Poll: do you use an anti-virus program?

Well, I run Linux so…

But even on Linux I still have something installed - and I did on Windows as well. I usually would turn off most of the active scanning, and weekly checks but kept it installed mostly to manually scan files I received from clients or downloaded from the internet.

Opening files from people you DO know can be hazardous as they may unknowingly send you an infected file.

“. If you don’t visit dodgy sites, don’t open attachments from people you don’t know, don’t use Internet Explorer except for testing, keep your machine patched, and read all email in plain text”

If if if if….. I got tired of all those if’s and being on a OS that being “safe” meant limiting what I could or couldn’t do, so I moved to an OS (os x) that I could compute as I wanted to and not be limited to “safe” computing ;)~

Dave, what did I tell you? hmm?

On my Windows box, I wouldn’t be caught without anti-virus. I use AVG free.

On my Mac box, I don’t bother. Mostly because the anti-virus apps out there are pretty crappy, but also because the threat is a lot lower.

well, that was on other thread

on my windows install on my mac i quit paying for av, i really dont care if i get a virus on there, I would just delete the image and paste back my backup image of windows. I do run one av on it though, I been trying http://www.activevirusshield.com/antivirus/freeav/index.adp?

The only thing that scares me about it is that its sponsored by AOL.

For those that think it isn’t necessary, don’t work in the real world. Just connect to any public network and wait 10 minutes. Soon you will be hit by a dozen or so bots looking to exploit your computer. Or visit some strange website and watch what happens with wscript or java.

I too used to have that arrogant attitude that I own my machine and I can keep it clean by myself. You will be surprised by some of the unique exploits that infect millions of machines out there. But don’t take my work for it. Go get, for example, Kaspersky Security Suite, and run the 30 day demo.

If you think you are safe, and you connect to the Internet, then you are a fool.

Hi Gary,

I should have mentioned in the post, my bad, I still run a firewall. I think that’s a completely different kettle of fish.

In the four-odd years I have been running AV-free, connected to the internet 24-7, I have on occasion scanned with one of the online tools and a couple of times installed AVG in order to placate my nervous other half. In all cases both my machines have been completely virus-free. So I KNOW that I can run without an AV and I’ve never had any problems in 4 years.

Firewall on the other hand is a bit different. Any machine needs to filter what’s coming in and out. I have Windows firewall active, and also am behind a firewall router.

I’m no fool - I pity the fool!

Have lots of boxes the security on them depends on who is using them.

Dev / Design Wintel boxes - antivirus, anti-trojan on demand (once a month - not that I have ever found anything in 10 years!). Personal firewalled.

Family Wintel, locked down with alsorts of antivirus firewall etc, this sucker can’t fart without me knowing about it.

Mac - no antivirus, no firewall.. and it’s very liberating.

Mostly I’m very careful where I go, I surf with Javascript, Java and Flash off. And only enable these when I need to and trust the site, I tend to surf mostly on the Mac as well.

IE is only installed on the testing machines.

All this is behind a Firewalled Router too.

Nothing ever connects to the public network directly.

I use Linux so no A/V necessary on the desktop. On my Linux mail server I run open-source Clam A/V which silently drops virus laden emails on the floor as they come in. According to the logs, on average I get about 50 a day, so this protection is well worth it (and has never failed). Clam A/V also updates signatures automatically once a day.

On my wife’s computer I run Clam desktop A/V for windows which doesn’t stay resident, but it means that I can run a scan manually straight away if I suspect something. We are behind the Linux firewall, so I think we have reasonable protection against 99% of the crap out there. Mandated Firefox/Thunderbird all round means an extra level of protection against drive-by malware installs.

So in conclusion - server level A/V for email, with non-resident A/V for the vulnerable Windows desktop.

Very interesting topic. I’m surprised I’ve never really seen this discussed on the web before as it seems to become a pretty heated discussion whenever it comes up amongst workplace colleagues.

I’m a Windows user exclusively, and I’m not afraid to admit it. I’ve never used AV software (except at work, where I don’t have the choice) and I don’t intend to any time soon. I guess I’ve been waiting for somebody to convince me why I should, or for something to happen to my box that would convince me. After about 15 years of daily pc use I’m still waiting. I’ve ALWAYS run a firewall, ever since I became broadband connected, so I guess I’m pretty confident that even if something has gotten onto my box, and managed to avoid being detected (I’ll watch system performance and running processes pretty regularly) then I know it’s not going back to the mothership with my banking details.

Anyway, everybody has their own risk tolerance level and I know many of you are thinking “it’s only a matter of time for this meat-head”, but if I’d followed that line of thinking 15 years ago, the only difference in my life right now would be that I’d be down the several hundred dollars necessary to keep up an AV subscription.

You could be fine but if you do get hit, make sure u have a recent back up. I remember Will mouthing off about that he’d never get a virus and a few months later one wiped him out and he had to have his gf fix it for him, which of course was a complete wipe and re-install.

to quote 30 seconds to mars:
“its not a matter of luck, its just a matter of time”

[…] week I asked the burning question: do web professionals use anti-virus programs on their own machines? I don’t - I find no need to. I was curious as to how many of my peers shared my […]

I use AV and wouldn’t go without it.

Currently in the process of switching from Macfee to Comodo.

http://www.antivirus.comodo.com/

They have a free firewall too!

They give you a peace of mind, at least you know in case the inevitable happens you have a back up protection. Drive-by Malware install itself without your consent (not possible with Vista). it’s impossible to say whether or not all the sites you visit are safe. Some safe sites are at times hijacked and infected.

Worms are notoriously known to utilise known e-mail addresses of course after infecting someone you know. Everyone is not as careful as you are and you are bound to receive virus infected files and without an updated AV you join the line of victims.

It’s as hard protecting your computer from viruses as it’s from ill informed users, and just imagine the number of Malware they will end up installing in their free surfing.

If you are not using AV its best to use a least privilege account and not the Admin account. With that you minimise Malware damages since most require admin privileges.

I too use linux and don’t worry about viruses. The only reason I would need to is if I sent bunches of files to windows users so they don’t get infected.