While looking at Internet-based connection as a replacement for dial-up connection for remote support of our customers weve run across a problem of securing our customers' PCs from Internet-based threats. Buying anti-virus software with subscription will only bring cost increases and subscription renewal complications we want to avoid. Since computers we assemble, configure, load our proprietary software to, and ship to our customers require neither Internet browsers nor e-mail software do we still need anti-virus software? Please advise if it is safe to connect to the Internet a PC without virus-protection software (but with Windows Firewall active) provided that this PC will NOT be used for Web browsing and e-mail. Thank you, Eugene

The windows firewall is a good client firewall to block some network traffic. But whats with malware which comes with an USB-Stick or some other harddrive. I think for this you need an antivirus-software. BR

Thank you for replying. As our systems have been in use for several years by now, there has always been a threat of malware coming from removable hardware; it is not something we wouldve added by changing from dial-up to Internet connection. Your statement sayssome" network traffic. Do you think an Internet-basedattacker may be able to detect and successfully invade our customers PCs even though those PCs never send any requests to the Web?