I do run a scan periodically, but do not have any anti-badware running continuously.

I work for a company that has a number of computers exposed to the Internet for various reasons. One of them is a monitoring PC I set up to have access to a remote system. WinXP Pro SP2, Windows firewall with a number of open ports, no anti-virus, public IP address. I watch this machine fairly closely and have had no problems at all.

First, don’t take computer advice from someone with horrid spelling and grammar. If they can’t even type out ‘your’ ‘you’re’ or any other word for that matter, he or she probably is only repeating secondhand information that he or she heard from other similarly ignorant people.

Second, ANY OS IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO MALWARE. Yes, that’s right. Windows XP is just as vulnerable to Linux. If you know how to secure your own box, then Windows is just as secure as pretty much anything. If you don’t know how, then you probably are not going to know how to run Unix. On that note, the Macintosh OS is actually good software, but as I said, if you don’t know how to secure it, then it doesn’t matter what you’re running.

Third, there’s more then just one good antiviral software. McAfee and Norton are not good at all. Anyone who says otherwise is an idiot or ignorant. If you still use either of them after reading this, then you can’t claim ignorance. They both are resource hogs, cost money to renew, and quite frankly, don’t do a very good job at what they’re supposed to do. I would highly recommend ditching either or them.
Back to good software. Most of the suggestions on here have been good. NOD32 and Kaspersky are very good, if you want commercial software. If you don’t like paying for software and have the decency to not pirate either of these, then AVG is what I’d personally recommend. Other then that, Antivir is good, along with others. A simple google search will find more software, although you need to watch out for Rouge Antivirus software – those that pretend to be legit, only to fill your computer with more malware, and attempt to trick you into purchasing with false positives. I’ve never tried Zonealarm, so I cannot vouch for that.

Fourth, you need more then just antivirus software. Most antivirus only protects against trojans, worms, and viruses. Spyware, adware, rootkits, malicious data hidden in Alternate Data Streams, etc… generally arn’t covered. Most people can argue about various antivirus software, but Spybot Search & Destroy is pretty much the standard for antispyware software. It works fantastically. Of course, there are still other very good solutions available. I personally use Malwarebytes Antimalware, along with Comodo BOClean, but Spysweeper (not freeware) is also quite good.
A firewall is also a great addition. By great addition, I mean if you don’t have one, you’re quite vulnerable. Again, may companies make good firewalls. Comodo, Outpost, AVG, there are plenty. Again, using google common sense will find you a good one. (I personally recommend Comodo).
…Do not use Windows firewall. The only thing I’ve ever seen it block is Windows
Update.

Fifth: “i use it, aint had 1 virus in 10 years, and i use limewire”
Don’t be that guy.

Sixth: “Linux eliminates 100% of Windows viruses, worms, and adware.”
Or him.

Seventh (to tony): Good, informative article. Thank you for posting.

because of Sandbox I can intentionally or unintentionally install just about any virus, trojan, malware, or anything and never have to worry about it infecting my computer. Sandboxie makes it like it never happened.

In fact just the other day I was installing a stolen copy of a video game and unintentionally caught a trojan that wasn’t picked up by this so-called virus scanner. However, I just emptied my sandbox and it was gone. Kinda sweet not having to worry about what to download and what not to download. What to install, what not to install…what email to open, what email not to open, how to ensure you remove every detail of an installed program, etc etc etc…

Lol, not to mention it enables me to be able to rerun trial software over and over and over again without paying. I just love Sandbox…so far it’s the best computer defense (aside from unplugging) I’ve ever tried.

Basically, Sandboxie creates a virtual “sandbox” for you to play in while you’re using your computer. Almost ANY program can run in the sandbox and once you’re done you empty your sandbox and tada~ it’s like it never happened! I run Firefox in a sandbox and I don’t even use an anti-virus program. I am sort of tech-savvy and for the last year, I haven’t had one single problem with my computer. Haven’t caught one single piece of malicious code in any shape or form thanks to Sandboxie. I install almost every new piece of software into a new sandbox from now on and I no longer need to worry about this crap. It’s about time a better idea came out.

Point is…TRUST NO PROGRAM. Even ones created by reputable sources because I can’t tell you how many times incompatibility issues have given me headaches.

Check out Sandboxie when you get the chance. It’s pretty fking sweet. I’d be lost without it.
http://www.sandboxie.com

njoy
-Text

@LINFAG
Of course switching to a different operating system would eliminate the need to run virus scanners for a different platform’s viruses.

I personally recommend Unix/Linux OS

I dont recommend MAC OS

Mac OS X is Unix. Way to show your ignorance and to contradict yourself. Your comment was quite spot on, with plenty of good advice (keeping an eye on the resource consumption is a good idea as it could be quite telling — my CPU idles at 0~2%, so any active background processes will be easily spotted).

Though you’ve ruined it for yourself with that last line. You have no basis to make such a statement.

I dont recommend MAC OS ( Worst OS )