[Raymond "Red" Reddington]

If you don't download and execute fishy files from unreliable sources, why you need an AV?
Back in the day when there was silent JDB, it was sometimes risky, but that's patched long ago.

[ᴊᴇʟʟʏғɪsʜ]

There are still viruses out there that you get on your PC by visiting malicious websites.

For as long as computers have been and will be in existence, whether connected to the Internet or not, there will always be a need for antivirus software. There will never be a time when people, whether mischievous youths seeking a thrill or a hardened cybercriminals looking to exploit billion-dollar companies, will stop looking to find ways to commit fraud, cause widespread damage, or just experience the rush of breaking into a computer.

[drillBYTE]

Don't forget, almost everything is "fishy" now days... Take a look at a certain phone and laptop brand that installed backdoors into their systems. You might not download anything dangerous, but with backdoor access - it doesn't mean someone else won't.

[Vyxn]

Because you can't trust everything on the internet nowadays so better be safe than sorry.

[Sparkfear]

If you're against installing an AV, you can always use Windows Defender. (Which normally activates itself anyway)

[Riggs]

This is like owning a nightclub and only having security staff on the door checking customers coming in. You think your nightclub is safe, because your door security are experienced and the local demographic compliant. But then some fuckwit manages to sneak in through one of the fire exits and your whole nightclub gets trashed.

[Super]

Unpopular opinion here.
You don't need an AV if you know your shit. That being said, I still recommend them to everybody because many people don't know their shit even if they think they do. Personally, I haven't used an antivirus on my Windows or Linux machines for 8+ years and have yet to be infected.

If you choose not to install an antivirus, make sure to follow these guidelines:

• Keep all your software up to date (to protect you from exploit kits).
  
• If you download a sketchy file, upload it to VirusTotal first. If it comes up clean but you're still suspicious, run it in Sandboxie.
  
• This goes without saying, but be smart.
  

🎉
Dynamo

[DFENS]

Agree with Dynamo, when you install AV you waiver all privacy rights you have to your PC. The AV program has the rights to scan every file you own and send them back to HQ for analysis. Do a little reading into the Kaspersky and US Government agencies scandal if you find this comment dubious. A little security common sense and network packet sniffer (Smartsniff) installed to inspect all traffic your PC is sending\receiving is all that is needed.

[ɡringo]

It’s kind of like the internet is that nasty girl you’re kinda into but has been around the block a few times, sure your pull out game is strong and you know she might have something but she isn’t showing signs of infection so you don’t wear a condom then bam you got the bitch pregnant and you’ve got herpes and don’t even know it until you hook up with your next partner and you’ve got sores all over your mouth because you had a flare up because you had spicy food. AV is like a condom for the internet, sure you don’t need one but it’s always smart to use one.

[nowremovevirus]

you have antivirus in your system, you will free from headch from any virus attack. It will automatically give you alters about the threats. so, i think it is very necessary to have in your PC.

[Sigma]

All these answers are perfect. You should always have an AV, even if you are extremely careful.

[Elitas]

There are better AV's that don't call themselves an AV though.

At this point I barely use my AV, it was annoying me with all these security features it does.

I have a strong firewall, I whitelist certain files and only allow them to complete network activity or edit other files and any new editing/network activity they attempt will have to be manually accepted by me. Also encrypting my keystrokes to prevent keyloggers, covering webcam because I don't need it, and limiting Windows' functionality. If I do download any malware, it won't be able to communicate to any server to send information because of my firewall. Only ransomware can attack me (and it'll need to be a bad ransomware, which stores a hard-coded decryption key as it can't communicate with a server to randomly generate one, or else it'll need to be a scam ransomware which pretends they are going to give me a key but really have fucked up my computer). Either way, I don't run stupid files.

Also, I have recently realized how much bullshit connections my AV makes by limiting requests, and have fully blocked all network activity for it, as it shouldn't need to be sending files it thinks might be infected to their server, as that can expose some of my personal files/info I don't want to share with them regardless of how it helps them to improve their service, lol....

[Riggs]

If I do download any malware, it won't be able to communicate to any server to send information because of my firewall.

So you're blocking all traffic on port 80/443?

Makes sense.

[patr10t1]

Because you can't trust everything on the internet nowadays so better be safe than sorry.

Remember the vicious circle - the main and (perhaps) the only aim of the antivirus companies is to gain profit. Th more professional you are the less your dependence on these tools.

[icyΩ]

Microsoft Security Essentials all the way baby. Nice real time protection, does use a bit of RAM tho

I just task kill anything that seems fishy

Code

taskkill /f /pid xxx