Not in the least TCO1962..in fact it is a feather in Symantech's cap to tell it like it is
. NAV is a darn good product but many people expect too much out of their AV "if" they get infected.
This is not about NAV..it is about all of us and what we seem to overestimate what protection is really all about. I posted this for a member who is a friend of mine some time ago. It still applies today.
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Is my system protected or not?
Yes, but when you decide to execute(open) any file or attachment that you know could be dangerous to any system instead of deleting it in the first place, you are already breaking the rules that are preach all over the Internet of
1. know first who sent it to you
2. Even if you think you know, scan it first
3. Even then determine if you really want/need to see this unknown file just how imfortant is that need, based upon the facts you already know about security. There are new "badboys" written each day and no AV or AT can protect you from those 100 percent even if you tried to update them once a day.
To put it in plain english Steve. I would never send You an .exe or a .com and a few other type file formats in the first place. For those reading this post, be aware that I could do that for I have Steve's email address. I just do not send files like that to any of my friends. If they start getting used to opening that kind of file on MY account...one day my email addy will be spoofed and then I would be the indirect cause of putting him at risk.
The other tests one can do anyplace is to test the mail program you ARE using to determine if you are vulnerable just by downloading email to your PC in the first place without even opening up any attachments.
Most email clients nowdays allow MIME or HTTP viewing automatically with hooks and binding into standard applications you all have on your PC such as Audio players, all the way from the standard M$ mplayer that came with the OS to now the new generation M$ is now putting in XP...not to leave out Sonic...crescendo..and 15 other types of embedded audio players which have now been download from the web and are "associated" by default into your mail client.
That automation has been exploited by Nimda and so many other virus/trojan/worms to get into your system, unannounced, it is no wonder they all still thrive today.
I see so many people who have been around these forums and boards, who know all these things and more...yet still insist they have it all covered with a patch, a fix, a program, a killer, a stopper, a "realtime scanner", a firewall with loggers...so they jump in there with both feet and test the technical "limits" (in their opinion) of how they have their system setup.
I also see many people still forwarding email they got from a friend of a friend with everyones email addy in the headers as they forward them..not as a blind copy..but rather a .cc or just put everyone in the "send to" that is in their famous .WAB (Windows Address Book).
My suggestion..start breaking that chain...be nice to your friends if you forward those emails and clean them up first before you send them..and for your friends..instruct them how to do the same. If they can't or will not do it...ask them to take your address out of their .wab or any other address book that is used by any flavor of Outlook.
If you do not..your email addy floats all around the world for spammers and badboys to get your addy as they auto search unprotected systems of people you do not even know.
Hope this helps some members..
Best to ya Steve,
John