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Does your computer get viruses?
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:34 pm
by McInfo
A family member called me today seeking help with an infected computer. It shocked me because it has been years since I last encountered a virus. I think in the 15-20 years I have been a computer user, I have been infected only twice. I don't regularly use anti-virus software, yet I don't feel threatened by viruses.
So, I'm curious what experience everyone else has had with viruses.
Re: Does your computer get viruses?
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:48 pm
by AbraCadaver
I have tried and tried to execute viruses, worms and trojans under but they just won't work. I've even tried running them under WINE. Several years ago I did get one that drove my CPU to 100% so I guess it was an effective DoS.
Re: Does your computer get viruses?
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 5:01 pm
by Jonah Bron
Wine only works well with a limited number of programs unfortunately. Maybe they'll come out with a Linux version some day
But seriously. I went years on Windows (before switching to Linux as my primary OS) without a problem, and with no antivirus. Active antivirus slows the computer down more than a virus

. I'm pretty sure it just depends on the user.
Re: Does your computer get viruses?
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:08 am
by Zyxist
It was a long time since my computer got infected. Recently, I caught a virus on a pendrive while I was at university, because I forgot that the admins there do not care about their Windowses, but it did not cause any damage, partly because I'm using Linux. I think most of the infections base on the user ignorance. They visit strange websites, do not care about even the most basic security, and they catch a problem.
Re: Does your computer get viruses?
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 4:53 pm
by social_experiment
I haven't had a virus on my laptop since i got it (2+ years). I avoid taking files from 3rd (or even 2nd) parties unless they operate some sort of anti-virus software on their machines. I run anti-virus software and try to update it at least once a day, if only to give myself peace of mind.