do u guys think i need to install an anti virus s/w?

Question

i just got this pc. i use it only to pay the bills and email my circle of close friends and i send all the other emails to spam.

Answer 1

In this Internet Age you need to have a Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware & Firewall Software to ensure the computer runs for long. If you don't have these softwares it's like a baby going around without any dress in the North Pole.

There are some free security software's that you can try & since they are free it's not advisable to give any excuses to try them.

1) Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/

2)Mcafee Stinger
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

3)Lavasoft
http://www.lavasoft.com

4)Zone Alarm
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/trial_zaFamily/trial_zaFamily.jsp;jsessionid=FQ7BOhWlPHvogQZy8RcyyHaKM1mpLPaQ4YKja2rGL6VrI8ZIT1g1!1648864916!-1062696904!7551!7552!NONE?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en&lid=zassskulist2_trial

Answer 2

you will get a type of comments in this, yet... i think of it relies upon on the device and what you would be doing with it. If that's a mail or record server, i'd positioned it on yet in basic terms as a shelter against virus contaminated abode windows desktops from utilising that server as a vector for distribution of the virus. If that's someone computer and the guy working it has sufficient on the persist with have the skill to appreciate and beware for the noticeably few *NIX worms and viruses available and knows to make stable regularly occurring backups, then no. The computing fee of working a routing virus scanner will very very nearly definitely outweigh the fee of restoring from the final stable backup in the form that the device is compromised. In any experience, a miles extra constructive answer is to proactively preserve your device through figuring out to purchase and utilising a stable NIDS and firewall.

Answer 3

Since you are doing financial transactions online you not only need a very strong anti-virus, you also need a good anti-spy program and a strong 2-way firewall other than Windows built-in 1-way firewall!

The theft of personal data from personal computers is rampant this days. This includes financial institution account numbers, social security numbers, personal data and credit card numbers and other personal information.

Here's some free apps that could help you:

1. For your Anti-Virus.........................

I like the AOL AntiVirusShield. Don't let the name AOL scare you. AntiVirusShield is made by Kaspersky which is one of top-rated anti-virus vendors in the world.

In recent tests, the most popular free anti-virus, AVG, was only able to detect about 82% of a very large sample of viruses. On the other hand, AntiVirusShield was able to detect better than 99% in the same test.
http://www.virus.gr/english/fullxml/default.asp?id=82&mnu=82

AntiVirusShield has excellent virus detection rates and is extremely light on using your computer resources.

Updates many times per day to detect new malware.

Free to anyone, AOL member or not from:
http://www.activevirusshield.com/antivirus/freeav/index.adp?


2. For your Firewall......................

An excellent free firewall is Comodo Personal Firewall. It can pass firewall "leak tests" that even a lot of the "paid-for" firewalls cannot pass.

And Comodo has a great support forum. Where the CEO / President of the company might even himself answer your question! Check it out at:
http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/


3. For your Anti-Adware and Anti-Spyware needs...............

Pick and choose at least 2 anti-spywares from the list below and alternate scanning with them on a regular basis. New spywares are created literally hourly, so no single anti-spyware can really detect all malware. Have at least 2 on hand and alternate scanning with each every few days or so. All are free. All can remove as well as detect.

Spybot Search and Destroy:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html

Ewido:
http://www.ewido.net/en/download/

Adaware SE:
http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/

A-Squared:
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/

SUPERAntiSpyware:
http://www.superantispyware.com/

Windows Defender:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

Unfortunately, many "paid for" anti-spyware products are in fact either of limited usefulness or downright scams. When in doubt, look at the list of rogue anti-spyware solutions listed here:
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm


4. And to protect your computer from ever getting infected with spyware in the first place...................

SpywareBlaster:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

SiteAdvisor:
http://www.siteadvisor.com/


Everything here is 100% free!!!!!!

Great luck!

Answer 4

It sorta depends if you want to risk someone else paying THEIR bills with the information on YOUR computer doesn't it.

If you plug it in or hook it up to the outside world you need virus protection AND a firewall. Anything less and you are just asking for a problem.

If you are not sure about which or what or how.. have a friend help you at least set up some basic ones.

good luck...

Answer 5

It is always a good idea to run an antivirus program on your computer. I would recommend Norton Internet Security which includes Antivirus, Phishing Filter, Firewall and Spyware protection - to start with. When you connect to the Internet you are vulnerable to attacks - virus and spyware. So, in your best interest, protect yourself. Hope this helps...

Answer 6

Without a doubt if you value your investment. You can go onto the internet for one minute and have your new pc wiped out by trojans, malware, adware, spyware, and zero days atttacks.

Here is an excelletn antivirus program from AOL. You don't have to be a member of AOL, to get Active Virus Shield, powered by Kaspersky Labs., Russia. Rated #1, in the world for antivirus detection. They will send you a key good for one year. I use this free antivirus in my own computers and you will get on the hour updates an a realtime scanner in the background and on shutdown.


http://www.activevirusshield.com/antivirus/freeav/index.adp?

Need a good free firewall. Protects you from rogue ports scanning your pc an attempting to dump rogue data. Plus protest your pc with your private data from leaving your pc without your permission

http://www.zonealarm.com Download their free home for personal use firewall. You will get all new version free an automatic without having to remove the older version.

Free antispyware that is excellent

http://www.lavasoft.com Download their free home for personal use Ad-adware Se Personal. This company out of Sweden has been around long before anyone ever thought of spyware.

http://www.grisoft.com Download their free AVG antispyware

Scans all 281,000 plus object in my computers.

Free program against "zero day attacks". Attacks that hit before your antivirus/antispyware company has knowledge to write a signature. Protects you against new unknown drive by trojans, malware, spyware. (I use all of these programs.

http://www.novatix.com/

Minddoctor, France

Answer 7

Of course everyone needs an anti virus, and anti spyware software on they're computer..One virus can crash your system! if left unattented..I urge you to get Norton Antivirus..

Answer 8

Yes. You insatll a standard antivirus soft ware such as Norton, AVG , Avast ( free antivirus software and Ad-aware, Ewido ( free spyware removers). You can download free softwares at
http://fixit.in/antivirus.html and http://fixit.in/spywareremover.html

Answer 9

There is a very high risk of a pc being infected within 10 minutes of going on-line without protection, no matter what you use it for. If you want free, there is good protection available.
AntiVir
http://www.free-av.com/
Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.majorgeeks.com/SpyBot-Search_&_Destroy_Tools_d2471.html
ZoneAlam Firewall
http://www.majorgeeks.com/ZoneAlarm_Free_d388.html

Answer 10

Yes.

You can get free anti-virus software. Install the free AntiVir from http://www.free-av.com/