More than 12 years without Antivirus

After over twelve years of computing, I finally installed an anti-virus/anti-intrusion/keep-me-safe/anti-spyware/anti-hacker software program today. I only put it on my computer at work, too. (My Mac goes on in this cruel, cruel world, uprotected and naked to all those nasty bugs out there.) I tend to not care for those things. They take up unnecessary computing power, typically cause erratic behavior, and generally just stink. One reason I have gone so long, is that I have a Mac at home. 'Nuff said. I do believe Macs can get a virus, etc. I'm not naive, it's just not very common. But I think if you just use some common sense, computing can be very safe, without the need for additional software. At work though, I have to count on the lowest common denominator. I'm not always the one commanding my computer. Since I share my little compy, I felt it was time to go ahead and lock 'er down. I have had enough of cleaning everyone elses Winboxes of that foul junk for awhile. By the way, anti-virus is only as smart as it's user.....hint, hint.

Tip: If your computer asks you to buy software to rid itself of viruses, don't. Plain and simple. We had a fellow pay $40 to some mysterious anti-spyware company that showed up in a pop up ad and installed a mess of a programs onto his computer. That included what? Spyware! Viruses! And Bloatware! Oh my! After formating the stupid thing, it seemed to run fine.

The regulars around here seem to know what's going on. But the short timers invariably get to screwing around with a computer and put some junk on it that completely destroys the OS. Just because "The computer told me too..."

Second, if you like fancy screen savers, games, and weather trackers... Wait, I'm not even going to go there, either. Just don't. All I'm saying is use common sense. Get to know you're operating system. You know what real error messages look like. If you are surfing the web, and something pops up and tells you you just haaave to put a program on (and the window has home, back, and forward buttons), go to download.com, or cnet.com, and see what others say. Or run your updater from Windows or OSX and use that. I am not some sort of guru when it comes to computers, but for me to go my ENTIRE computing life, and not get ONE virus, I must be doing something right. I just installed a name brand Antivirus on three computers at work, as a precaution. Mine was the only one that didn't have a single virus on it. Just be smart, do your research. Try to go to trusted sites. Use programs like McAfee, Norton, Panda, etc. If you don't know what to do, ask someone that does. No, not your neighbors kid. Call a computer repair shop, or find a real personal reference. I may sound like I am venting, I am. I just hate spending time, and having to spend money working on computers, when the whole problem was caused by ignorance. It's not that difficult, but fixing it can be.