PC Magazine February issue on security

Is that so? A few have said that they don't use an AV program and haven't gotten infected.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2254029,00.asp

 

Nope, it is not guaranteed.
You can very well live without antivirus. It all boils down to habits and some basic computer knowledge.
First and the most obvious, but sadly seldom used protection, is not to run as an administrator. Sure, you are still a bit vulnerable but way, way less than as a admin.

 

I agree lower browser rights and a well patched machine and common sense can go a longway.

 

Hello,
I stopped at point 1. Not worth reading.
Mrk

 

I completely disagree...

Only someone with a death wish would operate unprotected in the current state of the Internet... or perhaps someone with a hidden agenda!

 

Hello,

Unprotected? Who said anything about unprotected?

But ... av != unprotected. As simple as that. And if someone runs BSD, would you still consider that unprotected?

Mrk

 

security is important yes ,but if one lacks any commensense and disregards safe practice it will not matter much what they have.I seen plenty of friends and family with outdated AV software or even outdated windows/no firewalls etc. If one clicks clicks clicks away on every link or email with total disregard of the outcome then the security is useless at least for the ones that are to lazy or dont care until there machines are a mess.there are plenty of folks in here that can probably run with no or minimum security safely because there knowledge and commense even self control to stay away from a least the known darkside.but I would not recommend being naked so speak.

 

SBIE maybe the easiest way to protect from the learning-curve point of view.

It takes less than 5 minutes to get SBIE configured for surfing!!

 

FWIW, SBIE stands for SandboxIE for those not familiar .

 

I dont use any kind of protection on my main works machine.
It is behind a corperate firewall.
I only use webmail via the intranet.
I do have full admin rights.
I have just run a free online scan with Kaskpersky and no viruses in 8 months since I got the machine.

To catch malware you have to get it on your machine, you have to open an attachment or download the infected file off the web, or copy it from an infected local/lan source.

It you stick to trusted sources, the chances of catching a virus are very slim, like they are for me.

As soon as you start surfing unknown websites, open email attachments from unknown sources your chances are medium. My parents fall into this category.

As soon as you start surfing nutorious websites, opening known spam etc the chances will be high.

 

Have I ever been infected, probably hundreds of times when testing that is.

Hardware firewall, Sandboxie/Returnil/ghost images are the only security used here.

Only problem with Sandboxie after adding the global process group is that I can't even unrar any samples to test with the need to create a new less restrictive sandbox in order for the tests to be able to run.

I do download and run Cureit every now and then with nothing ever being found as yet.

 

??

How about known sites:

http://ddanchev.blogspot.com/2008/03/massive-iframe-seo-poisoning-attack.html
http://www.dynamoo.com/blog/2008/04/nihaorr1com-theres-no-such-thing-as.html

@nickR and Franklin, solcroft et al:
Not pushing FUD, but:
I'm not saying you cant be/are'nt protected but you and the like are a pinpoint in the www.
Everyone else..just part of the food chain/predator pyramid..where do you rate?