Topic 'Is Antivirus Software Dead?' in forum 'Security' - dslreports.com http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23306959 en Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:13:31 EDT Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:13:31 EDT Re: Is Antivirus Software Dead? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23310138
Despite some implications here, the author doesn't declare AV programs dead, but rather in need of continuous improvement to reflect changing threat environments. He also cites the need for OS and application vendors to do the same.

The OS and application vendors need to design security as part of the product functions, not as an afterthought or add-ons when the stuff starts hitting the fan. What's "safe" today may not be "safe" tomorrow, and user complacency is probably as big an issue as technical vulnerabilities.
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The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding. -- Justice Louis D. Brandeis]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23310138 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:15:42 EDT Re: Is Antivirus Software Dead? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23310022
As for AV being dead, surely not. It'll live on as long as folks are willing to pay for it, and it really doesn't matter much how useful or not it is, as long as people pay for it, it will stay alive. Right now, AVs are of limited usefulness against new malware in my experience, and of decent usefulness against some older malware. Overall, most Windows users should run an AV to provide some protection against their insecure computing practices (Like running some random file without knowing what it is and who made it - would the average Unix user do that?), but not trust it to save them from anything. Problem is, if someone actually bothered to make malware for anything that isn't Windows, and the average Windows user used those systems, many of them would infect themselves just fine due to the miracles of social engineering and human stupidity. And if they found a system so "secure" that no new code at all could execute no matter what, then they'd just give out their email and Paypal and banking account credentials in the first phishing scam they see.

In the end, the users being clueless is a much larger problem than software being insecure. That is, if you ask me, and who does? :D
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Software Restriction Policies. How about the short version?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23310022 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:42:07 EDT Re: Is Antivirus Software Dead? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23309432 said by Smokey Bear:

said by SUMware:

There exist many superb operating systems where AV is unnecessary and irrelevant.

Actually, only Windows requires it.
Examples of 'superb' OS's?
As KodiacZiller indicated, all the *nix flavors, BSD flavors, Solaris, OS X, probably Google Chrome OS, the mobile flavors of them, etc. Again, everything except Windows! ;)
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23309432 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:43:31 EDT Re: Is Antivirus Software Dead? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23309422 said by Smokey Bear:

said by SUMware:

There exist many superb operating systems where AV is unnecessary and irrelevant.

Actually, only Windows requires it.
Examples of 'superb' OS's?
I am sure he is talking of the Unix variants. And I agree with him. They do not and never have needed AV because of the way they are built.

However, even on Windows, AV isn't necessary if one uses the "whitelisting" approach, and with the emergence of AppLocker this is easier and more effective on Windows than ever. There are also things like MAC and HIPS which can further fortify a 'doze install.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23309422 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:40:26 EDT Re: Is Antivirus Software Dead? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23309327 said by SUMware:

There exist many superb operating systems where AV is unnecessary and irrelevant.

Actually, only Windows requires it.
Examples of 'superb' OS's?
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Official Jetico Inc. Support Forums »www.smokey-services.eu/]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23309327 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:00:08 EDT Re: Is Antivirus Software Dead? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23309323
Actually, only Windows requires it.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23309323 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:57:24 EDT Re: Is Antivirus Software Dead? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23309163 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23309163 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:50:00 EDT Re: Is Antivirus Software Dead? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23309084 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23309084 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:51:06 EDT Re: Is Antivirus Software Dead? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23307812 said by mysec:

Anti-Virus Is Dead, D-E-A-D, Dead!
2006
OMG!!! We are doomed!!! :mad: :o]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23307812 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:03:12 EDT Re: Is Antivirus Software Dead? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23307474
Anti-Virus Is Dead, D-E-A-D, Dead!
2006
»securitywatch.eweek.com/virus_an···ead.html

The decline of antivirus and the rise of whitelisting
June 2007
»www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/27···tivirus/

Is Desktop Antivirus Dead?
2008
»www.pcworld.com/article/130455/i···ead.html

regards,

-rich]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23307474 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:39:38 EDT Re: Is Antivirus Software Dead? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23307066
AV software wasn't and will never be dead. But comparing with the past, today's importance decreased. Malware evolve incredible fast and a traditional AV isn't developed to combat certain (new) malware nor will be able to deal with it (anymore), anyway, many times. Today, an AV is part of a multi-layered defense approach, neither more nor less. So an AV is still important AS PART of a defense strategy. Besides, the user should also take advantage of the build-in security features of an OS (and don't try to deactivate them like e.g. now happen in Windows 7...). Important: OS and program updates should always be installed asap. And, most important: user's common sense.
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Official Jetico Inc. Support Forums »www.smokey-services.eu/]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23307066 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:34:29 EDT Is Antivirus Software Dead? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23306959 »www.informationweek.com/news/sec···ily_html]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Is-Antivirus-Software-Dead-23306959 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:05:11 EDT