So much panic about internet security… Do we really need an antivirus to protect us from online threats?
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The question is: Do we really need an antivirus to protect our computer? The answer is simple. No!
You would ask me: Why not? I will explain my point of view!
First of all I have an antivirus installed on my computer. It was already installed when I bought my new laptop. I mainly use my computer for surfing the net, playing games, watching DVD’s and using some applications. I exchange photos and files with my friends and family everyday so there is a lot of incoming and outgoing data. In the last 9 months my virus threats indicator is stuck to 0. Yes! Zero! How is that possible when I use the Internet everyday?
I will tell you a little secret that will help you understand my point! 90% of the known viruses are created by the same companies that make the antivirus applications! Simple! I make the virus, spread it and then sell you protection! Smart, right? So why giving money to companies that try to hurt our computers?
If you are careful when using your computer, you will have less chances to get infected! Here are some good security measures!
- Use firefox! Firefox provides a very good protection against online threats! You can download firefox here.
- Don’t use p2p clients. Most viruses are spread via torrents and p2p clients like limewire.
- Don’t visit sites which provide cracks or hacks because they are full of viruses.
- Don’t open emails from people you don’t know.
- Don’t click on mysterious links sent to you on Msn, Yahoo messenger, etc.
- Try to keep your private files under password-protected folders or rar files!
- Always use system restore to save your windows current state. In case you are infected by a virus you can easily restore your pc to a previous state!
Antivirus programs tend to use a great amount of your computer’s resources, making your computer running slow. Based on an experiment carried out by me, removing a very famous antivirus program made my computer run 30% faster! Can you imagine that? 30% faster! That program used 30% of my computer’s resources! Why losing that amount of resources when the chances of getting infected are almost none?
Antivirus programs can also conflict your Internet connection, your programs or your games. I was trying to play a game but I couldn’t. When I closed the antivirus program, the game worked just fine!
I have provided you with some information about the need of an antivirus program! If you think that you need protection then keep your antivirus! Don’t blame me if you are infected 
!
February 25th, 2009 at 9:52 am
Excellent! well written piece and very informative article. Thanks for sharing
February 25th, 2009 at 9:54 am
But what about antimatter?
Thanks,
Clay
February 25th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Good article, and interesting. System restore doesn’t always help, though.
February 25th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
I have no idea what you are using for antivirus software but my computer isn’t slowed down at all with mine. All you have to do is scan incoming files. Also, if you were to get a virus you would be screwed and wouldn’t know about it probably for months and by then you might as well rewrite your hard drive and start over.
February 27th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
I agree, just don`t go to suspicious sites.. besides new viruses always comes up and makes your current antivirus obsolete immediately..
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:15 pm
What you say makes a lot of sense but I’m a big chicken and would feel naked and exposed without my antivirus. Also, I recently switched to Firefox and I love it. Great article.
March 10th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
That is so True. I told my friends but they wouldn’t listen.
Great Article!
March 17th, 2009 at 2:12 am
I Think (As I see in my country) there is more mush sources than what you did write here.
Some viruses has been detected on my system when I try to plug a Flash Disk that belongs to some friend.
The pirated media and the ease of getting it here in my country plays a major role in the spreading infections.
Antivirus usage is not an option here, it is mandatory.
Thank you