Do I need Antivirus???

Hi guys,
I am new to networking but now that I have two computers connected to each other... there are questions...
Well, for the moment I want to know that if the guest computer (my laptop running on Windows 98) connects thru the host computer (desktop running on Windows XP Home) to the internet, do I need to install an antivirus program on the guest comp too. The desktop has Norton antivirus (regularly updated).

I'm new to this... any advice & suggestions would be highly appreciated.

Thanks

 

do I need an antivirus program ?

it never hurts to play it safe. Especially with the rapid transmission of viruses today especially since some of the current viruses can be destructive.
I assume that you are reading e-mail on the 98 computer, opening files and more. Who nows.
I'm sure that the members of windowsbbs have lots of antivirus programs to reccomend. Just make sure that you do the regualr updates. Otherwise your av program is as good as useless.
Note that even if you catch the virus on the internet computer it can be quickly transferred to teh 98 computer with dire results.
Who needs the aggrevation.
for a list of antivirus programs :
http://download.com.com/3120-2001-0...unt=&daysback=&swlink=&os=117&li=&dlsize=&ca=

remember to update the virus list on a regular basis. Most programs by default installation will conduct automatic updates if you want.
Do you have enough ram to run the av program and run your current programs ?

here is a lesson to note:

got a panic phone call this evening from a friend who contracted
this lovely ? worm by opening a "screensaver ".
It is somewhat evil. It disabled Norton Antivirus. Norton had
limited information , no specalized tools for removal. The advice
from Dell to the owner was to run housecall which found infected files galore.
Symantec did have a long detailed list of instructions. However the worm had disabled regedit. It would not allow you to update the Norton virus list.
However a search on the Symantec database earlier this evening turned up nothing.
Doing a google search on "Yaha.K worm" the main issues seemed to be a discussion on the slow unremarkable response of
Symantec to this threat by European users.
One wonders if the timing is close to New Years day with holidays at the anti-virus firms on purpose. However this article from the B.B.C. says the virus appeared Dec 21 in Kuwait.
There was a popup of a specific removal tool for a fee.
Mcafee and etrust both have the worm written into their lists.
However Mcafee will not install if you Norton installed. And guess what the uninstall of Norton is blocked. Ditto on downloading etrust from their site. Even if you installed etrust by disc how would you update for the threat ?
When you attempted to follow Symantec's long list of instructions (rather intimidating) regedit would pop up and then disappear.
Symantec has now responded with a removal tool and an updated virus definitions lists in the last few hours.
The expert was of course my 13 year old son who was rather
impressed with the expertise and thoroughness of the culprit
who wrote this worm.
Tomorrow he going to reformat and reinstall Windows XP
et al.

As the "expert "told the hapless new computer owner (I'm sure that the members of Windowsbbs have a good Hense of humor ) "Having an internet connection without an updated antivirus program is like having sex with a prostitute without a condom. "
have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks

great piece of advice man... I have no further doubts. I'm goin to install an anti virus program right now....

Thanks a lot!!!