Should I use Antivirus Software?

Video – VLog #16

During the video we discuss, compare the differences between free and paid antivirus software, how antivirus software can affect system performance.

Willie Nicol asks “Is antivirus worthwhile and should we use it?”

Script – VLog #16

David Logan: Hi, welcome to another week, another video. My name is David Logan, the IT Geek based here in Annan in Scotland. I take the jargon out of technology for the home worker, for the home-office worker. With me today, this week co-host is Willie Nicol. Hello, Willie, how are you and where are you?

Willie Nicol: Hello, David. Very well, thank you. I’m based in Troon, South Ayrshire Scotland.

David Logan: Is that Troon or Toon?

Willie Nicol: Troon – T-R-O-O-N.

David Logan: Not as in toon as in the toon?

Willie Nicol: No there is an ‘R’ in it.

David Logan: This week, we are come to an another week where we look at a technical question from myself, Willie. We’re looking at some kind of computer or phone specific question.

Willie Nicol: Absolutely, David. I’d like to talk a bit about, or you to talk about the antivirus on your devices. Is it worthwhile and why should we do it?

David Logan: Anti-virus? Say it again?

Willie Nicol: Anti virus defenses

David Logan: Defenses. That’s a very good word – defenses, because what you’re doing is stopping the baddies getting into your computer or your phone or your internet enabled device. So, yes, most devices that connect to the internet should have antivirus on, whether it’s paid or free. It should be on, so that you don’t get your, keeps your device – machine running smoothly. So think of it. If you catch the cold, you get touch of the flu. Do you feel like running as fast as you normally run?

Willie Nicol: No, i don’t.

David Logan: Its the same with computer. Yes. It’s not the same human effect, but it tends to clog up. What these viruses do, is they put all the gunk into your system. It slows it down, but then they have the adverse effect.

David Logan: They also record as in key record what you’re doing -keyloggers. So this is where something that you don’t know is on your machine, and they can make note of what your password is for your bank account. So it is very important when you get new machine to get antivirus installed. Now we’re told that new machines, new computers, beware most people get caught out here. Yes, David, I’m fine, I’ve got antivirus on my computer when I got it. The majority of computers come with trial software. It’s live for 30 days. After that 30 days, it drops off. You’re not covered. So you’ve got to make sure you pay to re-subscribe that for a year or you pay another provider.

David Logan: OK. Now what I should be buying antivirus? Protecting your system. The biggest problem, the biggest area in computer security is YOU, the computer user. The phone user. All you need to do is click on a bad link in an e-mail, or the web site. Go to malicious Web site. That can then download code, which can then encrypt your computer. It can install these key loggers or it can do stuff.

David Logan: Now, if you keep your system up to date and you have antivirus on your system your in a good way of preventing this. Anti-virus will stop you, it will say, whoa. Are you sure you want to go to this Web site?

David Logan: At that point, the decision is yours – if you proceed, your overturning the antivirus decision. Potentially allowing the bad guys in.

Willie Nicol: OK.

David Logan: So that’s anti-virus. Should I use it and why?

Willie Nicol: Yes.

David Logan: I’ve told you. The biggest thing is YOU, the end user, the viewer who is viewing this now. You have to. Yes. Zoom has had bad press, at end of the day it’s down to you – the end user for security. Be careful.

Willie Nicol: OK, leaving aside the human factor and being careful, I believe there is paid versions and free versions. Are the paid ones always better then the free ones?

David Logan: Yes and no.

David Logan: So we’ll stick to antivirus for now. Anti-virus is good. Windows computers nowadays, Windows 10 comes off with Microsoft’s own antivirus is called Windows Defender, which is good. I prefer going for a paid version. That’s my personal choice. Why? Because you get backup support 24/7. So if I get stuck, then I’ve got support at end of the phone. Also the paid versions tend to update the virus definitions more frequently, than your free versions. What I mean, there is the antivirus program – it frequently – once a day, once every two days, depends, or if it’s paid or free it will connect to the central server and say “Right, what viruses are out there in the wild?” That information in downloaded to Willie Nicol’s computer.

David Logan: So the paid ones tend to update more frequently, from the cloud down to your system or your phone if you’ve got it on your phone. Whereas the free versions still do the same thing – less frequently

Willie Nicol: OK, If we go for a paid version are there any you particularly recommend?

David Logan: Paid – I prefer one which is called E.S.E.T based in East Europe.

David Logan: Why I choose that as well as the cost is it’s very lightweight on the system, doesn’t take over the system, not performance, it doesn’t downgrade the system performance as much as the big ones out there. Norton and .. trying to think of the other one there . .. McAfee!! Norton and McAfee are known industry wide to reduce your system performance quite a bit. So if you know somebody has got an aged computer, that’s got Norton and or McAfee on it, and they’re complaining it is slow, suggest to them to uninstall and test it then, but then get an another anti-virus onto the system. My advice is ESET. If you the viewer or yourself Willie Nicol, if you want to go for that, give me a call, drop a comment down. I’m approachable. I won’t eat you like the Techno Dinosaur.

Willie Nicol: Thank you, David.

David Logan: Is that good? Yeah? Perfect. Yep. That is us for this week. We’ve run up to the time. So to the viewer covered quite a few topics here today, not just the one topic into quite a few areas. Make note Willie, then we can follow up into following weeks.

David Logan: If you’ve got a question to the viewer, if you’ve got a question, fire them to us. We’re looking for, what is technical challenging you? What is bothering you mentally? We want you to ask us the questions so we can answer them to you out in the field like real life. So please keep watching the videos. Big thing on YouTube, please press that subscribe button like us follow us on LinkedIn, like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter. They are active 24 hours. 24-7. Not like Willie and I who go to sleep at night time or knock off for a beer. So that’s us for this week. My name’s David Logan, Logan-IT, the IT Geek. Computer problems is what I seek. Goodbye, and have a great weekend everybody. Over to you Willie.

Willie Nicol: Thank you, David, for that very comprehensive analysis of antivirus products. Very informative, and I know more about it. I’ll just reiterate what David said there. Keep well – stay safe, and have a fabulous weekend when it comes. Goodbye for now.

David Logan: Bye.