Battle Life without AV?

uduoix

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Oct 14, 2015
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I'm thinking about ditch AV software. I didn't get infected since win7 or maybe win vista and i can't even remember last time AV blocked malware. I don't crack games, don't visit warez sites/forums, porn sites etc.. I use Chrome with ublock origin and malwarebytes. Do you guys think ditching AV is good idea or not? i do daily backups on cloud services (onedrive and pcloud) and on external disks.
 
5

509322

I'm thinking about ditch AV software. I didn't get infected since win7 or maybe win vista and i can't even remember last time AV blocked malware. I don't crack games, don't visit warez sites/forums, porn sites etc.. I use Chrome with ublock origin and malwarebytes. Do you guys think ditching AV is good idea or not? i do daily backups on cloud services (onedrive and pcloud) and on external disks.

Security softs are nothing more than an insurance policy. Like all insurance policies, they have a cost or burden associated with them, but nevertheless it is wise to have insurance, even if it is the bare minimum kind.

How do you know you're not backing-up an infected system every day ?

Food for thought.
 

plat

Level 29
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Sep 13, 2018
1,793
Andy Ful: I installed the group policy console with a batch file running Windows 10 Home v. 1809. There are several sources online but it's at your own risk. I would not give up group policy editor now because there are multiple other uses for it besides messing with Windows Defender. But third party hardening software is definitely more convenient and understandable for hardening Defender.

Screenshot (2).png

Edit: the method above to install group policy console legitimately uses Command Prompt.
 
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shmu26

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Jul 3, 2015
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I'm thinking about ditch AV software. I didn't get infected since win7 or maybe win vista and i can't even remember last time AV blocked malware. I don't crack games, don't visit warez sites/forums, porn sites etc.. I use Chrome with ublock origin and malwarebytes. Do you guys think ditching AV is good idea or not? i do daily backups on cloud services (onedrive and pcloud) and on external disks.
You will gain a few split seconds by ditching your AV, and lose several long hours grappling with the advanced security apps that you installed instead.
 
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5

509322

Well, another saying goes: If it is working, fix it till it's broken. :) Sometimes on forums like that we stick to this one. You get bored with everything working as it should. Well if this is not turning into an addiction, then you learn quite a few things in the process.

Then you need security soft rehab. There they make you cook, do dishes, clean, wash clothes, change your underwear... go outside.
 

Andy Ful

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Security softs are nothing more than an insurance policy. Like all insurance policies, they have a cost or burden associated with them, but nevertheless it is wise to have insurance, even if it is the bare minimum kind.
(y)(y)(y)

How do you know you're not backing-up an infected system every day ?
Food for thought.
You cannot be sure of it when using real-time AV, too.:unsure:
Anyway, most of default deny setups based on Anti-Exe, SRP, and Sandboxing can log & alert the blocked events, so the user can see the signs of infection. The user can also use on demand AV scanners, and online detonation analyzers.
But, using the locked system without a real-time AV would be risky for most people, similarly to such activities like Mountaineering, Parachuting, etc.
 
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shmu26

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But, using the locked system without a real-time AV would be risky for most people, similarly to such activities like Mountaineering, Parachuting, etc.
Besides that, it's a little nerve-wracking. You are always asking yourself whether you might have made a mistake...
 

Andy Ful

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Andy Ful: I installed the group policy console with a batch file running Windows 10 Home v. 1809. There are several sources online but it's at your own risk. I would not give up group policy editor now because there are multiple other uses for it besides messing with Windows Defender. But third party hardening software is definitely more convenient and understandable for hardening Defender.


Edit: the method above to install group policy console legitimately uses Command Prompt.
There were several attempts to incorporate GPO to Windows Home. All of them had some problems. The one I tested a few years ago had a working console, but some policies did not work. Furthermore, you cannot be sure how the console will work after the Windows Updates/Upgrades. Some required files will be updated, but some not. I would not recommend such solutions.
 

JM Safe

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Apr 12, 2015
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Yes - OLE, DDE, ActiveX, and some others. But there are applications which can block most vectors of attack in MS Office 2007 and higher versions.
uduoix uses PDF Viewer in AppContainer and the scripts are already blocked.
Agree.
@uduoix if you want to ditch AV:

-Install Sandboxie Free and use it always (also for open documents).

-Scan with your on-demand scanners the downloaded files.

-Pay always attention when visiting unknown sites and do not fill forms in unknown sites (Sandboxie doesn't prevent phishing).
 

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