I've never used MSSE, but from what I've read it's not lightweight at all (unless you're comparing it to Norton, but that's like comparing a pickup truck to a dirtbike in terms of hauling power). I personally use Avira Free Antivirus, and notice minimal impact on performance. We should probably make a thread about this in Off-Topic before we derail this thread any further.
Norton has an annoying habit, from what I can remember, of filling your registry/disk with a load of crap unless you use the un- installer...
I've been using MSSE ever since I removed norton from my PC a year ago and can definitely vouch for it. It is definitely as lightweight as people say. You wouldn't even notice it was install apart from the few times what you might have to update the virus and spyware definitions or you have it set to automatically preform a scan once a week. This thread has already run its course and served its usefulness. So it really shouldn't matter if an offtopic discussion is continued.
^ no banz for me :3 There's still the small possibility of getting a virus via an ad. Advertising companies don't have 100% control over the ads their clients submit, and especially JavaScript ads might contain malicious code (it's very rare because ads usually get tested, but some might slip through). You download more data than you can see, and through JS you connect to several other websites when visiting one website. Install NoScript, visit Facebook and see how many other websites it connects you to... If you use Adblock Edge and NoScript (or their Chrome equivalents) and only whitelist trusted websites (in addition to not using strange websites) then you're safe, but you need to do this strictly. Still, on Windows I will never go without an antivirus, because it's so vulnerable by itself.
You say 'no need' but if you're running a high spec computer, you wouldn't notice the difference in performance from a virus, so how do you know you don't have one?
When I do go on Windows (on BOOTCAMP) I use the free AVG anti-virus. It works fine for me, and can be easily turned off for when I need that extra performance boost (eg. all the time)
Not needing one does not mean he doesn't have one. I've got one but it's only gone off once, and that was something off an old drive, that my mother downloaded :I
Same for me. In all the time since I first built my PC, I've never had MSSE go off about anything whatsoever, no false negatives, nothing.
I think you're talking about false positives. I also never had a virus, only one or two false positives when I still used Avira. And even if I might not need an antivirus I'll always have one. Unless Windows actually becomes safe in a distant future (read: never).
Good, because that would mean your antivirus is bad. False negative = antivirus: "oh hey this file is safe" - virus: "let's snoop some bank account data..."
How can you be sure you got no false negatives? If they weren't detected, then the viruses could still be on your computer, collecting private data to create a false identity, for a criminal, exactly like you. Then the criminal will murder/rape/terrorise, and evidence will all lead to you.
Personally, I'd much rather be able to see what is actually going on with my machine, hence Linux ( I know its still not immune, but its a lot less insecure than windows, with all of Microsofts back doors for our friendly neighbourhood spies ). The NSA asked Linus Torvalds to put a hole in the Linux kernel... Of course he said no - but that's saying something about them & Linux :3
Of course right after I recommend Avira it lets me down. XD Got a nasty little infection a few days ago. MalwareBytes cleaned it up pretty quickly. Considering buying the payware version to replace Avira for real-time scanning. Of course, as has been said many times already, being careful on the internet has it's benefits. I was stupid and downloaded a keygen from some obscure warez site.
Proxies are your friend. And if you want warez or kinky pr0n then use sites which are known to be secure. Also, use virustotal.com, that site can scan files using multiple different antivirus programs.
About once or twice a year I get impulsive and do the complete opposite even though I would normally know better. I also have a tendency to download siterips of payware porn sites through bit torrent. But haven't gotten any viruses since they're artistic non-mainstream galleries that don't get targeted by virus makers.
Funny how any long discussion on the internet will always end up to be either about porn or about hitler. I think I'm outta here
