I've had enough: I'm ditching ALL antivirus software!

[codegreen]

It does not matter what antivirus software I install for my clients: Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Kingsoft... they call come back infected, and they're always angry at me because my recommended software didn't stop them from infecting themselves. I'm just so tired of dealing with it. So, from now on, I'm not installing any antivirus software on my customers' computers, and I will be removing any that are already installed. Since they're so determined to get infected, why should I stand in their way? I'll just collect my malware removal fee each time, thank you very much.

________________________________________________________________________________________
EDIT: Yeah, so April Fools', guys. Don't worry, I haven't actually had a personality/ethics/competency transplant.

 

[TAPtech]

Just disable their LAN and WLAN cards. That'll stop it.

 

[smashedbotatos]

Maybe you should try this new Russian anti-anti-virus software. It works like Ninite, but it is called Leninite. It takes all your personal info and sends it to the scam websites of you choice. It then installs the malware of you choice. Conduit, mywebsearch, regpro8 and many other popular programs. I run it every time I finish clean a pc. So much easier to just give it back to customers with the malware already loaded.

 

[jft135]

I always explain when I'm selling AV that the best programs are only 98% effective against KNOWN threats. The effectiveness drops to around 60% for unknown threats. I don't have many problems, but unofficially, if someone bought my software and gets reinfected, I will redo the removal for free. This excludes conduit, etc. and anyone who is looking at porn or file-sharing. I'm actually considering making this policy official if they buy a premium removal and AV at the same time.

We have a longstanding policy that we WILL NOT install a free AV for customers. We had way more complaints and reinfections from free AV then we have ever gotten from paid products. At least if you SOLD them the AV you made a little money to justify putting up with them.

 

[Moltuae]

Point them to an AV comparative test and let them decide themselves, eg:
http://chart.av-comparatives.org/chart1.php

If they can't be bothered to study the results, offer to pick one for them at their own risk.

 

[Porthos]

For the last month, The only infections er I mean infestations I have seen are PUP's/ Junkware. When I boot machine at check-in I explain with some screenshots that these are not viruses and how they got them and every one seems to get it when they see the installer windows in my examples.

Most have the expression like a light bulb turning on. I tell them with very few exceptions all programs do this now and explain it is all about money and can for the most part be avoided.

Thank god for these this month because only 2 were actually real infections.

 

['putertutor]

I like that screenshot idea. So many customers tell me " I always say no to that stuff" or "I only download updates, I haven't downloaded software in years." It's not that they're lying, they just honestly don't remember. (Ok. Sometimes they are lying. But it doesn't really matter)

Showing them a screenshot would do a much better job of jogging their memory and maybe help them avoid infections in the future. I like it. Care to share any if these images?

 

[NYJimbo]

I think the problem is that to an end user there is no difference between a true virus and a PUP/Junkware "infestation".

If their machine is slow, lots of stuff popping up trying to get them to buy stuff, browser hijacks or search engine redirects, its a virus to them. When you think about it there isn't much difference between many viruses and these PUP/Junkware programs.

So their A/V may be sitting there all happy because its not really infected but to the customer it is.

Even when I explain it to them, install something like ABP or put the "Programs and Features" icon on their desktop so they can remove stuff, they still come back 6 months later with a system packed full of garbage.

 

[brandonkick]

We've beat this idea to death (Anti Vir vs No Anti Vir) and to be honest I think your letting the public get to you.

It's not the Anti Virus software... it's the concept of servicing the public. Stop dealing in Antivirus software and your going to get customer complaining at you for NOT giving it to them. No matter what it is, they will find something to gripe about and it's going to be YOUR fault in their minds.

It's not fair to blanket EVERYONE into the "uneducated, rude, unreasonable" category that so many people in the general population fall into. Other people in other trades can make similar remarks about some of us and the things we do or thing in relation to their professions.

If your going to service the public, then your going to deal with people who are just downright uninformed and rude. You have to get past that, or stop dealing with the public.

