Is antivirus software itself a virus?

Guess everyone is wondering the same thing... hear what HP has to comment.

As computers become faster and more powerful, they can also seem to become slower. If this is happening, then the answer to your paradox may lie with your antivirus software.
Antivirus software is designed to keep your PC free of computer viruses and worms. It does this by scanning the file system of your PC looking for known viruses.
Many antivirus products also automatically check any files being transferred to and from your computer, as well as attachments in incoming mails. If a virus is identified, it will inform you and then take steps to remove the virus threat.
This is fine in theory, but because of their function, antivirus software does have an impact on performance. The question is by how much? If the response time on your antivirus-protected PC leaves you considering taking up reading the newspaper or macramé, then you have an issue. You need to ask is it worth the trade-off and find out how the performance loss can be minimised.
Defence against viruses
Antivirus software should be the seatbelt and airbag for your PC. But testing evidence produced recently on ThePCSpy.com shows it can make you feel like you're driving with flat tires and the handbrake on? If this is your experience, what alternatives do you have?
The simplest form of defence is to avoid all interaction between the PC and the outside world. No mails, no network connection, and no files from other computers.
This is not really practical but extremely secure and cheap. Just don't expect colleagues to understand why you're faxing your mails and dictating your files over the phone. A whispered "Antivirus measures, level 8" as explanation may gain you an aura of mystery but not everybody wants to act like an extra in "The X Files".
A regime of less drastic steps can also keep you secure. These include:
Keeping up-to-date with updates: You may only have hours or days to protect your system.
Using a firewall: You really can't do without one today.
Scanning for viruses: Do this on a regular basis and whenever you suspect something is not right.
Use common sense: Especially in relation to plug-ins, chat clients and file-sharing clients.
The question is: are you prepared to implement these measures on a regular basis? If the answer is ‘no' or even ‘I'm not sure' then you should invest in the practical solution of having effective, up-to-date and correctly configured antivirus software running on your PC.
The compromise
It is clear that antivirus software does have an impact on performance. In extreme cases, it can make new PCs run with a performance equal to that of a three-year-old machine. While no one pretends that antivirus software is malicious in intent, this performance issue can leave you frustrated and questioning its value.
If you determine that you need an antivirus software to keep yourself secure, then be sure to investigate its reputation and impact on performance. Bear in mind that you can configure your antivirus software to improve performance. While a downgrade in the security level may improve the performance, it can also increase you exposure to dangers.
For example, by clicking on the Kapersky icon and selecting settings, you can change the frequency the anti-virus database is updated, as well as the Real-Time protection level. With F-Secure and Norton, you can make similar changes to the level of protection raising it or lowering as appropriate. In all cases, it is advisable to read any product documentation before making changes.
If you work connected to a company network, it's probable that the IT department is already running a server based antivirus software. So find out what the minimum level of scanning is required on your personal PC and implement it.
Investigate how different configurations can be stored and activated, for instance when you use your office laptop at home. Investigate settings that allow the software to scan when your laptop is not running any other software. Keep you antivirus software up to date and schedule intensive tasks to start before you come into work or during your lunch break.

Wonderful and beautiful Budapest!

It's truly a surprise that I get to set foot on Budapest soil.
Thanks to my boss who has provided this rare chance.
Why on earth would a dumb Asian like me to make a trip down myself to a distant yet unfamiliar land where you don't get to see any Asian on the street?

Communism has left a tragic picture in this beautiful country. I have never seen a place that have been occupied and ruined so many times in history.

It is still great to see that people are generally smiling and economy os booming.

China has thrown in US$1 billion dollars to set up a Trade Hub as a distribution center to market all China products to the EU countries. It does make a lot os business sense because Hungary is up and coming and labour costs are still low compared with the developed nations in Europe.

Hungary is already on its way to the EU community. They have started taking Euros.

Language is quite a pain for us though. The general public do not speak Enlgish. We were often told by the local guide that Hungarian is a standalone language not popular at all. To acquire the language skill, you either have to be born there or you have a lover. That sounds like a frustating challenge when I am not qualified for both criteria (at least not ready for the second one yet).

For cars lovers, it is a place to go! Many different brands of cars are seen there. From big fancy Benz to Hummers, it is like a major car exhibition hall with the motion.

For those who appreciates culture and history, it is certainly a place to explore especially you want to know when the Huns and Mongols have ever came in before, albeit not a long period of history.

80% are Catholic by population and about 15% are Protestants. You get to see many elegant Basilicas (sounds better than Cathedrals) around the city and outside of Budapest. The remains of archbishops are normally found and heavily guarded like national treasures.

Food-wise, Goulash! They do make super soup and it is the birth place of this wonderful beef soup. The Hungarians are generally meat people and have lots of meat on the dining tables most of the time.

