Windows 7 without Antivirus

wow thanks for the information! You took a long time to post that Im guessing.
(its a shame that my rep power is only two points >.<)

Extremely strong protection there Greg S.

As my hobby is searching for/downloading/running any and all malware samples I need the sample to execute unhindered in order to harvest any droppers and check system changes.

That's why I employ a full blown admin account along with sandboxie/system virtualisation/vm's.

I do use Malwarebytes as on demand to test detections which are uploaded if need be.

Locked down solid here. Running Avast Free AV 5.0.396, Malwarebytes (free), SuperAntiSpyware (free), Online Armor (free) 4.0.0.15, SpywareBlaster 4.2, Threatfire 4.7.0,

Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit build 7600
Asus P5LP-LE
Pentium D 930 3.0 ghz
4GB RAM DDR2 5300 Crucial
Gigabyte HD Radeon 4670 512mb DDR3 (CCC-9.10)
Sound Blaster X-fi Xtreme gamer
HP DVD/CD 840b
DVD-ROM
300GB SATA HDD Maxtor

I am running no antivirus program since starting Windows 7. I used antivirus for years on Xp and Vista. I have used AVG, Avast, Avira, Bitdefender, Norton and other online scanners and none have ever found any viruses or malware. For years no findings at all. So I thought that I will just run windows without it. I still have Windows firewall, The hardware firewall, and Windows defender and UAC running.

I believe an on-demand scanner such as the online bitdefender is the best bet since you can use it whenever you want. People like to feel safe but unless your antivirus is regularly catching things then what the hell is it really doing? When was the last time your antivirus actually saved you? For me, never, so I have no use for it.

I've been using MS Security Essentials and have noticed that it is good. So far no problems.

AV is not needed unless you are a total idiot.

I use Gmail, chrome and just common sense. you don't open bogus emails but even if you do there are almost no hacks that can get you in chrome without you actually running a executable, there is no exploited dll IE or active x crap and no outlook or any ms word crap.

No spyware or anti vir nothing, not needed! I do run a firewall on my router, it lets the services in and OUT that I choose. Most AV software is just corporate crap/spy ware anyway

MSE is the most basic you can get and it's not reliable for full protection. You NEED other programs in conjunction with MSE. MSE can not find everythign and I've detected and cleaned infections with Malwarebytes that MSE totally ignores.