Wattsville said:
Well ZoneAlarm (versions without virus scanning) just block certain file
types from running easily, so you'll want Avast running to actully
verify downloads as safe. The ZA Security Suite with AV Scanning is, in
Avast cannot verify that a download is safe. No virus scanner can do it.
The definition of "safe" is already hard to make.
If you virus scanner detects nothing on a attachment, the attachment
does or does not have a virus. An OK of the virus scanner means: I don't
recognize it. Maybe the updated virus signatures that you download an
hour later do recognize it. Maybe it is a nicely adjusted seldom found
virus of which there are many out there, and it will actually never
detect it. "No virus found" does mean "I cannot find one" not "there is
none".
The same is true for the opposite: if the scanner does detect something
than it means I found something that might be a virus. It does not
necessarily to be one. Although, certainly, for the average user it
generally is.
So use, what ever you feel more comfortable with or whatever uses less
resources. Do generally not open attachments that are reported as virus.
Be extremely careful with attachments that are not reported as virus.
You must always consider that the virus scanner cannot detect it.
So, if you open an attachment just because you think the scanner did not
say anything and think you are safe. You are just wrong. If you open an
EXE, CMD, PIF attachment or similar things, whatever your virus scanner
tells you, it is your own fault in the end. Tell all the people you know
never ever to send you anything executable. If you get something,
through it away and ask the sender you know what it is and why he is
sending it.
A virus scanner does not make you safe. A virus scanner does help you
with some of the decisions you have to make if you for example have to
decide on a e-mail attachment. Still, you have to decide yourself and
you should learn how to make the right decision whatever your virus
scanner tells you or better: tells you not.
Gerald