Piratebay gone

[Gman]

I agree regarding McAfee - I would rather get a virus than deal with the headaches that thing creates.  I've run only Microsoft SE for the last few years, and only done the odd scan with the typical free adaware type programs - I've never gotten a serious virus or trojan without McAfee or any other major/player antivirus program.  I'm sure not going to start now installing one - again, I'll eat the virus if it comes, I have all my important stuff on an isolated not-networked older PC with no net connection either, so if I have to reformat a gaming system due to not having anti-virus, so be it.  The time and PITA I'll have saved never installing a McAfee type POS will still be in the plus side if that day ever comes.

Also, re the OP, I don't know why anyone goes to these "Piratebay" and "Torrentday", "ISOhunt", and "kickbutttorrents (chatfilter)", when there is newsgroups out there, which a: mean a far less chance, like almost nil, of getting a nasty gram regarding DRM/infringement from your ISP or wherever, and b: far, far faster speeds, and c: far less chance of a virus and such.

Usenet is your friend!  http://www.codecguide.com/usenet_tutorial.htm

[Skuzzy]

I would recommend ESET's products over Norton or McAfee for consumer grade products.  At least ESET will not screw up your computer so badly it can never be fixed without a full OS installation.

[Gman]

That thought had crossed my mind, if a reasonably priced yet not bloatware antivirus program/company even existed, or if it was just a lofty concept like world peace.

The price is right for Eset at 40$, I'll read more about them at their site.  I'm still going to just keep rolling the dice, as I've been OK so far regarding worms/trojans/big virus issues, and it's only games and such at risk on my net connected PCs and tablets anyhow, but knowing there is a good option out there should it ever be required is a good bit of intel.

[glzsqd]

Still terrible advice:

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/security/384394/microsoft-security-essentials-is-designed-to-be-bottom-of-the-antivirus-rankingsMcAfee and Symantec do things beyond baseline signature matching (which is essential these days). Personally I dislike the entry level McAfee products, but their enterprise products I would rate top of the line.



Symantec I don't do much with - apart from hearing generally good feedback on it (I believe they changed their ways in 2011/2012).

No AV is absolutely stupid advice.

I haven't used anything but Security essentials for years and I can remember ever getting a virus on my machines. I do however see computers daily that have Mcafee or Norton(or both ) and are so virus'ed up that they need clean installs about 95% of the time. It doesn't surprised me that Microsoft recommends you go out and pay money for some anti virus program considering they all run on windows and probably kick back a nice percentage of profits to Microsoft.

The best anti virus is the user. If you stay off of porn sites and don't get into sketchy file sharing (like piratebay) than you'll rarely run into a problem.

[Ack-Ack]

That thought had crossed my mind, if a reasonably priced yet not bloatware antivirus program/company even existed, or if it was just a lofty concept like world peace.

The price is right for Eset at 40$, I'll read more about them at their site.  I'm still going to just keep rolling the dice, as I've been OK so far regarding worms/trojans/big virus issues, and it's only games and such at risk on my net connected PCs and tablets anyhow, but knowing there is a good option out there should it ever be required is a good bit of intel.

ESET is probably the best gaming friendly AV program on the market with a very little resource footprint.

[WWhiskey]

I removed all AV years ago, windows defender and firewall are all I have, haven't had any trouble since, no Norton , no mcaffee , nothing,, just use Firefox and all has been fine, I do have a Linux system and an iPad tho, if I need to check something out and I'm not sure it's safe

[Beefcake]

I've used ESET for several years now and it's been a good program and I recommend it. However, I'm of the opinion that AV software will only protect those who are careful. Visiting sites like The Pirates Bay is like licking an Ebola patient, there's a good change you're going to get infected.

[100Coogn]

I've used ESET for several years now and it's been a good program and I recommend it. However, I'm of the opinion that AV software will only protect those who are careful. Visiting sites like The Pirates Bay is like licking an Ebola patient, there's a good change you're going to get infected.

Oh I don't think it's quite that bad.  Visiting the sites is one thing, downloading is another.  Just using some common sense when downloading goes a long ways.
I'm not a fan of TPB, but I do use other sites that's quite a little more up to date.  They even have a nice community, not to different than here.

Coogan

[Vulcan]

The best anti virus is the user. If you stay off of porn sites and don't get into sketchy file sharing (like piratebay) than you'll rarely run into a problem.

Yeah nah that is a complete myth.

[glzsqd]

Yeah nah that is a complete myth.

   

Care to explain yourself or are we just supposed to take your word for it?



If that is truly the case than I guess me and a handful of other people I know are exceptionally lucky.

[Mar]

If that is truly the case than I guess me and a handful of other people I know are exceptionally lucky.

You can count me as one of them. The only problems I've had came from my brother.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

No, it won't.  I have never encountered a virus using KAT.  I only download from folks that have a good community reputation and are a verified uploader.

Coogan

Famous last words. Torrent clients and torrents themselves are the best guarantee you're ever going to get to get your computer infected. The person with a good reputation can at any moment get infected himself, which then may lead to him distributing the malicious code.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Not really.  Not for the consumer grade McAfee product.  It really does make a mess of a computer.  I wish they would pull that product off the market for all the damage it does to a computer.

The worst thing is that McAfee client install is embedded in many setup packages nowadays.

[Vulcan]

   

Care to explain yourself or are we just supposed to take your word for it?



If that is truly the case than I guess me and a handful of other people I know are exceptionally lucky.

Major websites have served up malware and continue to do so. Usually through embedded advertising that gets hijacked. Most pornsites have fairly good security as they are common targets, they also only tend to serve their own malware.

Most infections come via phishing attacks. Then advertising is the next most common vector.

But I thought you worked in computers - you'd know that right?

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Windows users CAN be the best antivirus simply by not using windows. By that I mean that any task exposing your computer to threats (installing warez, browsing the internet, reading e-mail on a local client, sharing USB sticks with others) should be done with a safer alternative. Linux, BSD or OSX. Windows should be used as a glorified XBOX basically, download games and paid software from 100% reliable sources at max.

A user who uses windows that is networked behind a NAT or a firewall for only games and gets the games from Steam or Origin for example and doesn't share any USB devices with other computers can use the computer fairly safely even without an antivirus. Of course there is a theoretical chance of a game spreading infections too but that approaches paranoid already.

And before someone starts trolling yes I'm fully aware of exploits found on X.org and OSX. But I'm just as aware that there are virtually nothing targeting those weaknesses in the wild still today. Windows is an active shooting range, OSX is a closed shooting range. Both have full potential for injury but the other is much safer to walk through.