A seatbelt is a simple, preditable mechanism that functions without impeding the driving experience. Anti-virus software which is a complicated, unpredictable mechanism that significantly impedes the computing experience.
I find a more viable approach is to be careful with the OS install (not install untrusted stuff) and also to make it expendable. Data lives on a single-purpose unix host and is regularly backed up so I can do a predictable, quick, low-effort reinstall and be back to operation in a couple of hours.
An outcome I've wanted but not done - computer lives behind a router which is set up to make active monitoring and managing of traffic easy. Product idea - consumer-ready but geek-friendly router with powerful but easy-to-use tools that doesn't suck. Interface should be live so that you can see the traffic coming and going, and there should be controls to allow you to open up and close access to different sites. Stand-along system with a profile a bit like a sunray, plug for commodity keyboard and monitor.
I find a more viable approach is to be careful with the OS install (not install untrusted stuff) and also to make it expendable. Data lives on a single-purpose unix host and is regularly backed up so I can do a predictable, quick, low-effort reinstall and be back to operation in a couple of hours.
An outcome I've wanted but not done - computer lives behind a router which is set up to make active monitoring and managing of traffic easy. Product idea - consumer-ready but geek-friendly router with powerful but easy-to-use tools that doesn't suck. Interface should be live so that you can see the traffic coming and going, and there should be controls to allow you to open up and close access to different sites. Stand-along system with a profile a bit like a sunray, plug for commodity keyboard and monitor.