Been antivirus free for a little while now

Uh, having an antivirus and not getting a virus does not prove that antiviruses are effective.

If I pray for good health and I don't get cancer prayer is not considered a medical procedure.

Anyway, perhaps we're talking about two different things. My point is that if I can't detect any viruses/malware after running my programs then I'm going to be convinced that running an antivirus is (for me) a waste of RAM.

Luckily I have lots of RAM to spare so I'll probably end up installing it anyway. But I'm curious to see if it's actually useful in any way.

 

That's not even close to what I'm saying. I'm saying run it, and if it detects something, you did need it, and if it doesn't detect anything, you wouldn't have needed it.

Lithus was right, this is going in circles.

 

Lithus is arguing something completely separate. You're saying that if I run MSE and I detect something then I've proved that I needed MSE all along. You're right. And if I don't pick anything up then I wouldn't have needed it...

we agree...

 

LOL. For clairity's sake, I want to say that I'm not actually arguing anything anymore.

Just for reference, we're at:

S: AV is useful.
HM: Yes.

The next step is:

S: Then use AV.
HM: No.

 

That's because people are trying to get me to use an AV and tell me how important they are when I already know. The point I'm trying to prove is that they aren't as important as other people think and that with even the minimal efforts I've made I've stayed safe without one (barring super kernel rootkits that are apparently undetectable by any program ever)

edit: I ran the following AV's with no results. I updated first.
drwebmd
gmer (services, registry)
hijackthis (nothing out of the ordinary)
superantispyware
windows malicious software removal tool

None of those came up with anything. I looked over the hijackthis log and had some people look over it as well.

 

I went ahead and disabled javascript globally for Chrome. I figured it's another lossless defense that could speed up some pages.

 

I have a question for you... do you know how malware works?

The whole point of this generation of malware is not to eat ram or destroy one machine.

It's to enslave your machine permanently.

The authors want your processing time, your storage, and if you are foolish enough, whatever info you will give them.

Today's malware is begins with a program which opens a backdoor through your security and allows an outside person to control your computer or at least download and execute additional programs.

These additional programs are usually a suite of tools and other malware which give the author more functionality. (one of which is usually a key-logger which gathers keystrokes and thus accounts, passwords, etc.)

The BEST malware is nigh undetectable and even does the majority of its more noticeable use of your resources when you are least likely to notice.


Let's say you don't ever put personal financial info on your computer... let's say you never do anything work related on your computer... let's say your computer is a blank slate and all you do is play games on it.

Even under the above assumptions, your computer (when connected to the Internet) is still a working resource which can do the following:
-Send a flood of broken packets to specific places... when combined with other computers, this tactic can paralyze entire portions of networks and even hurt performance on well-defended networks.
-Host large quantities of illegal pictures and media.
-Work with other computers to distribute large quantities of spam.
-Host redirected web sites which distribute trojans to

The above is just for starters... you'd be surprised what 1000 computers can accomplish together...

Without active scanning, you might as well grab the malware and install it as sooner or later you will hit a website your other defenses cannot detect or defend against and install something.

Active scanning is the background "catch-all" that usually searches for "virus-like" behavior while its happening. You can count on most new malware bypassing some or even most defenses. Without this, you are relying on something "matching" a pattern... which at one point ALL reasonably decent malware does not.

FYI, the community I am speaking of is wider than this site... its the whole Internet and everything connected to it.

In which without active protection you are basically flying blind.

You are essentially driving while not watching the road like the multitude of people texting/jawing/tweeting/facebooking/etc on their cell phone while they risk themselves and everyone else on the road and sidewalks.

While today you didn't hit anything or hurt anyone, it doesn't mean tomorrow you wont.

Worst problem is... you probably won't know when you do.

If you are connected to the Internet and aren't at least moderately paranoid, you are undereducated. It's that simple.

 

Nonsense. You're paranoid, that's all.

 

I realize pirx may be saying that sarcastically but I have to agree. I do know how malware works and I do know what you're saying. I'm not flying blind and if you think that just being connected to the internet puts you at a serious risk of being infected I don't think there's much convincing to be done.

 

I understand Hungry Man. I would just use something like KillSwitch from Comodo security essentials to check if everything is really ok from time to time.

 

UAC off makes it much easier for root level code to be executed. I write alot of software that requires elevation or uac off. Otherwise that could have been something else code runs in an isolated environment. UAC doesnt just protect users from themselves. If you know you didnt ask a process to run and are on a level of experience and understanding to pick out something you have never seen before it could be a damned life saver.

Mind you I also run UAC off as it is even more annoying on Vista and it messes with my debugger. I am also usually not to far off of a backup and always keep a drive imaged and ready to go.

 

FYI I've reformatted and put MSE on. It was a fun experiment but I'm only so willing. New hard drive so I don't feel like taking any chances.

I didn't get a virus the entire time I was without an antivirus. Not one that any scanner could pick up at least =p

 

It's always risky to take "Free" advice from "Experts".

 

arlcrane:

I'm not an expert. I seriously doubt I'd ever call myself an expert. I'm definitely experienced though.

And uhhhh I feel like I've said this enough times but I do not and would never advise ANYONE turn their antivirus off. Same goes for UAC.

The fact is I didn't get a virus the entire time, proving that you can protect your computer via other methods. AV's are the easiest but I think protection should be layered and my experiment proved to me that my layers were doing their jobs. The AV was unnecessary on my system.

I don't feel like changing anything with my pretty new HDD though so the AV is back on.