Do You Really Need A VirusScan Program?

[craiger]

Hi. I was wondering about this with all of the Virus' going around. Up until now I have never got a virus. I got the MS Blaster Worm. I reinstalled Windows XP and that got rid of it and I also turned on Microsoft's Firewall and I never got the MS Blaster Worm again. I don't open email attachments either. Is Microsoft's Firewall program good? Thanks, Craig.

[pranav81]

Yeah,the ICF,Internet Connection Firewall is good.But according to my experience it slows down the internet connection.So I have disabled it.I am happy with Norton Internet Security that came installed on my computer.I administer a network of 7 PC's.I just thought that antivirus software was slowing down the systems,but later found that slow systems are better than crashed ones!
I hope you get my point,dont use your computer without antivirus.
See ya later,


::Pranav::

[eliminator]

I only run free German AntiVir... better than any mcafee or norton that slow my system to death... updates are also simpler & daily regular.
You might also run a free TrendMicro online pc-checkup !

[UALOneKPlus]

Some people who click on every email, download files from the web, install programs without checking the source, will absolutely need a virus scan program. This is probably 90 % of the people out there.

The other ones, like me, are super paranoid, never open email attachments without it having scanned by Hotmail, don't install programs willy nilly, and use a limited user account on XP, probably won't have to rely on a virus scanning program.

[eliminator]

correct!

[CDRecorder]

I think it's very important to have a virus scanning program. I have gotten viruses in my e-mail several times, even though I am very careful with what I do. I know other people (equally careful) who have gotten far more viruses than me.

I personally use Norton AntiVirus 2002 and 2003, and those programs have always been able to catch the viruses before my e-mail program even displayed the message.

[j_c_hallgren]

I have been using Net for about 3 yrs with no AV and have been safe thus far...BUT I visit only reputable sites...download only from vendor sites or similar..and use Juno for email so not prone to all the Outlook issues...and use ZoneAlarm all the time...use the on-line AV scans about once a month..NEVER open any attachments that I have NOT asked for..etc..Ok, I'm taking a chance...but I'm NOT the average PC user either!