Hi,With today's security threats ever present, I was wondering whether it is recommended to run FS with antivirus enabled or disabled, considering how much in the way of computer resources antivirus programs take up. I'm especially interested because I usually fly online (VATSIM) and have all the usual programs running that require an online connection.Just intersted in everyone's thoughts on this.Lawrie

Hi Lawrie,I guess it depends on a couple of things, the biggest being how much resources your AV program takes.I personally turn my AV off, but then again I don't fly online very often.I would say that, unless you have a bloaty AV prog (read Norton etc) rather than a nice sleek AV (read NOD32), there is a minimal amount to gain from having your AV switched off.Dan.

Hello All,I would think, if one were to be flying on line, anti virus would want to be on. On my system, where I have many programs running at once for FS, the drain on resources gets pretty heavy. (FDC, most sliders max'd out, FSNav, Enviro, then add Active camera, Fraps, and you're at any systems limit).When NOT on line, I kill the anti virus and anything else which is not necessary and not FS related and being used. With things set up that way, I average 25-28 FPS, no stutters and very seldom have a CTD.I have found that FS gives me a tad of warning, sort of like death throads, when it's getting over stressed espicially when recording a video. The CPU temp goes to 44C, The highest I've every seen it and then FS gets most unstable.Sys specsP4 (northwood) 3.4 OC'd to 3.74 (on air-tons of fans)ASUS P4C800E Delux MBGeForce Ti4600 128mb (still waiting for repair of Radon 9800)1 gig Kingston PC3200 hyperramWestern Digitial 80 gig HD x2 (I back up the complete drive every week)500 Watt true blue power supplyXP Pro running NTFS files system All in all, I experience perhaps one CTD pre week, ONLY WHEN I AM RUNNING FRAPS MAKING A VIDEO WITH ALL THE ABOVE ON. If I eliminate the Fraps, and Enviro, the CTD's never happen.Anyways, the anti virus does haul down FS but I feel it is completely necessary if you are flying on line.BestClay

Most AV software allow you to exclude folders. If I were going to leave my AV running, I would exclude the MS2004 folder and subfolders. That should reduce the hit to a minimum.

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"I personally turn off NAV while flying online but keep my firewall on (Sygate in my case)."This is what I would suggest also. Typically, the antivirus program will detect viruses when you try to run .exe files or certain scripts or plugins found at various websites or in emails. As long as you're just running FS9 I see no need to keep the antivirus software running.The firewall should always be activated however and only the ports you know you need to use should be open. Also, make sure you download all the security fixes from Windows Update.

I run MSFS on a low-end computer so when I fly I disconnect from the internet and then disable my anti-virus & firewall software.Because u are not online theres no threat. Go ahead and fly :)Dont forget to startup ure security apps when u get back online tho!

My understanding is that some viruses; like the MSBlaster/Sasser virus that has been so prevalent during the past 12 months WILL come into your PC using a loophole it was exploiting in IE and would trip-up firewall programmes too.I got it last year when Norton Firewall popped-up asking if I wanted to let a certain request in. Of course, not recognising it, I clicked on 'No', but too late...the damage was done. Norton A/V was only ever set to monitor emails and scan files on request. It got through the firewall anyway, and then sppeared to half uninstall the anti-virus! i couldn't run it...files were missing. I couldn't re-install/repair....I had to uninstall it, go get Mcafee Stinger and let that do it's trick. It found MSBlaster on my machine and killed it! Only then could I uninstall Norton and then reinstall it.Upon a recommendation from Ken Salter in a similar thread here some months ago, I decided to try the "Avast4" freebie A/V software, plus I'd read and heard some horror stories concerning Norton A/V 2004."Avast4" is brilliant! It's light and uses virtually NO resources, and will stop and trap anything nasty out there. It updates itself almost daily, and as mentioned...it's FREE.So, I keep it running, monitoring, in the background whillst flying, and can honestly not tell any different in performance/fps whether it's on or off. With crap like Blaster/Sasser out there, I feel happier having it running whenever I'm online now, and so far - touch wood - have not had another 'nasty' in my PC since Norton dropped the ball!!Oh! That lot came out longer than I intended...sorry!!In short...yes, keep your A/v software running, but keep away from heavy-weights like Norton if you plan on online gaming ;)

On.Peter Sydney Australia

If all you do is just flying in VATSIM, you don't need to keep the anti-virus program active on the background.There is about nil chance for you to catch a virus either ways, since surely VATSIM isn't suddenly going to send viruses to you or FS turn into a virus all the sudden. (unless windows in itself is counted as a virus of course)More important than having AV program all the time activated, is to keep your WINDOWS UPDATED, AVOID *all* suspicious e-mails and do not go to a site which link you've obtained from e-mail, IRC, etc. unless you can be certain it is not sent by a virus. (even your friends email could be abused by a virus, since spoofing an e-mail address isn't a challenge at all)In like ten years I've used active anti-virus protection maybe for worth a couple of days.Also kept my windows up to date by checking updates at least once a week and in extreme cases couple of weeks.I Haven't seen an actual virus since 1994. (not counting the email viruses though, since those cannot be avoided from receiving on the computer, unless the email server has an anti-virus check for all email.. but email viruses are easier than easy to avoid)RPC viruses bounced off the RPC port due to windows being up to date :)It does actually feel like anti-virus programs do sometimes increase the risk for a virus infection due to false sense of security, which causes negligence with updates and internet usage.So.. if all you connect to, is vatsim and some of its associated programs which you've regularly used, you shouldn't be having any worry from viruses.Your greatest risk would be the windows without up to date patches.

"...me a tad of warning, sort of like>death throads, when it's getting over stressed espicially>when recording a video."Hi Clay:I don't mean to sound pedantic, but it's 'death throes'I guess it's just the copy editor in me coming out ;-)(And I leave my AV on)RegardsBlairCYOW

Off.Greg

>Most AV software allow you to exclude folders. If I were>going to leave my AV running, I would exclude the MS2004>folder and subfolders. That should reduce the hit to a>minimum.Some danger here of a virus from downloaded gauges; maybe also from effects.

I was told NAV or SystemWorks has a considerable impact on smoothness. So, I uninstalled it completely. I have been running the freeware anti virus product called AVG. I also run behind NAT in a Linksys router. With this configuration, I have had no virus infections. Noel

The best program Ive found to date to prevent anything from being installed without your knowledge, is AD-Watch, which comes with Ad-Aware... You almost have to deactivate it, and in some cases must remove it from memory in order to install anything. If you click on the notice of what is attempting installation, it gives some pretty good information.