Is there a solution other than antivirus?

Reading many posts in this forum, im getting a feel that without a antivirus we can protect or secure the computer.
i mean using firewall or HIPS or the apps which can protect registry etc etc (like prevx,defencewall etc),using firefox and if we want to scan for viruses we can use portable antiviruses.

what is your opinion guys?

 

I agree
Personally I am using Vista's UAC, browse with Opera, I haven't POP3 mail and only use Look'n'Stop firewall. I have Windows Defender disabled, I don't need it, because I never was infected not with virus not with ad/spy.
If you need scanner, you can scan your computer with various onlinescanners.
So I think every user can avoid viruses if he knows how to protecd himself.
Personally I'am sure my brain is most perfect anti-malware in the world

 

common sense!

 

A PC can be secured without a resident AV (the active guard or shield component) but an AV scanner should still be used to check new files. It's entirely possible to use an online scanner instead of an installed one. VirusTotal is excellent for manual scanning, uses multiple scanners.

AVs work by attempting to identify malicious code and blocking it. Files or code not identified as malicious is allowed to run. This is the classic "default-permit" approach to security. Its main advantage is convenience and ease of use. Its main disadvantage is missed detections.

One way to secure a PC is to take the opposite approach. Instead of permitting every process that isn't specifically identified as malicious, only those processes that are part of apps you use or are necessary operating system components are permitted to run. Anything unknown or new to your system is blocked. This is a "default-deny" approach. When properly set up, this approach can provide strong protection. Its disadvantages are that it requires a fairly knowlegable user to set it up and can be inconvenient. Classic HIPS programs like SSM are well suited for this method provided the user understands the system they're trying to secure.

Other methods of securing a PC include:
Sandboxing, the running of new, vulnerable, or untrusted apps in containment program. Containment is intended to prevent any malicious content from accessing important system components.

Virtualization, the use of a virtual system where the hardware exists only as code. Software (and malicious code) run in this artificial environment and not on the actual operating system of the PC.

As for which is best, there is no final answer to that. Each represents another tool in the ongoing battle against malicious code. Malware writers are working on defeating them. At the present time, they're all pretty good but none represent any kind of final solution. The best one to use is the one that matches your knowlege and skill.

I saw that you specifically mentioned a firewall. A firewall should be part of any security package. It's not a replacement for an AV or any other security application. A software firewall is a traffic control program. Control of internet traffic should be part of any security package or policy. Some users want the firewall combined with HIPS, AVs, and other components. Some want to choose separate single purpose programs and build their own package. Choose your preference, but do use a firewall, AV or not.
Rick

 

Another solution is to move to Linux or Mac but I believe the question is windows related

 

I tend to believe that the traditional AV is becoming less and less important and that there are now many apps that afford good or adequate protection, with or without an AV. Mostly depends, as usual, on the user and usage of the machine too..

 

Totally agree with Kerodo it all depends on user.

 

I can't disagree with "it depends upon the user" but I do feel that making such a statement tends to reinforce the idea that security is still really necessary.
If security is still really necessary then so the story goes the more the better and so the layered approach grows with ever more complex solutions.

So the answer to can we run without an antivirus program has to be yes.

My gut feeling is that far too many run far too much protection. If they do so for
the fun of it or because the live dangerous lives then fine but that still does not make it necessary for most people.

FWIW I run behind a Netgear Router with Firefox - No scripts. No real time antispyware, no realtime antivirus, No HIPS, no software Firewall. Have never seen any real virus nor spyware more dangerous than a stale cookie.

In the unfortunate event that something ever did get though DeepFreeze should sort it and if that failed then a restore of a clean system image would save me.

Just started to try out returnil. Might well be a much better solution than an antivirus ?

 

All i use these days is an anti-executable and virtualisation. Simple and effective for my needs.

 

I think using this many programs is needed for majorty of pc users, people here can live without that many. People install anythingh that will popup on their monitor such as kazaa,winantivirus,porndialers,aware,etc. I actually know a software loving pc user who bought a 2 years licence for winantivirus cause he felt it do a better job then norton,mcafee and avira.

 

Here is what I think is happening and is creating such over confidence among some. There are many here that travel the net where the sites and servers for those sites are protected. It's like vacination. Few get in trouble when so many are vacinated by AV use.

If more and more took the approach I'll let the other guy deal with this there would be more uncontained out breaks and more infections. Do not let the fact that so few out breaks have occured so it makes you wonder if AV is needed.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Of course without running any A/V or grayware/spyware detection the answer will always be that you've never even received a tracking cookie - let alone a virus. Gasp!

Unintentional things do happen and fairly often enough. I haven't "gotten" a virus since boot sectors were common enough but I have detected a great many pieces of crap even some that haven't been reported by A/V vendors: 6 this year alone.

Glad to here your safe though.

- beads

 

Trust me, there is no need to use AV for me, if you talk about cookies, it's not important. You can scan computer with various Online Scanners. I don't say that people don't need AV-s, I only say that if you don't know how to stay clean of viruses AV will not save you! because all of them miss some malwares. when I first time bye computer I was every week infected by viruses with AV installed and updated.But today I can stay clean withou any AV.
In previous post I sad how I protect myself. I think it's not difficult and every advanced user can do it.

 

If you don't switch to Linux, you should

1. only download software from absolutely trusted sites - and never use cracks
2. always keep Windows up-to-date with automatic updates
3. never click any mail attachments from unknown senders and make Thunderbird your default mail reader
4. disable ActiveX and Scripting in the internet zone of Internet Explorer and make Firefox (with the extensions Noscript and Adblock Plus) your default browser
5. replace Microsoft Office with OpenOffice
6. always work and surf in a limited user account and manage all tasks where admin rights are necessary with the comfortable suDown
7. use the highly underestimated security tool brain.exe

 

i think for some people on here, it could be described as an over-estimated tool.

the world is full of them >

 

Why so, the newest Linux distros can offer all common issues with super fast web surfing without infections so far, what more we can want?

You can always have two partitions in your hard drive, the one for Windows and the second for Linux, it's not too difficult. The Windows partition is well secured by Avast Home/AVG Free plus COMODO BOClean and COMODO Firewall Pro, that's it.

Best regards,
Firefighter!

 

Only if you forget to read its manual