. If you're downloading proggys I'd advise against it until you get some protection.

[IntakE]

We use norton antivirus on our computer. Im so glad we have it our old computer died cause we got so many viruses.

[yoko*]

had the same question. i have no anti-virus on my laptop... I try not to use the internet on it...

:P but it's hard.

[acidic_liquid]

I'm on Mac OS X. Is an antivirus really necessary?

[ebbomega]

"You have been infected with the only known *NIX virus. Unfortunately, because we couldn't do this any other way, this one has to operate on the honour system. Please forward this to everybody in your address book and delete all the files on your computer. Thank you."

[AGROculture]

http://www.pandasoftware.com/actives..._principal.htm

woot its free!

[FeelGood]

I use AVG Anti-Virus its 100 percent free and works like a charm without hogging system resources.

Honestly if you are just browsing the web and whatnot (not doing too much downloading) then you should be fine without an anti-virus program. I'd be more worried about catching lots of traces of spyware and malicious scripts rather then viruses.

Go to google.com

Search and download 'AVG Anti-Virus' for antr-spyware search for 'Lavasoft Adaware' and also for spyware get 'Webroot Spysweeper'. All free programs, keep em updated and running, and you shouldnt have to worry.

As for a firewall, if you are going software based, Zonealarm does wonders, and is very very simple to setup, and also free I believe correct me if im wrong. It may look a bit cheezy and not like the best program out there, but give it a shot.

If you arent satisfied with that, then grab yourself a copy of 'Norton Personal Firewall' but keep in mind its not free, but im sure you could download a trial and test it out.

Also, Id reccomend installing a pop-up blocker if you are a Internet Explorer user.

Hope that helps. Cheers.
Questions or problems, pm me.

[xxViceRoyxx]

i have no anti-virus, i regularly update my windows and use the online free scan from symantec....
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/d...d=ie&venid=sym its Excellent~!
i also use anti-spyware software cuz thats what you really gotta worry about.

[Jen-E-03]

i have no anti virus and i'm doing fine

[FeelGood]

Originally Posted by Jen-E-03

i have no anti virus and i'm doing fine

or so you think...

[acidic_liquid]

Yeah you should get an anti-virus. Your computer might not show any symptoms of being infected, but later on you'll notice it's acting fucked up, being really slow, etc.

Just be on the safe side.

[ebbomega]

Originally Posted by Jen-E-03

i have no anti virus and i'm doing fine

From my Coast Guard Auziliary training:

FINE = Fucked up, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional.

Mmm hmm. Fine. Sure.

[GT-Sketch]

Just be careful what you download and don't open any executable email attachments (.exe, .src, .com, .bat, .pif, etc. etc. etc. ). You aren't going to get a virus from just cruising the net.

I don't run a virus scanner @ home and have never once infected any of my computers (I use Panda's online scanner once a month just to check).

You can find Panda Active scan here.
http://www.pandasoftware.com/actives..._principal.htm

If you're worried, AVG has a free virus scanner that's pretty decent. Home (and non corporate) users can download and install it free, and it will auto update, it has an active scanner for all downloads, plus you can schedule it to do full system scans. I personally think it is better than a number of the big name system resource hogging scanners.... *cough*norton* cough*
http://www.grisoft.com/doc/40/lng/ww

[LDUB]

I know it's not necessarily the best but if you use TELUS for internet you get free antivirus for one (if on old plans) or three (on new ones I think) computers.

[mapleleaf4ever]

^ I smell a shameless plug. ;)

[ebbomega]

Eck. Panda. I hate Panda.

[GT-Sketch]

Originally Posted by ebbomega

Eck. Panda. I hate Panda.

I dislike thier software, but the online scanner is decent. If another alright online scanner is Trendmicro's Housecall. http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

[Mr.Wrong]

you should keep browsing that intanet.

everybody needs a virus or two, my antivirus went away and i kept browsing the internet. now my comps got some cool features... for example sometimes you have three IE windows open and BLAMO they all close, its sick. and i get popups ALL THE TIME with interesting things for sale, you like to buy shit right.

you know what to do.