[virginskyfan]

Going to be using the PC only for audio/video editing and downloading updated software from Adobe.Do I really need an anti virus/firewall for this?

[flagpole]

yes..

(for the sake of reassurance i'm going to add more words. you absolutely need antivirus if your computer is connected to the internet. no exceptions. in respect of firewalls the one built in to windows, together with your router will probably be sufficient. but you need AV. if you want your antivirus to be free, unobtrusive and not hog your system resources then you could do worse than microsoft security essentials.)

[max99]

If you need to ask....yes.

[Dim-Star]

That will be a YES then

[JasonWatkins]

I went for many, many years without using anti-virus software and just using the windows firewall.

For 99% of the time, I had no issues at all but I did eventually get caught by a minor virus which, to be fair, I caused myself by opening an EXE file I shouldn't have done. Anway, I thought I might as well get some and installed Avira and have used it ever since.

[flagpole]

saying you went for years without AV and got no virus is a bit weird because you would have no way of knowing.

[barky99]

anti-virus/anti-malware is a 'must have' whichever platform you use .... years ago it was actually tasked to stop viruses but things have become more complicated since then & it protects you from stuff that gets installed automatically with no user input ... the clicking on an infected exe is just a small part

[Maxatoria]

Running without AV is like having one night stands without covering the old fella, so yes you could get away with it but then again you could get something serious and by that point it could be something really nasty and your machines in need of serious TLC and could even lead to the loss of your data

So the answer is quite simple : YES you do need it

[d'@ve]

Originally Posted by virginskyfan

Going to be using the PC only for audio/video editing and downloading updated software from Adobe.Do I really need an anti virus/firewall for this?

What everyone else said.

As long as you avoid bloatware such as (perhaps) Symantec and McAfee, the amount of system resources taken up will be insignificant - but if you get infected by viruses trojans or ad-ware, it might take huge resources and time to clear it up.

Even being here on DS, you are at risk.

[Desolate one]

Anti-virus is essential for your computers well being running without one is just like leaving the door open on your property allowing people to come and go without your knowledge and taking whatever they like or vandalising your property.

Consider an anti-virus as a burglar alarm system which alerts you but with anit-virus it is for prevention and repair of damged files, protecting your precious data from being stolen or damaged without you knowing.

[Helmut10]

Firewall - You have that anyway there's a Hardware Firewall in your Modem/Router and Windows has a Software Firewall.

AntiVirus Software - You certainly need to keep that up to date and call up on that now and again as a check at least. You can install Avast for example as a mainly manual scanner if you choose to do so. Double and triple check with a couple of on-line AV scanners.

It's actually the user that's most of the problem. They never update their AV software, go to dodgy websites, use dodgy downloads they don't bother checking. Open any Email attachment, install dubious software without an ounce of thought and so on.

What AV/Firewall they have is rendered useless, then they complain that such and such AV is totally useless.

'saying you went for years without AV and got no virus is a bit weird because you would have no way of knowing.'

That's not weird at all, I did so as well for maybe 5 years or so, I rarely ever checked - when I did I used about 3 on-line scanners. That is more than most people did with their installed AV software (9 times out 10 not updated either). Never got anything. False positives, yes you always get those, but they were carefully checked out.

There is a lot more to it than just installing software and wishful thinking that you are 'protected'.

[flagpole]

Originally Posted by Helmut10

Firewall - You have that anyway there's a Hardware Firewall in your Modem/Router and Windows has a Software Firewall.

AntiVirus Software - You certainly need to keep that up to date and call up on that now and again as a check at least. You can install Avast for example as a mainly manual scanner if you choose to do so. Double and triple check with a couple of on-line AV scanners.

It's actually the user that's most of the problem. They never update their AV software, go to dodgy websites, use dodgy downloads they don't bother checking. Open any Email attachment, install dubious software without an ounce of thought and so on.

What AV/Firewall they have is rendered useless, then they complain that such and such AV is totally useless.

'saying you went for years without AV and got no virus is a bit weird because you would have no way of knowing.'

That's not weird at all, I did so as well for maybe 5 years or so, I rarely ever checked - when I did I used about 3 on-line scanners. That is more than most people did with their installed AV software (9 times out 10 not updated either). Never got anything. False positives, yes you always get those, but they were carefully checked out.

There is a lot more to it than just installing software and wishful thinking that you are 'protected'.

you know that AV software updates itself every day without you doing anything right?

how exactly, when you had no AV did you prevent drive-by downloads and all the other attack vectors that require no user interaction?

[JasonWatkins]

since most of the comments here seem aimed at my post, i'll respond in general. i am 100% satisfied that I never had any problems or issues in all the years I never ran anti-virus software. Much like Helmut, whenever I did run scans, I would run at least four different types of scanner to check for viruses, malware, spyware and whatever else could be found and never came up with a thing.

