Do I really need antivirus for a HTPC?

[sdowney717]

HTPC watches ATSC OTA HDTV.
HTPC goes to netflix.com
HTPC goes to amazon prime video.

That is all, no email, no browsing.
It does pick up shares on the home LAN and all those PC have AV protection.
I have been using the HTPC for a week with no problems and have run Malwarebytes.

Isn't the risk pretty low for getting a virus?

How about just running malware bytes once a week or so.

 

[ShamrockRig]

I wouldn't say one would be needed, but i don't think it would hurt to have a lightweight AV either, AVAST is pretty decent, Uses little resources and is really handy.

 

[sdowney717]

This PC is a lightweight, pentium 4 3.2ghz slightly overclocked.
I only have some of the security updates installed, (it hung on one and never went back to redo, just ended up turning it off)
It has been more like a couple weeks, running ok.
I dont want to load it down. I had gone and downloaded a video card tool to learn more about AGP Fast write which turned out to have 3 malwares which killed the ATSC viewing and malwarebytes removed them. So the PC is very sensitive to extra software burdens which do show up quickly in that it affects smooth 1080i video streaming in a very obvious manner.

Interestingly, I was able to watch ATSC TV in WMC and have Malwarebytes scanning in the background with no problem. But the malware brought this thing to its knees, so to speak.

 

[DavidE]

If you don't want to use an AV because of performance concerns I suggest creating a System Backup Image.
You could restore that much faster and more reliably than removing malware after the PC gets infected.

You said it wasn't a problem having MBAM running a scan while watching TV.
It was the malware that "brought this thing to its knees".
Maybe a lightweight AV won't impact you noticeably and help protect the PC?

You could try MSE for an AV - it's the lightest on resources as far as I know.
It runs silently so it should not interfere with your HTPC use ...

If it was me, I'd want to fix the update issue to get all the security updates ...

 

[sdowney717]

yes, the update issue was strange to me why it hung on one update.

I had the whole thing completely updated but was having issue playing 1080 (which I finally resolved by enabling AGP fast write in the bios)

In my wondering why, I thought maybe all the updates had slowed the PC down, so I reinstalled the OS but it was AGP fast write that fixed it. Just part of the learning process I go through every time putting together a PC.

I dont know if I should bother doing any more security updates. Right now the HTPC is working well.

 

[DavidE]

Yea, it's all a learning process...
My test box is an ancient AM2 AMD dual core with an Nvidea IGP.
When i bought an HD-PVR it could not handle it...
I bought a dedicated GPU and what a difference - the HD-PVR worked!

I don't have "AGP fast write" in my BIOS (that I know of).
If you have a GPU you could install in the HTPC, you might test it.

If you do want to get all the latest Win Updates, ask for help in Windows Updates & Activation - Windows 7 Help Forums

If not, create a Backup Image so you can be up and running asap if you run into problems.

 

[sdowney717]

It has an AGP x1300 PRO card in the AGP slot. Without that it would not even boot windows.
I was surprised how well that older card worked.

 

[madcratebuilder]

MSE with Malwarebytes is going to be a very light impact on system resources. Update the definition files weekly and you are GTG.

Most infections are from D/L's, e-mail and porn/warz sites

 

[sdowney717]

yes, i noticed that, lots of malware in downloads, especially from sites which repackage programs with their own specail downloaders. I tried one from softtronic, it refused to install, but left behind 2 trojans.

from MajorGeeks I have not seen a malware yet. It is pretty awful how many infested programs out there.

I wonder, how many of these sites know they are infecting people?
And how many are deliberately aligned with scammers?

 

[Layback Bear]

Do I really need antivirus for a HTPC?

To answer this question: YES

Any time you access the internet you need security programs.