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What is your first line of defence against computer viruses?

by chacham (Prior)
on Dec 01, 2014 at 11:20 UTC ( [id://1108806]=poll: print w/replies, xml ) Need Help??

Vote on this poll

Antivirus software
[bar] 69/17%
Having a good backup strategy
[bar] 22/5%
I run everything inside a virtual machine
[bar] 10/2%
Being cautious about what sites I visit
[bar] 80/20%
My system is not connected to the Internet
[bar] 11/3%
I use Un*x
[bar] 183/45%
Other
[bar] 31/8%
406 total votes
  • Comment on What is your first line of defence against computer viruses?
Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: What is your first line of defence against computer viruses?
by Tux (Canon) on Dec 01, 2014 at 12:31 UTC
    • I blame the network administrator for not/badly maintaining a (solid) firewall

    Enjoy, Have FUN! H.Merijn

      Do you expect/enjoy html access to the internet from your firewalled machines?

      If so, then the firewall cannot be solid. The vast majority of infections come in through port 80.


      With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'
      Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
      "Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
      In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
Re: What is your first line of defence against computer viruses?
by jonadab (Parson) on Dec 01, 2014 at 15:20 UTC

    Being pretty sure I'm in the top 90% of society, in terms of intelligence? Does that count for anything?

    I'm pretty sure the overwhelming majority of malware infections these days are trojans, typically resulting from users not being able to tell the difference between a local antivirus-software dialog box and a banner advertisement on a website, or from users willing to turn off their brains and do anything asked of them if promised something completely inane and worthless (like a bunch of "smileys" to download) or something way too good to be true (e.g., free trendy twelve-inch smartphone). If you don't do anything *obviously* stupid, I figure your risk of infection is actually quite a bit lower without protection than it would have been with protection twenty years ago, when file viruses were still a thing.

    With that said, I do also use a firewall and some other basic precautions. But I consider that stuff secondary. The primary line of defense is just not doing anything incredibly mind-bogglingly stupid.

      Agreed. The first option I looked for on the poll was "not being a fucking idiot".

      So I voted "I use Un*x" as the closest available alternative.

Re: What is your first line of defence against computer viruses?
by Ratazong (Monsignor) on Dec 01, 2014 at 13:01 UTC
    • Trust

    (I trust that the NSA-spying-software and the german Bundestrojaner have a great interest in keeping my system free of (other) malware ... thus eliminating any virus trying to enter my system.)

    Rata
Re: What is your first line of defence against computer viruses?
by duelafn (Parson) on Dec 01, 2014 at 13:31 UTC

    I said "Antivirus software", but that really meant just "NoScript". ("I use *nix" and "Being cautious" are close second and third)

    Good Day,
        Dean

Re: What is your first line of defence against computer viruses?
by vitoco (Hermit) on Dec 01, 2014 at 14:04 UTC
    • Navigation is done with ABP in Firefox.
    • Firewall/Proxy catches trojans and backports.
    • Keygens are run inside virtual machines.
    • Most email attachments are discarded.

    So "Antivirus" is a backup method if everything fail.

Re: What is your first line of defence against computer viruses?
by wjw (Priest) on Dec 05, 2014 at 23:48 UTC
    I simply avoid MicroSoft, Honestly, the only time viruses impact me is when my family comes to me with their Windows machines. My friends don't bother me anymore with virus stuff... which is exactly how I planned it. I do actually have a few friends left in spite of that.... at least, I think I do...?

    ...the majority is always wrong, and always the last to know about it...

    A solution is nothing more than a clearly stated problem...

Re: What is your first line of defence against computer viruses?
by mr_mischief (Monsignor) on Dec 02, 2014 at 15:00 UTC

    Other: I use common sense, which leads to many of the other options as secondary lines of defense.

Re: What is your first line of defence against computer viruses?
by GotToBTru (Prior) on Dec 08, 2014 at 19:34 UTC

    Slightly concerned with the larger-than-expected number who consider having a good backup strategy as a "first line of defense".

    1 Peter 4:10

      noscript+adblock+linux works, but I have caught a bug surfing a streaming site on linux with an uptodate FF and ( at the time ) only adblock.

      So beware of being too complacent, linux is much safer than windows for many reasons, but not all you need

      Main advantage of having linux: it got flushed out when I cleared my cache :)

      Ran antivirus, no more trouble, but still sorry about flooding the net for a coupla days ... :/

Re: What is your first line of defence against computer viruses?
by james28909 (Deacon) on Dec 01, 2014 at 16:56 UTC
    does anyone NOT use Antivirus like me?

      does anyone NOT use Antivirus like me?

      Wow, you're an antivirus. Must be cool to be you. :)

      I use Antivirus on my windows box because it's free, not intrusive, and other people use that computer. I mean i usually trust just being smart about it, and using FF with NoScript and AdBlock. But what if the site i go to has been cracked and the cracker has malicious intent. Antivirus software is a level of protection in the event that trust fails.

      Yes :)

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