Techlore Surveillance Report Q&A: Is Antivirus Still Necessary?
May 30, 2024
Topics include vetting antivirus, the Silent Donor platform, bypassing paywalls, Garmin Pay privacy, and the value of Efani. They discuss the importance of system updates, anonymous support platforms, VPN strategies, and Fonnie Security Service for high-profile individuals.
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Antivirus Is Highly Privileged Software
- Antivirus is extremely privileged because it needs system-wide access to detect and remediate threats.
- That privilege raises privacy and threat-model tradeoffs you must weigh before installing AV.
When To Skip Antivirus
- Most people can skip third-party antivirus by keeping systems updated and avoiding suspicious links or downloads.
- Use VMs sometimes and stay cautious; consider antivirus only for high-risk or enterprise scenarios.
Vet AV By Trusted Researchers
- Rely on trusted researchers' endorsements when evaluating AV privacy and effectiveness.
- Consider Malwarebytes for research quality and Lulu/Objectively-audited tools for macOS firewall needs.