possible to have a virus and not know?

[JoeJ]

Just curious if antivirus software is all that and more. I have Nortons 04
(updated constantly) and do a bit of file sharing, sometimes I wonder if my
AV is that dependable to identify viruses or are the virus writers that
smart to disguise their products where it is a sheep in wolves clothing
going undetected.

 

[Theo]

Just curious if antivirus software is all that and more. I have
Nortons 04 (updated constantly) and do a bit of file sharing,
sometimes I wonder if my AV is that dependable to identify viruses or
are the virus writers that smart to disguise their products where it
is a sheep in wolves clothing going undetected.

Nothing is perfect. And the biggest problem with AV software is that it can
pretty much only detect known threats. So if you get something new it will
take, at best, a couple days for the AV companies to catch up. Sometimes I
think norton takes over a week, depending on the severity of the threat.
Also NAV in particular is not so goot at preventing or getting rid of
adware... maybe they figure its not their department.

But thats just my 2 cents.

 

[Miles Fromier]

Just curious if antivirus software is all that and more. I have Nortons 04
(updated constantly) and do a bit of file sharing, sometimes I wonder if my
AV is that dependable to identify viruses or are the virus writers that
smart to disguise their products where it is a sheep in wolves clothing
going undetected.

AV software is only one of the tools you should be using, and is not complete protection even if
used properly.

 

[JoeJ]

Nothing is perfect. And the biggest problem with AV software is that it
can
pretty much only detect known threats. So if you get something new it will
take, at best, a couple days for the AV companies to catch up. Sometimes I
think norton takes over a week, depending on the severity of the threat.
Also NAV in particular is not so goot at preventing or getting rid of
adware... maybe they figure its not their department.

But thats just my 2 cents.

Agreed about the adware part... I use Adaware and SBS&D for those pesky
nuisances.

 

[Theo]

AV software is only one of the tools you should be using, and is not
complete protection even if used properly.

Just like condoms

 

[NormanM]

So if you get something new it will
take, at best, a couple days for the AV companies to catch up.

Odd. I once got an attachment that I was certain was viral, but it past NAV,
even with definitions under 10 hours old. I submitted the attachment to
Symantec, and was rewarded with updated definitions, about fifteen minutes
after submission, which did identify the infector.

Of course, if you meant "at worst", that would make more sense. The AV
vendors can only react to the bugs in their possession.

 

[Theo]

Odd. I once got an attachment that I was certain was viral, but it
past NAV, even with definitions under 10 hours old. I submitted the
attachment to Symantec, and was rewarded with updated definitions,
about fifteen minutes after submission, which did identify the
infector.

I did the same thing. Sent them what I got, they identified it, said they
would add it, but even a week and 3 updates later it still didnt see it as
a virus... or trojan in this case.