 

[Larry Sabo]

I've started putting Unchecky on more and more machines, to stop the baggage that comes along with most installs/updates.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I don't do a lot of residential stuff.....but the standard best practices I do for our business clients still apply to residential...to keep them as malware free as possible.

In addition to antivirus...
*Keep updated web players (java, pdf reader, flash, shockwave, etc). Most of the malware todays uses exploits in outdated versions of these to infect systems. Instruct them how to install the updates without the added junkbars or "me too" ware.
*Setup safe DNS services on their router. OpenDNS, or Norton Connect Safe, or one of the others if you prefer them. But safe DNS services do make a big difference.
*Chrome Browser...safest of the big browsers, has that "sandbox" feature already built into it, and install the AdBlock Plus extension and turn on the "malware blocker" feature.

"Layered Security"....Really does make a big difference.
You can pretty much run any antivirus you want (well...except that steaming pile of brown stuff known as AVG)...and the computers still stay pretty clean.

 

[Galdorf]

AV's alone won't do the job what i do is install unchecky,toolbar blocker, and install ToolWiz care and timefreeze.
By time freezing customers computer it always returns to default on reboot or powerup no more repeat offenders for me.
you might want to look into SpywareBlaster.

 

[wavey]

We all spend hours & hours making their PCs idiot proof.

But they keep on making better idiots

 

[GCS]

If I ever had a tech uninstall antivirus/remove it.
I would drop them in an instant. This should've gone in 'technician eyes only'

You need to better explain how antivirus works to your customers, rather than making it even easier for them to get infected and screwing them over, because that's what you are doing by removing AV.

While they may still get infected, without av it's only going to get worse. You should strive to keep your customers protected, not rip away their only safety net and try to cash in on malware removals.

Not only is that giving up on antivirus, it's giving up on your customers.
If I was one of your customers and had just read this, it would be the last time I ever called/refereed you.

 

[codegreen]

I thought maybe the Kingsoft reference would give it away too quickly, but perhaps not. Yes, this is an April Fools' prank. Thanks to:

• TAPtech, smashedbotatos, wavey, and lcoughley (private message) for playing along
• GCS for the funniest reaction, and
• Everyone else (especially YeOldeStonecat) for trying to offer good advice to the crazy person.

+Rep all around for being good sports!

 

[jft135]

I thought maybe the Kingsoft reference would give it away too quickly, but perhaps not. Yes, this is an April Fools' prank. Thanks to:

• TAPtech, smashedbotatos, wavey, and lcoughley (private message) for playing along
• GCS for the funniest reaction, and
• Everyone else (especially YeOldeStonecat) for trying to offer good advice to the crazy person.

+Rep all around for being good sports!

Your joke was too close to too many other real posts on these forums for us not to take you seriously.

 

[pceinc]

Remember when bootsector viruses were transmitted via floppy disk insertion. Those were the days. We used to infect the lab machines in college with the stealth virus. Lol. Good thing most lab users didn't have their own computer back then.

 

[GCS]

I thought maybe the Kingsoft reference would give it away too quickly, but perhaps not. Yes, this is an April Fools' prank. Thanks to:

• TAPtech, smashedbotatos, wavey, and lcoughley (private message) for playing along
• GCS for the funniest reaction, and
• Everyone else (especially YeOldeStonecat) for trying to offer good advice to the crazy person.

+Rep all around for being good sports!

lol that's just great XD
Congrats good sir, this is the 1st april fools joke that snared me in the last 4 years.

 

[Moltuae]

Doh!

 

[Rocco]

Point them to an AV comparative test and let them decide themselves, eg:
http://chart.av-comparatives.org/chart1.php

If they can't be bothered to study the results, offer to pick one for them at their own risk.

OK, I have seen similar data, but that is an awesome selling point. Simple to use and read. I had a look at the performance tests while I was there. Definitely going to have a link to that on my thumb drive. Thanks! +1