Do I need to install Antivirus on my PC?

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Mark Angelo

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Nov 5, 2014
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My laptop has been used for 3 years without an anti-virus and it seems just fine.

I'm currently building a PC and I was wondering if I need to install an anti-virus on it or not.
 
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Precaution is always better than cure! Get anti-virus installed or you have to go through a lot of trouble to remove it, sometimes you even have to format the system for that, so just protect it!


Should you have to? No.
Is it advised? Yes.

Even if you don't go downloading edgy programs you should still have at least one real-time AV. Many people can ride out the span of their PC collecting 0 malware, however malware will always be an issue.

In my opinion it is advised to have at least Malwarebytes, and Avira installed, running 24/7. You should always take the time once a month or so, to do a complete system scan with both of these. This should *help* keep your system protected. Antiviruses can easily be bypassed by newer malware. It takes time for AV software to register these newer viruses as viruses. Having an AV does not mean you will be 100% protected, it helps. If you use common sense combined with multiple AV software. You should be fine.
 


Very likely infected without you knowing it...
 


I agree with him, but the malware you have should be fairly harmless if you have had your PC for three years with no adverse side effects.
 
Let's have a look at what might be lurking on that computer.

Please download AdwCleaner.

Double-click the adwcleaner.exe to run the tool.
Click Scan.
When the scan is finished, click Clean.
When the cleaning process is over, click Report and a Notepad window will be opened.
Please post the contents here in your topic.


AdwCleaner is a very simple tool to run. Simply run the executable. This is not an antivirus.

Ideally, the tools provided by certified malware removal specialists, which this forum seriously lacks, would make in-dept scans of your whole system.
 
Thanks everyone! I'm planning to get Malwarebytes and Bitdefender once I setup my new PC. Any more recommendations/comments?

@Phantom010, I ran AdwCleaner and it showed up one infected service. I'm not sure what it is though. As for the other tabs, they're mostly uninstalls.
 

When the cleaning process is over, click Report and a Notepad window will be opened.
Please post the contents here in your topic.
 
I'm sorry, but you're not answering in a timely manner. I wanted to help, but I'm now closing my account. This forum is not what I expected.
 


Hi Phantom010. I'm sorry I wasn't able to reply! I took your (and everyone's) advice to get anti-virus software. I already abandoned my laptop so I can't get you the text file that AdwCleaner outputted. I'm now using my newly built rig with BitDefender AND MalwareBytes. 😀
 
Precaution is always better than cure! Get anti-virus installed or you have to go through a lot of trouble to remove it, sometimes you even have to format the system for that, so just protect it!
 
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