So why use an antivirus at all?

Re: AVG 8 Professional COMPLAINTS

LOL! This certainly ended up quite some distance away from the original topic. At any rate I read the thread again today, and I just want to make some additional comments in response to Mrkvonic's points.

Web scanners deny user responsibility, but AVs don't. I was specifically told to pay attention and not extrapolate. Well, it seems to me that a web scanner IS part of an AV! How is it different in principle from the standard real-time file scanner, for instance? It works in the same way as the rest of the product, only that it scans a different part of your computer (that would get scanned later anyway even if you disabled it). So I don't see how the remark of "denying user responsibility" can apply exclusively to the web scanner and not the whole AV.

Mrkvonic also says that he never said he doesn't believe in AVs. Which must mean he believes in AVs, right? But he then says that the mainstream form of computer security, aka the AV, needs to be abolished. Which doesn't really make sense to me.

Lastly, Mrkvonic says people should need licenses to use computers. On a side note, driving licenses never stopped car crashes from happening, and a good percentage of the population who do own licenses actually should never be allowed near a steering wheel. You would also need to push for a worldwide effort on this, as I think I've read somewhere that most infected computers actually aren't in the US. I wonder what Moscow, Kiev and Beijing would say to this. So Mrkvonic should draft up a detailed proposal on how to implement this great suggestion and present it to our legislators (don't forget to add in that we also need to abolish AVs along the way) instead of just talking about it, and then maybe he'll realize just how far-fetched this whole idea is.

 

Well, most topics here end up flying far far away from the original topic, lol. Which isn't a bad thing actually if the insults and attitudes are left out. Discussions and arguments are a good thing

Now, we could turn this right up on its head and say NOT using every tool we can INCLUDING web scanners is denying OURSELVES responsibility. By using what's available to us, we're not only protecting ourselves, but others to whom we send files/emails to. I get tired of the same "this is FUD" rant that gets repeated time and time again, not only here, but elsewhere. The web is changing not only every day, but every hour. New malware/viruses crop up, websites get hijacked constantly. If security vendors are having difficulties keeping up with the new threats, what makes any of us so sure that we can stay protected without these tools?

You can argue blacklist/whitelist/red and yellow polka-dot-list measures all day long, the truth is neither one of them are going to be useful for much longer. Malware is now out there that bypasses these tools and we're seeing malware that is not removable by but a mere few AV vendors. Guys, it isn't FUD if it's happening. In fact, quickly labeling things as FUD may very well be what is keeping your average computer user from using "responsible" computing habits.

You know good and well that if some regular Joe comes wandering in here after hearing what a reputable place it is, and sees some guy with a high post count saying such and such is pure FUD, they're going to go ahead with that. Don't tell me your average person doesn't have that mindset because I will take you on a tour of the internet and prove you wrong case by case for the next 10 years.

I think (without going back to that huge thread to look), the "abolishing" Mrkvonic mentioned is misunderstood. I believe he meant relying on said apps should be abolished, to back up his argument of user responsibility. As far as the licensing goes, you made my point again for me, that licenses stop nothing. They don't stop gun violence, they don't stop idiots from trying to beat red lights and putting people in comas, so they won't stop people from being just as dumb with computers before they got licensed.

The world is overflowing with idiots, giving them a piece of laminated plastic that says they know where the off button is, isn't going to stop them from deleting files that give them errors and annoy them, thus turning their computer into a doorstop, nor is it going to stop them from spreading malware. And it sure as hell won't stop criminals from creating such things, that won't stop until every twist and turn of the internet is monitored and everyone is completely traceable. And even then, just with any other law/ security measure, there will be holes, and there will be criminals to exploit them.

There are no simple answers, I believe as soon as we get over that fact, the easier it will be to start working on these problems. Essay complete.