If you don't browse the web...

[MacDaddy08]

"This hasn't happened for years."

Rellay? Happened to me less than a month ago!

"If your computer is on a 10/8, 172.16/12, or 192.168/16 subnet and you are accessing the Internet without a proxy, you are using NAT.

Most residental router will not allow incoming connections from the Internet without being configured to do so (either by UPnP or explicit user action.)"

Everything uses NAT basically and your IP address doesn't have to start with 192, 10 or 172 on an internal network. It starts with however you configure it to start in your DHCP scope. It can vary depending on you needs for the company. (ie. Different subnets for number of users, resources, departments and security access)


"Won't happen with a recent Windows system - Windows XP SP2 or later, which has shipped since 2004. For one, the firewall is turned on by default."

Really? Both times it happened to me happened to be on Windows XP with SP2. The Windows firewall is a joke, it has more holes than the US/Mexico border.



"notice the past-tense verb."

Probably because he was talking about something that happened in the past, he wasn't testing it while he was typing the article.


So basically, you are saying that anti virus isn't needed if you run Windows firewall and are behind a NAT server (ie. any home bought router)? Makes sense. Someone should alert the public on the millions of dollars they are wasting each year.

"I am an actual IT person and antivirus software is not needed in this situation."

You are the only one I have brought this issue up to that has said that. Some IT guy you are. I asked my teacher in computer school about this (MSCE, MPA+I, 30 + years in computers) about this and he said the same thing. First thing you do after installing Windows on ANY machine, is install anti-virus.

Why would you want to start certain services, install appropriate hardware/software and configure firewalls when you can just isntall anti virus? Would you rather 1 thing break or 10 things? Doesnt make sense. In a business environment, you have to have all these things. But you still install anti virus on the machines. There is always the possibility of infection and even anti virus doesnt eliminate it, it just makes it a lot less possible.


Edit: I am also done with this posting. I don't feel like responding to anymore postings about me being wrong. It is fine if you think I am wrong, I really could care less. I am just tired of responding to the same post every day and getting nowhere.

 

[chrono1081]

I work in IT for a very large company and I will tell you get anti-virus. For what you are using you probably dont need it but like others have stated, better safe then sorry.

As for viruses also no need to be so paranoid. You wouldnt BELIEVE how many viruses I see in a day. Hollywood movies blow them out of proportion. Granted there are some dangerous ones out there that can steal your data but most really dont do much.

As far as one user stated "most people dont even know their infected" that is 100% true. Most people dont. If you get an infection (like the drive on my desk I am working on) you may see random pop up boxes citing system errors or sometimes youll see ones that say "Windows has detected a virus" (windows will never detect a virus) but nothing will physically destroy your computer.

I would say play it safe, go purchase a copy of NOD32 or Kasapersky off of newegg (please do not use norton or mcafee, they are both terrible and anyone who says otherwise is honestly completely wrong. This drive I am working on had norton on the machine and norton said there was nothing wrong when I scanned it. I then caddied the drive and scanned it with NOD32 and Nod so far has found over 20 viruses and over 6000 infected files. TRUE infections by the looks of it not just false positives and Im still scanning!). So ya, Id say NOD or Kaspersky. Even AVG is pretty good but I still find more with Nod and Kaspersky.

Don't be so paranoid about viruses though. Even if you get one that steals data by the sounds of it your only playing orange box so I wouldnt worry. My drive gets infected all the time from scanning other peoples crap (as I cannot put the good AV on my work computer : / ) If it gets to where I cant remove them, I reimage the drive

 

[jf8]

Everything uses NAT basically and your IP address doesn't have to start with 192, 10 or 172 on an internal network. It starts with however you configure it to start in your DHCP scope. It can vary depending on you needs for the company. (ie. Different subnets for number of users, resources, departments and security access)

DHCP and NAT are unrelated.

If you are on a network other than 10/8, 172.16/12, or 192.168/24, you are either using a properly assigned & routable IP address, a link local network (169.254/16), or are not using proper IP addresses. If you are using a routable Internet address, the need for NAT disappears (although it could be used anyway if desired.)

Really? Both times it happened to me happened to be on Windows XP with SP2. The Windows firewall is a joke, it has more holes than the US/Mexico border.

The Windows SP2 firewall will block any incoming connection attempts until configured to do otherwise.

Probably because he was talking about something that happened in the past, he wasn't testing it while he was typing the article.

Yes. There was a vulnerability in the past.

Why would you want to start certain services, install appropriate hardware/software and configure firewalls when you can just isntall anti virus? Would you rather 1 thing break or 10 things? Doesnt make sense. In a business environment, you have to have all these things. But you still install anti virus on the machines. There is always the possibility of infection and even anti virus doesnt eliminate it, it just makes it a lot less possible.

This is not a business environment. This is a firewalled VM that will not be used to access the Internet.

 

[asme]

Did you ever install any anti-virus protection?

Windows XP keeps alerting me that I'm at risk because I haven't installed any anti-virus.

It shouldn't alert you at all. That message is probably a virus in and of itself.

 

[jf8]

It shouldn't alert you at all. That message is probably a virus in and of itself.

No, this is Windows XP's Secutity Center

 

[stainlessliquid]

I would like someone to try something. Take a machine without anything installed on it and install a fresh copy of Windows. Make sure your are connected to the internet (if you have to install your network drivers then do so after installation because you do have to have internet connectivity). Then after installation leave the computer connected and dont touch it for a few hours, maybe overnight. then go back and try to install your other programs and just use the computer. See if it is just normal or if it is noticeable slower than normal or acting funny like freezing up during installations or programs going into a "non responsive" state. I'll be willing to bet you will notice something, what do you think that "something" is?

Thats ridiculous, I have a PC which I use all the time and that does NOT happen. I dont have antivirus since it just slows the machine down. But like I said previously every once in awhile I do install it and do a scan if I install a program that gives me a funny feeling (I used to install the Norton trial version before there were good free AV), after scanning I quickly uninstall. I avoid viruses by keeping Windows updated and by being responsible when downloading/installing.

What you are describing is not happening. It would be big news and would be happening to everyone. An exploit like that is a career defining hack for any hacker since it is so rare and difficult. You have yet to provide real proof of these viruses. If they exist then they would be documented. All thats needed is the name of the virus to determine how you get infected.

You cant compare company network computers with home computers, its totally different. Its stupid to not have AV on a company network because you are dealing with dozens, if not hundreds of employees using computers, its pretty much guaranteed that atleast one or two of them are idiots who install everything they come across which can spread viruses over the network. And as far as webservers go its also completely different, hackers are able to find exploits in the software being run on webpages which gives them access to the server (this site uses VBulletin, it has security holes which can be serious or trivial).

 

[akm3]

Bottom line: If you are only using your windows partition to play games, and you aren't browing websites other then those from big companies, you will not get a virus.

Breathe easy and enjoy.

 

[mudsoma]

no anti virus or condoms

...and she won't get pregnant if she is on top.