The don't bother was as in "don't bother looking for one". Personally, I find that I need a virus checker always installed that will check my downloads, such as Norton does - it has saved me from god-knows how many bogus files. Peace of mind is a great deal of it for me.

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ <----- the best free site i know.

every time i have a scanner running "FULL TIME" it bogs my machine down to no end..

i have used just about everything, and the fact is, the ones who run full time are no better than the free one is, worse if you count the "running behind" process.

simply speaking, you cannot "JUST GET" a virus, you do not wanna guess exactly how much crap i download, i do not just waste my bandwidth on movies you know

bottom-line, it behooves the corporation's who offer free scanning, because it just cuts down on the spreading rampantly of badness.

you do have the option, with the free system to only scan what you wish it to.. if you have downloads, send them "TO" a place, and scan it there..

in 5 years of on-line time, i have had one confirmed virus, the "Happy99 virus.. and it was in my first year or so.

the link posted above, is ample coverage, and doesn't tie up resources, but the bottom line is, use something, and keep it up-to-date.

pictures and songs, as well as movie files cannot carry viruses, avoid anything else without scanning first.

/ 2 cents