I also used to re-format my PC on a semi-regular basis as I kept trying different Linux distros, getting bored with them and re-formatting and re-installing windows - obviously before I discovered the joys of taking image backups

That said, I use Avira now and i'm quite happy with it.

[TrueCard]

Originally Posted by flagpole

how exactly, when you had no AV did you prevent drive-by downloads and all the other attack vectors that require no user interaction?

In all my years of computing and asking, no one has ever linked me a malicious website that does a drive-by download without the user being duped into causing it, that I can test on my virtual machine. If an AV knows about it then windows will also patch it making the AV useless.

Also a few weeks back users were warned of a vulnerability in IE that allowed a site to see your entire history of visited sites, it had to be an individually targeted attack, no AV protected you against this.

[Desolate one]

The vunerability in IE has nothing to do with AV and yes targeted but it is microsofts responsibility to patch holes or shortcomings in the their operating systems and browser.

The AV's job is to protect against viruses, trojans and worms etc not patch vunerabilities in specific software that is the job of the vendor not anti-virus.

[Orbitalzone]

hmm you sometimes have to wonder if people who start these sorts of posts and dont often repond are the forum equvilent of arsonists :-)

[BrokenArrow]

I have ESET NOD32 on my system and it hasn't logged any actions for the past year.

Unless a virus has deleted the logs

[Maxatoria]

The chance of getting an infection is like playing the field in real life in that you can visit 99% of the places you like and not get an infection BUT its the small chance of getting something serious like HIV in real life that means you wrap up before playing dip the wick and the same in computing

[DANCE OF DEATH]

Originally Posted by virginskyfan

Going to be using the PC only for audio/video editing and downloading updated software from Adobe.Do I really need an anti virus/firewall for this?

I would get either Advast or Avira free versions is ample enough.
As for a firewall Windows 7 own built in firewall is very good, but I prefer to use Comodo Firewall which is excellent and free as well.
I would also installed Malwarebytes as well and that is also free, but you have to update daily manually to keep Malwarebytes up to date. That would be enough to keep your computer safe enough.

[d'@ve]

Originally Posted by Orbitalzone

hmm you sometimes have to wonder if people who start these sorts of posts and dont often repond are the forum equvilent of arsonists :-)

Having to ask a question like that, they could be too busy battling with a slow and unstable virus or adware-ridden computer by now!

Or a DS plant to whip up the DS post count, perhaps even a real-life genuine troll! But unless they one day return to tell us, we may never know.

[flagpole]

Originally Posted by TrueCard

In all my years of computing and asking, no one has ever linked me a malicious website that does a drive-by download without the user being duped into causing it, that I can test on my virtual machine. If an AV knows about it then windows will also patch it making the AV useless.

Also a few weeks back users were warned of a vulnerability in IE that allowed a site to see your entire history of visited sites, it had to be an individually targeted attack, no AV protected you against this.

that is utterly and completely wrong.

[Paddy C]

I have Windows 8 and I believe it has Microsoft Security Essentials built in and joined with Windows Firewall to create a new version they call "Windows Defender" which is different to the Windows Defender that already existed in Windows XP, Vista and 7 IIRC.

So, if you're on Windows 8, you probably won't if you're not using it much online, but for any other OS, I'd say yes, just to be sure. MSE in itself is a small file that doesn't run the computer down and I have not yet had a virus with it, so much so, I have it installed on 3 work computers and have recommended it to family and friends who all have it too and have had no problems whatsoever.

[flagpole]

Originally Posted by Paddy C

I have Windows 8 and I believe it has Microsoft Security Essentials built in and joined with Windows Firewall to create a new version they call "Windows Defender" which is different to the Windows Defender that already existed in Windows XP, Vista and 7 IIRC.

So, if you're on Windows 8, you probably won't if you're not using it much online, but for any other OS, I'd say yes, just to be sure. MSE in itself is a small file that doesn't run the computer down and I have not yet had a virus with it, so much so, I have it installed on 3 work computers and have recommended it to family and friends who all have it too and have had no problems whatsoever.

yeah it's a bizarre naming thing they have done. on windows xp to 7 windows defender was the antimalware program. when they incorporated the anti virus element they renamed it to MSE.

now in windows 8 they have, it seems rebadged MSE as windows defender. which is confusing to say the least.

[Stig]

Originally Posted by flagpole

yeah it's a bizarre naming thing they have done. on windows xp to 7 windows defender was the antimalware program. when they incorporated the anti virus element they renamed it to MSE.

now in windows 8 they have, it seems rebadged MSE as windows defender. which is confusing to say the least.

There's a whole department at Microsoft whose only job is to randomly change product names.

[d'@ve]

Originally Posted by Stig

There's a whole department at Microsoft whose only job is to randomly change product names.

Now expanded to also randomly change the front-end/user-interface...