How-To Geek

my favorite anti virus is trend micro PC Cillin

@whs,

I never said that AVs were resources hogs.

What I was trying to convey is that they slow the action of the machine down by checking (uselessly in most cases) normal file operations like opening and changes of Word, Excel, most *.exes, etc., etc. and other files on the system if used in REAL TIME.

I recommend ALWAYS using a GOOD AV but to do so in Manual Mode to perform routine machine maintenance just as one routinely checks for Spyware, Defrags HDs, Backs Up Critical Data, etc., etc...

My approach does take and require much discipline but is aimed at knowledgeable computer users.

When I setup machines for others, I always take their level of computer knowledge into account and most of the time, setup their machines up for Automatic Operation as they will not know the difference anyway and it protects them from themselves.

Remember, when I speak to you and other "old timers", I know I am speaking with knowledgeable computer folks.

When I speak to "newbies", my advice would be and is entirely different in most cases.

I hope you wouldn't think I would tell a child to run their computer the way I run my systems. That would be pure folly.

I hope you better understand now what I posted on (some) threads and why.

Kindest Regards,
Rick P.

@whs,

Just a little bit wrong but you wouldn't know because it because it is not in my Profile.

Before Founding Phoenix Engineering Corp, I was a Plant Manager for Exide and GE Corporations so with +2000 employees per industrial facility, I delegated most everything (LOL) (LOL). When I owned Phoenix, most everything was delegated to sub-contractors and employees also. Have had a very full life but now my time grows short.

Regards,
Rick P.

@Bob,

I respect your point however remember, you are not going to get a Virus unless you actually download something into your machine withstanding you run with the ports closed on your router, etc...

That being said, you must also set the the security level of your machine so that Active X controls and other code cannot get into the machine by just browsing. (Words such as "sandbox, Virual, etc... are always thrown about)

This subject can get really technical fast and I am in know way an expert in "hacking" so as I also say; it is up to the individual, their computing expertize and their comfort level as to how they run their own systems (OF COURSE) Excluding Children and the Impaired.

Regards,
Rick P.

Hey Rick,

Don't mean to carry this on as an "argument" (indeed I think we agree on some of the issue), but it gets back to what you said about novices versus veterans. For novices, I do think that running a real time scan while they're on line is appropriate, especially since they're prone to clicking indiscriminately. For example, a lot of novices think that whitehouse.com is the Whitehouse site. Whitehouse.com is a porno site (with the usual malware that will infect a machine with scripts just by clicking on a link), whitehouse.GOV is the actual Whitehouse site.

Even experienced users, and I consider myself an intermediate, run with a real time AV scan . . . I myself do. Nevertheless, your points about downloading (which novices also do indiscriminately) and Active X are valid . . . it's just that I don't think a novice does what you say about Active X, plus real time AV for experienced users is just another thing that may enhance security.

Ultimately, though, I agree with your point about comfort level.

ScottW,

Haven't read that article yet, but it sounds like it's stating the obvious: most AV programs slow things down. But IMHO a performance hit is a small price to pay for the essential security of an AV program. Now I'm sure Norton and McAfee are two of the biggest performance hitters, and AVG and Avast have secured a rep for being easy on resources. However, if you look at my post on page 1 of this thread, you'll see that I use, and have used for the past 15 years, McAfee. Had I ever noticed an unbearable performance hit with McAfee, I would have long since switched . . . but I haven't. That's not to say that on a lot of systems McAfee doesn't make an unbearable performance hit. I'm sure it does . . . but it never has on mine. Plus, I tend to agree with whs . . . what else would your CPU be doing?

Now I know this is heresy for gamers, where the CPU has to work heavily . . . so if I was a gamer, I likely would have an AV program that is easier on the CPU than McAfee.

Which brings me to another conclusion. Your choice of AV program depends in part on the primary use of the system.

BJ

http://whitehouse.com/ - that's what I saw. Is that porn? lol

All,

@ScottW, Thanks for the "Height of Geekness" Compliment !!

It goes well with the picture of "My Build" (LOL) (LOL).

Me and ScottW Agree on so many issues that one probably thinks we both deployed our systems using (Sysprep and Cloning).

If members are not familiar with those terms, look them one up (LOL) (LOL).

Kindest Regards :-)) :-))
Rick P.

My son in law is a programer for ??????? (i wont mention their game titles for fear of spam accusations) the studio use AVG. Yes, the free version. Nuff said.

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