Perhaps the Mongols have left behind some blood in their old settlements that made some of the Hungarians look somewhat like Chinese but with blonde hair. It is very interesting to know where their origins were if I had mor time there otherwise it may sound rude to throw that question to a sranger.

Mind you, the Hungarians actually do not like to call themselves 'Hungarians' because they do not like to be associated with the Huns who were the barbarians. But it is also hard to change the worlds wrong impression unless they launch another revolution like China and India where they renamed Peking to Beijing and Bombay to Mumbai respectively. Of course another way is to keep the name and rebrand themselves to become another friendly and wonderful community of people.

There's no Chinatown in Budapest!!! So the Chinese had not created a presence in this land. But now I found out that there is a huge mall 35 mins drive away outside Budapest and it is brand new place with some bright neon light signifying the Chinese trading capital. We were thre at about 8pm and they were all closed. But still it was a great experience just to find out where they are. Hence if you want Chinese food or Japanese food, you can still find som ein the city centre of Budapest but they are like the copy version. Why? the bosses and waitresses and the chefs are all local caucasians. The Chinese food did not taste like Chinese cooking even though they look like one. The ambience is a mixed feeling cos the restaurants are made like the Asian but the hosts are whites.

Overall it is a wonderul experience and I look forward to go back there when the Chinese business are more established.

BUT if you are one of those super-enterprenuer who is daring enough to enter this market, it has great great potentials for Chinese goods and products. Howabout opening a new Chinese take-away for a start?!?!

Wonderful and beautiful Budapest!

It's truly a surprise that I get to set foot on Budapest soil.
Thanks to my boss who has provided this rare chance.
Why on earth would a dumb Asian like me to make a trip down myself to a distant yet unfamiliar land where you don't get to see any Asian on the street?

Communism has left a tragic picture in this beautiful country. I have never seen a place that have been occupied and ruined so many times in history.

It is still great to see that people are generally smiling and economy os booming.

China has thrown in US$1 billion dollars to set up a Trade Hub as a distribution center to market all China products to the EU countries. It does make a lot os business sense because Hungary is up and coming and labour costs are still low compared with the developed nations in Europe.

Hungary is already on its way to the EU community. They have started taking Euros.

Language is quite a pain for us though. The general public do not speak Enlgish. We were often told by the local guide that Hungarian is a standalone language not popular at all. To acquire the language skill, you either have to be born there or you have a lover. That sounds like a frustating challenge when I am not qualified for both criteria (at least not ready for the second one yet).

For cars lovers, it is a place to go! Many different brands of cars are seen there. From big fancy Benz to Hummers, it is like a major car exhibition hall with the motion.

For those who appreciates culture and history, it is certainly a place to explore especially you want to know when the Huns and Mongols have ever came in before, albeit not a long period of history.

80% are Catholic by population and about 15% are Protestants. You get to see many elegant Basilicas (sounds better than Cathedrals) around the city and outside of Budapest. The remains of archbishops are normally found and heavily guarded like national treasures.

Food-wise, Goulash! They do make super soup and it is the birth place of this wonderful beef soup. The Hungarians are generally meat people and have lots of meat on the dining tables most of the time.

Perhaps the Mongols have left behind some blood in their old settlements that made some of the Hungarians look somewhat like Chinese but with blonde hair. It is very interesting to know where their origins were if I had mor time there otherwise it may sound rude to throw that question to a sranger.

Mind you, the Hungarians actually do not like to call themselves 'Hungarians' because they do not like to be associated with the Huns who were the barbarians. But it is also hard to change the worlds wrong impression unless they launch another revolution like China and India where they renamed Peking to Beijing and Bombay to Mumbai respectively. Of course another way is to keep the name and rebrand themselves to become another friendly and wonderful community of people.

There's no Chinatown in Budapest!!! So the Chinese had not created a presence in this land. But now I found out that there is a huge mall 35 mins drive away outside Budapest and it is brand new place with some bright neon light signifying the Chinese trading capital. We were thre at about 8pm and they were all closed. But still it was a great experience just to find out where they are. Hence if you want Chinese food or Japanese food, you can still find som ein the city centre of Budapest but they are like the copy version. Why? the bosses and waitresses and the chefs are all local caucasians. The Chinese food did not taste like Chinese cooking even though they look like one. The ambience is a mixed feeling cos the restaurants are made like the Asian but the hosts are whites.

Overall it is a wonderul experience and I look forward to go back there when the Chinese business are more established.

BUT if you are one of those super-enterprenuer who is daring enough to enter this market, it has great great potentials for Chinese goods and products. Howabout opening a new Chinese take-away for a start?!?!

貝聿銘（Ieoh Ming Pei)

What a wonderful Chinese architect he is.
And he has recently transformed Su Zhou into a mordern icon of China using new architectural design yet making sure to preserve the traditional concept.
While it is too early to determine now to say whether his design would stand the test of time, he has at least proven that modern architecture do have a place in China to renew the ancient country.