How to live without an antivirus?

[509322]

Fully agree with Jeff on this one. When I first started running without an AV people
told me I was stupid and wreckless. Of course I was a little hurt but I refused to listen,
and I am glad that I didn't.

A comparatively simple security config that causes few issues -- it makes more sense because you are much more apt to commit to using it.

We all like our security softs and like to play with them like 5 year olds on Christmas day - I get that. But people change their security softs more often than they do their underwear - and they very often have no better security than when they started.

 

[Deleted member 178]

told me I was stupid and wreckless. Of course I was a little hurt but I refused to listen,
and I am glad that I didn't.

Same here with one exception, they didn't dare to tell me anything because i'm the great Umbra and they fear my mastery of the Dark Side

 

[shmu26]

If you have not yet attained the zen art of "mind over mouse" like @Lockdown and @Umbra and @_CyberGhosT_ have, then don't go without AV. You have to really know what you are doing, and you also have to really do it. Not as easy as it sounds.

 

[509322]

If you have not yet attained the zen art of "mind over mouse" like @Lockdown and @Umbra and @_CyberGhosT_ have, then don't go without AV. You have to really know what you are doing, and you also have to really do it. Not as easy as it sounds.

It's not difficult at all. And it certainly isn't rocket science - not even close. If a person can add 1 + 1 = 2, then they are 3/4 of the way to default-deny.

How hard is it to restore your system to a clean snapshot everyday or disable the powershell and Windows Script Host shells ?

How difficult is it to install a security soft and use default settings ?

 

[Deleted member 178]

It's not difficult at all. And it certainly isn't rocket science - not even close. If a person can add 1 + 1 = 2, then they are 3/4 of the way to default-deny.

For us it is like the air we breath, but for average Joe, it is quite hard to even wrap their mind about using a security software and even tweak it; believe me ^^

How hard is it to restore your system to a clean snapshot everyday or disable the powershell and Windows Script Host shells ?

Quite in fact, most people don't even know how to do...

How difficult is it to install a security soft and use default settings ?

Not difficult but i won't recommend to use default settings

 

[shmu26]

It's not difficult at all. And it certainly isn't rocket science - not even close. If a person can add 1 + 1 = 2, then they are 3/4 of the way to default-deny.

How hard is it to restore your system to a clean snapshot everyday or disable the powershell and Windows Script Host shells ?

How difficult is it to install a security soft and use default settings ?

Clean snapshots are a pain if you want to keep your software updated.
Disabling powershell and Windows Script Host shells is a great idea.
The real problem arises when your default/deny solution blocks the file you want to run, and you just want to get on with life. This is where the average user will fall.

 

[509322]

Clean snapshots are a pain if you want to keep your software updated.

You update your snapshot. You keep it clean with lockdown and then clean out the temps after updating.

The real problem arises when your default/deny solution blocks the file you want to run, and you just want to get on with life. This is where the average user will fall.

On the system I am typing this, I have only 8 exclusion rules. Nothing is broken.

If you are using default deny, then you should not be wanting to run files - but instead blocking them. Block, block, block... ask questions later. Nothing is permanently broken.

 

[Rodney74]

If you have not yet attained the zen art of "mind over mouse" like @Lockdown and @Umbra and @_CyberGhosT_ have, then don't go without AV. You have to really know what you are doing, and you also have to really do it. Not as easy as it sounds.

Well this simply won't do. You MUST include another name, in your above statement. Unless you want to upset the balance of nature.

I mean to say imagine describing the following famous band as "John, Paul, and George"...

You just must have 4 names.

And don't you dare state that I'm wrong, siting "Peter, Paul, and Mary"... That doesn't count.

 

[shmu26]

Well this simply won't do. You MUST include another name, in your above statement. Unless you want to upset the balance of nature.

I mean to say imagine describing the following famous band as "John, Paul, and George"...

You just must have 4 names.

And don't you dare state that I'm wrong, siting "Peter, Paul, and Mary"... That doesn't count.

If you insist, then add @shmu26

 

[Handsome Recluse]

Same here with one exception, they didn't dare to tell me anything because i'm the great Umbra and they fear my mastery of the Dark Side

Then why is there light in your pic?
Did you just refuse to listen to nothing and became glad at refusing to listen to nothing?

 

[JHomes]

To address OP's question, RollBack Rx Home.

It's up to you to roll the system back either at end of day or on reboot but it's doable, and it's free.

 

[shmu26]

Solutions such as Rollback and Shadow Defender won't protect you from data loss.

If you got hit by a keylogger at 1:00 PM, and you accessed your bank account and your gmail account at 2:00 PM, and you rolled back your system at 5:00 PM, it's too late.

 

[Xsjx]

If I see something or smell something fishy-- I'll run adwcleaner or zemana - but other than that, as long as you just use verified google links you will be fine. Ad block is a must.

You wont See everything..

 

[Handsome Recluse]

You wont See everything..

Your product won't see everything either. It's ultimately about risk assessment and cost analysis since security software can have efficiency/usability/stability costs.

 

[Handsome Recluse]

To address OP's question, RollBack Rx Home.

It's up to you to roll the system back either at end of day or on reboot but it's doable, and it's free.

I also use that too for quite a long time 'till now as the main security to replace antivirus/other software but I find the increase in boot time unacceptable still.

 

[brod56]

My personal opinion. Even though signature-based programs are not perfect and may slow you down, I believe they are totally worth it. Try some light options like Bitdefender or Zemana Premium and there should be no problems.
Anyway, if you don't really like these ones, the best option is probably to combo Comodo Firewall with a tweaked browser (uBlock, Avira Safety).
Common sense is always needed though.

 

[Xsjx]

Your product won't see everything either. It's ultimately about risk assessment and cost analysis since security software can have efficiency/usability/stability costs.

It will see more than a human eye can catch.

 

[JHomes]

I also use that too for quite a long time 'till now as the main security to replace antivirus/other software but I find the increase in boot time unacceptable still.

I agree the boot times were bad, I have the Pro Edition and in latest build you can disable the defrag which makes boot up slow, then you can set a task to have it defrag snapshots anytime during the day. It's gotten my boot up times to more respectable levels. Still going to be some as you have an added service to the boot up process

 

[Rodney74]

Solutions such as Rollback and Shadow Defender won't protect you from data loss.

If you got hit by a keylogger at 1:00 PM, and you accessed your bank account and your gmail account at 2:00 PM, and you rolled back your system at 5:00 PM, it's too late.

What methods are you using to prevent this?

 

[Winter Soldier]

If you got hit by a keylogger at 1:00 PM, and you accessed your bank account and your gmail account at 2:00 PM, and you rolled back your system at 5:00 PM, it's too late.

Since the keylogger's main objective is your password, it is advisable to use, for the most important services (such as online banking and email), the two-factor authentication.