'Ever run a PC without Antivirus?'

Sam from Net -

I have Test run a PC without any Anti-virus or Firewall for one day (12 hours). Actually I was trying to understand whether these software are really necessary as they claim?

When I checked the PC after the test run, I found various spyware and worms into it.

Comment #1 Milly from Wisconsin -

We have when we first got a computer. I don't know if we had any viruses on it or not. We got another one which had virus protection software and have never been with out it.

Comment #2 Suzie from Washington DC -

Sometimes you may not know you have a virus. It could be that your computer will just start running a little slower than usual. Or, you could start getting a few error messages that aren't real alarming. The best rule of thumb is just to have it.

Comment #3 Sweetness from Earth, the Universe -

The only time I have ever had a computer without Anti-Virus was when the contract ran out and I was a little slow in renewing it. I was without anti-virus on my computer for 2 days and my nerves couldn't take it any longer. I was very very luck that I didn't get anything serious.

When I ran the anti-virus scan I found a couple of spyware items on it that were easy to remove and will never allow that to happen again.

Comment #4 Keter from the garage door -

The most important thing is to keep one's virus definitions updated. The best anti-virus program out there won't help without updated virus definitions, and I have come across so many people who install the software, and even do full system scans quite regularly, but neglect to renew their update subscriptions! They characters writing the viruses are not sitting still and they think it great to be able to counteract every effort of the virus software people! People need to be on their toes.

Comment #5 Eileen from The Blogosphere -

My mother in law bought herself a computer a couple years ago and she never installed any antivirus software on it and now her computer is dead. We told her several times to do it but she just didn't think anything would happen. I hated to say I told you so to her.

Comment #6 Plums from the thrush tree -

How often should one run a full virus scan? If the anti-virus software is monitoring everything in the background, and one's definitions are up to date, why should it even be necessary to do this? Surely all viruses attempting to be installed will be trapped by the software?

Comment #7 Conyngham from the windy city -

One should do it regularly, probably once a week, although realistically it is very difficult to keep a schedule like that. I must admit that I sometimes let months go by without doing a full scan, but I do make sure that my updates are current all the time.

Comment #8 Kings from parallel street -

I honestly never worry about a full virus scan unless I think my system may have been compromised. I believe that if one is running a full virus definition live update on a daily basis one is protected long term anyway.

Comment #9 Delino from California -

Spyware is pretty much always going to be around even if you have a scanner. It can't be helped. Viruses are a different story and you really have to be careful. I have tuned machines for friends that have run without anti-virus for extended periods and they have had hundreds of viruses. It's terrible.

Comment #10 Jenna from A highly secure location -

I would never do that. It's suicide. You have to be protected with the sick and malicious people that are out there waiting to attack our PCs.

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