Should ISPs provide antivirus protection? (Rant)

[FroSSty]

Ask yourself this; Why would someone want to create computer viruses?
The best answer I can come up with is that they want to make money from it. What is the best way to make money from it?
EASY, create software to sell to the general public that will neutralize the problem. Which is easy for them considering they made the worm in the first place. They know how to get around it. Mark my words...

The virus protection provided by my ISP has worked flawlessly. The only problem so far is that I can't use AD-Aware anymore because it quarantines a certain file in my anti-virus so it doesn't update...

[sneitzel]

Ask yourself this; Why would someone want to create computer viruses?

I won't dismiss your explanation but would like to offer the following as a more realistic reason:

Because they can.
There are a whole lot of VERY smart programmers out there and there are only so many high level programming jobs out there. From what I have read most viruses are created to be an annoyance. They're built with hope that they will spread like wildfire and everyone on the TV news, in pirnt and on the net will be talking about virus X. The creator gets that sense of accomplishment by watching "the whole world" jump when they told them to. What better way to demonstrate how smart you really are? Look at me. I, 1 programmer, took down MS briefly with a few keystrokes.

Again, FroSSty, I'm not saying I think the comapnies selling software to combat the problem couldn't have a hand in this process. That's just a little too much conspiracy theory for me to swallow whole. Plus, all it would take is 1 pissed off ex-employee who knew that was going on to blow everythng wide open.

[sneitzel]

The virus protection provided by my ISP has worked flawlessly. The only problem so far is that I can't use AD-Aware anymore because it quarantines a certain file in my anti-virus so it doesn't update...

If you know which file you can exclude it from the scan list.
In AdAware Plus SE search help for Ignore List and it'll tell you how. Should be similar in other/older versions.

[FroSSty]

Thanks, I am gonna try that out. I like Ad-Aware a lot...
I am full of conspiracy theories....kinda

[Joshu]

First off, Great thread!

Sorry Joe I half - disagree with you on this one. People have to have common sense. You just dont "get a virus" unless you forgot to update windows and a worm gets in (very rare). I fix computers at college for money (or whatever I need) and all I see are people who are just freakin careless. However, Anti virus software should be availible at a deeply discounted rate. All a user has to have is common sense...its that easy. Also, it is like a car, it does need mantenience.

I have had windowsXP installed on my HD (intentionally without SP2) for three years now after going through MAJOR upgrades (like everything but the HD from a 32 to a 64 bit system) with only two viruses which I took care of immediately (got them from accidently hitting "accept").

I built my own computer and it runs like a dream. This is just like our cars. Yours probably is in 100% better shape than mine since I barely know what im doing. Same for the computer.

Also, I took basic computer programming way back in high school. I was pretty advanced so I got bored and wanted to flex my power...so what did I do? I made a virus and tested it on a dummie computer but OFCOURSE never released it. Programmers just get bored and mad and want to have some power in their tiny cubicle.

Sorry it crashed on you...

[Joe 1320]

First off, Great thread!

You just dont "get a virus" unless you forgot to update windows and a worm gets in (very rare).

Help me along on this....... if windows is the only thing that needs to be updated, why is there anti-virus software on the market?

[wood]

If you don't download anything, and you got a virus directly from the ISP without you installing anything, then I would change your ISP. I've had cox for years and never had problems unless it was something I downloaded.

[Joshu]

Help me along on this....... if windows is the only thing that needs to be updated, why is there anti-virus software on the market?

Because people make mistakes when clicking, and need like a mechanic for their computer except it often gives a false sense of security because not all AV software actually works.

Also, $$$
play on people's fears as well