Are Firms Too Reliant On Anti-Virus Software?

from the well,-of-course dept

Fri, Sep 9th 2005 12:45pm — Mike Masnick

ZaneK writes "A Sophos senior virus researcher says that anti-virus software cannot be relied upon to keep networks virus-free: "I always say, 'Do not rely on antivirus software'. In 99 per cent of cases you cannot. The problem is we have to see a virus before we can detect it. If antivirus is in place, it may not detect [a virus] because it may be very targeted for you."" The most annoying thing about this is that this isn't a new idea. Anyone who feels protected because of their antivirus software is only asking for trouble -- yet, suddenly it's newsworthy when one security company comes out and admits what everyone should know already?

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malhombre, 9 Sep 2005 @ 2:23pm

anti-virus software
Weeel, we here of ginormous compooter expertise certainly should be aware of the fact that all virus detection code is mainly post facto, but how many mom-n-pop operations are relying on their whiz-kid relative to do IT ("he knows everything about computers!)?
It does serve a useful purpose to announce these otherwise obvious things every now and then, if only to alert the newbies and the naive, perhaps.
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jean, 12 Sep 2005 @ 11:17pm

Antivirus
Now NOw nOw NOw

antivirus is a good choice, we need somebody to tell us hey there is trouble.....
BUT
If the users have been educated quite enough then the virus attack is very limited possibly close to 0%
this is tested
:O
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Mys_.bat, 25 Mar 2007 @ 10:42am

Antivirus
So tell me what are the best recomended ways for defending against hacks and viruses? If there is no limit to what a home user will spend to defend whats on his or her computer wahts the general consensus? Please feel free to contact me
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Mick, 27 Jan 2010 @ 1:08pm

Sophos makes a high quality antivirus product but the rep is correct simply because you cannot protect people from themselves. Despite what level of protection you have, human error or maliciousness can always usurp software.
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