More than one anti-virus programs on one computer?

[jaydeep]

Hello!

I need to know if one computer can have more than one anti-virus programs activly running on it without any damage.

I am thinking of having a blend of all good (and free) anti-virus programs on my computer to have a multi-prong approach to viruses.

Thanks.

Jaydeep

[OG1]

jaydeep wrote:

Hello! I need to know if one computer can have more than one anti-virus programs activly running on it without any damage. I am thinking of having a blend of all good (and free) anti-virus programs on my computer to have a multi-prong approach to viruses. Thanks. Jaydeep

Yes you can. However, your multi-prong approach to viruses will have each program cancelling each other out and even "crash" your PC. There is such a thing as too much protection so you will have NO protection at all. Each "Active" AntiVirus program is made to operate by itself. If you use more than one, one AntiVirus program will target another AntiVirus Program as a Virus and viceaversa until your PC "freezes" to a halt so you have stopped all viruses from entering your PC by crashing your PC!!

I guess crashing your PC is one way of stopping viruses. However, I find that an extreme measure.

[CaptainTripps]

There are programs that are designed to run with other anti-virus programs which gives you a layered defense. Check out this thread about  ThreatFire AV   which adds to the protection of popular anti-virus apps.

[Corrine]

Hi, Jaydeep.

As the saying goes, "the best offense is a good defense." However, it can certainly be overdone. Ken Silva, CTO Verisign, said it  this way :

Quote:

"The biggest gap in security rests between the keyboard and the back of the chair"

Certainly you can overload your computer with security applications -- to the detriment of the performance of your computer. Smart surfing, only downloading software from known, reliable sites (preferably the software vendor), being alert to phishes, not opening unexpected attachments in emails and not using P2P (peer-to-peer) programs go a long way toward keeping your computer protected.

Start with these basics:

• Keep Microsoft Security patches up to date (Patch Tuesday is the 2nd Tuesday of every month).
  
• Use a 2-way firewall -- and install a router if possible.
  
• Use the best antivirus software you can afford. My favorite pay antivirus software is  ESET NOD32 . However, there are several free-for-personal use antivirus programs.
  
• Get  WinPatrol , which is free for personal use. I prefer WinPatrol Plus, most particularly due to  R.I.D. . Not only does Scotty, the Windows Watchdog, notify you when changes are made, you can safely disable services and startup programs. (See  WinPatrol Features [/url]
  
• Add an anti-malware software (i.e., Windows Defender and/or Malwarebytes).
  
• Consider a Hosts File. Recommended reading:  MVPS Hosts 

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[v_v]

Jaydeep,

You have garnered words of wisdom from OG1, CaptainTripps, and Corrine. I concur with their thoughts completely.

Anti-virus is more of a one package deal. Having more than one package activated at the same time is bound to cause problems as OG1 described.

Also as CaptainTripps suggested there is another approach to anti-virus defense that seems to have appeared recently with ThreatFire and perhaps some other similar programs. As this is a relatively new development it is not clear exactly where this new direction is headed for the long run. But unless you wish to be a "guinea pig" or experimenter, having one activated anti-virus program is probably sufficient.

With anti-malware the situation is a little different. There seem to be two distinct approaches to handling real-time anti-malware. One is the heuristic approach such as used by WinPatrol mentioned by Corrine and used by many of us here at Freedomlist. The other is more of a definitions-based approach, used by Spybot, AVG Anti-spyware, Super Anti-Spyware, and others. It is might be wise to have at least 'one of each' of these approaches working in real-time. Having more than that could well be overkill as Corrine so apply describes.

When it comes to the on-demand scanning aspect of anti-malware, it might also be wise to have several scanners at least available on your computer for scanning purposes when and if they are needed. The reason for having more than one anti-malware scanner is that the various programs define and describe anti-malware differently and therefore they do not always find the same items, if they find any at all. So having several on-demand anti-malware scanners might prove helpful. But to repeat, as for as real-time anti-malware protection is concerned, having more than one of each kind as mentioned in the preceding paragraph (heuristic and definitions-based) would probably be overkill.

Finally, and as Corrine implied, perhaps the best approach to computer security is to be alert and wise with regards to one's internet 'behavior.' In other words "you" are the first line of defense for your computer on the internet! Take heed!! (Smile)

v_v
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Justice, Equity, and Meaningful, Productive, and Fulfilling Lives to All Earthlings

[jaydeep]

Thank you everyone! You all have just provided very rich amount and quality of information!

I have downloaded most of the security add-ons recommended by Corrine, so I am good to go now!

Freedomlist rocks!

Jaydeep

[darksurfer]

I personally wouldn't use more than one anti-virus on my computer. There may be too much of a chance for conflict.

I use Avast and it has realtime, and as well as scanning capacities. When I could use AVG, that was the only anti-virus program I'd use.

As with anti-spyware programs, I use one realtime program, and maybe a scanner but I figure if the program is good enough, and you have a good browser and do other security procedures correctly, there is no need to overload your computer with a lot of unnecessary ptograms which will, at best, slow down your system.

I have limited memory, cache, etc. so every bit of space I can get is very valuable.

The triad of security which I have said is absolutely essential to computer security is, as follows,

A good anti-virus program (Avast, AVG, etc.--with realtime scanning, email protection, etc.)
A good firewall (Kerio 2.15, Zone Alarm, etc.)
A good anti-spyware program (Spybot, Spywareguard, Spywareblaster, etc.--with realtime protection, etc.)

Make sure you keep your anti-virus and anti-spyware signatures updated regularly unless there is a heuristic approach like Spywareguard which doesn't need continual updates.

 http://www.malwarehelp.org/how-to-download...guard.html 

And a good browser, preferably not IE, it could be Opera, Firefox, Safari and if you can't live without the IE model, use something like Maxthon or Avant, which are excellent IE based browsers.

As a matter of fact, I used Maxthon (when it was MYIE2) before I used Firefox, then Opera, which I use now.

So, jaydeep, there you have it.
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