Computer Viruses, hackers, rootkits and spyware are everywhere - they are out to get us and eat our data!
Yes? Kinda true.
I had several times ugly spyware and even viruses on my system - and I fixed many times other people’s infected machines. So why on earth would I uninstall my Anti-Virus software?! (But that firewall stays on!)
Simply because I always contracted a nasty piece of software, when I downloaded or installed something from a pirated websites or downloaded so called ‘free software’ with some hidden bonus in it.
So the problem wasn’t really the virus - it was me. I didn’t take care of my own data protection. What was needed was some strict data discipline.
Who wants to install first?
Seven simple rules for keeping my system clean
The main problem was always my own stupidity, but for three years I have complied to these simple rules and never had an accident again:
- Keep your system and your installed applications up to date and clean. Uninstall old application and drivers if you don’t need them.
- Don’t download and install software from so called ‘unknown sources’ or pirated crap.
- Don’t use Internet Explorer for Internet surfing - use Firefox. Don’t install any “free” toolbars from any weird sites. Toolbars from Yahoo, Google and maybe StumbleUpon are oke.
- Don’t use Outlook Express für eMail - use Thunderbird instead. Get your mails scanned and cleaned on the server before downloading it to your machine (by using for example GMail).
- Don’t use any messengers like AIM, Yahoo!, ICQ or MSN. I only use Skype - and that is already a small security risk. If you need to go on any of these messenger nets use Trillian - which is bloat and advertising free.
- Keep your network and computer’s ports pretty much closed and don’t use WiFi in unsecured locations like Starbucks etc. Simply switch your computer or your network connection OFF if you don’t need it. Most notebooks offer a simply keyboard combination to switch your WiFi on and off.
- Make backups every day. Keep several backup sets - not just ONE extra copy of your data.
I would recommend these rules to everyone - no matter if you have an anti-virus program installed or not.
Please insert disk one …
Bloatware
But there is another reason why I don’t like to use Anti-Virus software anymore: they have all turned into bloatware.
A combination of firewall and anti-virus software makes sense - but all these “Internet Security Suites” are packed with features, protections and mechanisms I don’t want nor need. Plus they often are huge resource hogs - slowing down the system and fucking up it’s internal workings.
For example: I had to save many computer from example from Norton Security Suites, which had crashed their system and made them very unstable.
Some of these “Suites” are a pain to configure and maintain. I am a pretty nerdy person - I understand most questions and functions that are thrown at me. But I have seen many machines totally fucked up by badly answered / configured “Security Suits”.
Do you update your Anti-Virus software?
There is also the problem that many people install these suits, but never renew their update license to get new anti-virus definitions.
I know many people who have old anti-virus programs running and haven’t updated their definitions. If your protection doesn’t know a new bugger it hardly will protect you against it.
Obsolete protection gives you a false sense of security and really can fuck up your system.
See - no virus on my system!
Viruses and Anti-Virus-Software are big business
In all my years of computing I haven’t encountered that super nasty killer virus, No virus I encountered so far has deleted a SINGLE BIT OF DATA.
Most of them want to hijack your system or hide in it to use it’s power for some criminal purpose. Millions of infected machines serve in botnets for cyber attacks, sending spam mail or attack big websites.
Most spyware simply floods your machine with ads, while others try to steal credit card numbers and passwords.
So the data killing virus is ALMOST a myth - it has happened, but is VERY rare these days. (But that’s no excuse not to make your daily backup anyway.)
But data protection and security software are also a big business these days. So many companies have made millions of Euros providing “security” to business and home users alike. These companies have to keep us scared to keep us buying their product.
Final Words of Warning!
Time to get rid of your security software?
No.
If you are NOT a nerdy user or admin like me: KEEP your anti-virus software and a good firewall installed. Especially when you are downloading loads of software or spend many hours on public WiFi networks.
Especially StumbleUpon users should be aware that clicking that “Stumble” button can transfer you to a nasty site without warning.
If you have a “Security Suit” that is troubling you or you don’t know how to operate it uninstall that thing and replace it with a free and SIMPLE Anti-Virus program like AVG.
Make sure that at least your Windows Firewall is on (and allows no exceptions if you don’t need them).
