Is it just me or are Anti-Virus programs a bit of a scam?

[s0m3th1ng]

Haven't had an AV program in over 2 years...been virus free for those 2 years. I don't exactly keep vigilant about my downloading habits either.

How do you know that you haven't got a virus if you haven't got a program to detect them?

I scan every once and a while.

 

[rockera]

aye, I had Norton on a computer it drove me round the bend
it was constantly bugging me, so yeah most the time.

 

[Amberella]

I have Kaspersky. It came with my laptop. <.< My boyfriend wanted me to get this free one but Kaspersky did a automatic transfer of my funds to renew it last month without my consent because it saved my information from when I bought the laptop. -.-

 

[Zykon TheLich]

I had McAfee which seemed ok for a while but when it came to renew my subscription it wouldn't work. Eventually McAfee's online help people decided it must be a virus and said I'd have to pay £60 for them to get rid of it. So you want me to pay you £60 to remove a virus so that I can install your antivirus programme that failed to stop it in the 1st place? Don't think so. Got a refund and went somewhere else.
That somehwere else was Microsoft Security Essentials and it was shit, got 2 virus' in about 4 months compared to 1 in the previous 2 years with McAfee. So now I've got Norton and despite all the flack it gets it's been doing quite well. After my subscription runs out I'm going to go with AVG and Spybot Search and Destroy though.

 

[Nouw]

You just need to find the right one.

Alyak's free and as long as you update it (free) it's fine. I use it and found no problems unless you fail to update it.

 

[Worgen]

Well, I used a few before I stopped using a shitbox Windows one (not being anti-Windows, the thing refused to connect to the Internet at ALL) and went to a Mac, and I haven't used virus protection on this, because no-one can be bothered to code viruses for this thing.

thats not true, especially now that more macs are around, they are starting to get targeted more and its easier since most mac users seem to think there are no viruses for it that means its pretty easy to get a mac infected with viruses or spyware etc etc

 

[Hashime]

It is funny, because one of my parent's friends was beaten by norton by a few hours on patenting anti-virus software. He is currently programming an AI at Carnigue Melon (Spelling?) University.

 

[PrimoThePro]

Getting a anti virus program.
Hoping for the best.
Getting a virus the some how got passed.
Fucking pissed now 300$ down the drain.
Fuuck you norton you are to blame.

Hahaha. Norton is so funny. I use Avast!. I use it not only because pirates were often known to shout Avast! but also it actually cleans my computer. Which is delicious. So no, I don't think they are a scam.

 

[Reed Spacer]

Norton's crap; it thinks everything is a virus.