Why do you use an Anti Virus programs?

[Tipped OuT]

I've been using Windows for a long time now. I used to have all sorts of Anti Virus/Maleware/Spyware programs installed. It used to slow down my computer to the point it took 15 minutes to fully boot up and become usable. Even with all of this, I still got infections, but this was because I was doing foolish activities, like downloading things from an untrustworthy source.

Now I'm more experienced and know way around. I have no matter Anti Virus installed and my computer runs 10x faster. I do not download things from an untrustworthy source anymore, and I Google the application I'm about to install, to make sure it's safe.

For a year now I've been doing this, and I have no viruses.

So my question is, why do you use an Anti Virus? Are you paranoid? Don't know your way around yet? Just extra "security"?

[ninjapirate89]

No antivirus for me. I'm like you, I just practice safe browsing habits while in Windows.

[jrusso2]

How does safe browsing keep you from getting a drive by exploit from a legitimate site where an ad was hijacked?

[Tipped OuT]

How does safe browsing keep you from getting a drive by exploit from a legitimate site where an ad was hijacked?

When ever that happens to me, I just exit my web browser immediately. Duh. lol...

[mamamia88]

I don't believe in antivirus. It can't stop you from getting a virus it can only tell you when you already have one. Since virues are meant to be disruptive I think I would know if I had one

[ninjapirate89]

How does safe browsing keep you from getting a drive by exploit from a legitimate site where an ad was hijacked?

Ad-Block Plus ftw XD

Edit -> Also Flash-Block and No-Script.

[lisati]

I've only ever had virus-related problems with Windows, and that was from stupid choices on my part.

[Firestem4]

I use Anti-Virus on my Windows machines. Why? Because no matter how smart I am when web browsing, or what protection I use. Windows is not safe.
Specifically I use Malwarebytes. It is an on-demand, free AV/Malware and doesn't hog up your resources. It is also good at finding very obscure and less common viruses which most major commercial offerings do not find. That is what the company behind Malwarebytes specifically aims to provide for.

When ever that happens to me, I just exit my web browser immediately. Duh. lol...

Unless you're proactively blocking all possible attack vectors, once you go to a site, you can be infected, or attacked. The physical act of you actually Downloading something is not required to get infected...Do you download cookies? No, the web browser creates them automatically, as well as runs code from Websites. The mere viewing of a site is enough to do this.

Only things like NoScript (among others) can actively help you block [java]scripts from running in a web browser at a website you've never been to before. However it does not mean that there is no chance.

[Rainstride]

I pretty much never use an anti-virus in ubuntu, I do install clam on fresh installs just in case I need to check something for a windows using friend. but slowly iv been switching my friends to ubuntu. well, the ones that aren't gamers anyway. so at this point its pretty much just a novelty.

[Tipped OuT]

Unless you're proactively blocking all possible attack vectors, once you go to a site, you can be infected, or attacked. The physical act of you actually Downloading something is not required to get infected...Do you download cookies? No, the web browser creates them automatically, as well as runs code from Websites. The mere viewing of a site is enough to do this.

Only things like NoScript (among others) can actively help you block [java]scripts from running in a web browser at a website you've never been to before. However it does not mean that there is no chance.

Ah, I see. Well, I must be one lucky nugget, either that, or I have some sort of infection that I'm not noticing.