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    Good to run more than 1 anti-virus program?

    Discussion in 'Security and Anti-Virus Software' started by sleepy35758, Oct 21, 2007.

  1. sleepy35758

    sleepy35758 Notebook Consultant

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    I am currently using Norton 360 and I'm wondering if it would be good to install in addittion to this program other anti-virus programs such as Spybot and Ad-Aware or would installing these anti-virus progams just slow down my computer?
     
    sleepy35758, Oct 21, 2007
    #1
  2. Crimsonman

    Crimsonman Ex NBR member :cry:

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    No, its not, its like having two wives and they know about each other
     
    Crimsonman, Oct 21, 2007
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  3. bmwrob

    bmwrob Notebook Virtuoso

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    :D :D :D

    Damn, I knew it was bad, but had no idea . . . :eek:
     
    bmwrob, Oct 21, 2007
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  4. Crimsonman

    Crimsonman Ex NBR member :cry:

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    It proves a point.
     
    Crimsonman, Oct 21, 2007
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  5. daniel_g

    daniel_g Notebook Consultant

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    However, I thought spybot, and ad-aware were just spyware killers, not anti-virus.

    For all I know, having multiple anti-spyware software is OK(I used to have both Ad-Aware, and Spybot on my old machine with no problems), but can anyone confirm?

    BTW, Ad-Aware, and Spybot do not run on the background, they are just scanners that you should use if you think you got spyware installed, so they won't slow down the computer(this is only true on the freeware versions, on the premium ones you do have to option to have real time scanning).
     
    daniel_g, Oct 21, 2007
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  6. Evolution

    Evolution Vox Sola

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    Correct spybot, ad-aware etc are NOT any form of anti virus and thus are okay to install even if you have norton installed. However do not install for instance trend micro, kaspersky or avast etc as these are anti virus solutions and should not be installed if you have norton already installed.
     
    Evolution, Oct 21, 2007
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  7. AKAJohnDoe

    AKAJohnDoe Mime with Tourette's

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    My usual AV is Avast! (free), but I install and run a-Squared (free) now and again. Other security type software in use is described on my website.
     
    AKAJohnDoe, Oct 21, 2007
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  8. swarmer

    swarmer beep beep

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    I'd limit it to one resident (real-time) antivirus and at most one resident anti-spyware program.

    But it's fine to keep other AV programs around and not run them in resident mode and just scan your hard drive with them once in a while.
     
    swarmer, Oct 21, 2007
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  9. Voodoofreak

    Voodoofreak Notebook Deity

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    Rep for using the perfect analogy to explain that....lol!
     
    Voodoofreak, Oct 21, 2007
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  10. planet_vikram

    planet_vikram Notebook Evangelist

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    Good analogy.... :) Rep+ for that !!
     
    planet_vikram, Oct 21, 2007
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  11. Macpod

    Macpod Connoisseur

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    AVG free edition plus AVG spyware free edition..........

    AVG picked up stuff AVast and nod32 didnt...........that's just my experience
     
    Macpod, Oct 22, 2007
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  12. eyecon82

    eyecon82 Notebook Deity

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    DO NOT USE 2 ANTIVIRUS'S..they will fight each other...just like the 2 wives analogy given earlier

    however, it is ok to have more than 1 spyware scanner, because they do not run in real time

    if you guys want to use a realtime spyware scanner/blocker then use spyware blaster
     
    eyecon82, Oct 22, 2007
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  13. Crimsonman

    Crimsonman Ex NBR member :cry:

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    ........... this is a combo of two things: copying and opinion.
     
    Crimsonman, Oct 22, 2007
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  14. eyecon82

    eyecon82 Notebook Deity

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    copying? I did say it was based of an analogy given earlier in the thread...so do something else with your ego; this was also meant to bolster the fact that it is not safe to run 2 antivirus programs

    opinion?
    http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/artic...hive/2005/09/12/BUGIBEL8N71.DTL&type=business
    http://forum.networktechs.com/archive/topic.php/t-617.html
    http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6121_102-0.html?forumID=45&threadID=229917&messageID=2382803
    http://www.trap17.com/index.php/install-two-anti-virus-software-1-system_t30012.html
    http://malaysia.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061126014353AAwMHlI
    http://forums.wincustomize.com/index.aspx?aid=142800

    I can go on forever
    next time, please post wisely instead of being such a drama queen
     
    eyecon82, Oct 22, 2007
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  15. csinth

    csinth Snitch?

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    Opinion as in "if you guys want to use a realtime spyware scanner/blocker then use spyware blaster" and "however, it is ok to have more than 1 spyware scanner, because they do not run in real time".

    Anti-virus programs work differently than anti-spyware programs, and conflicts can occur between the two. That, and if you have two real-time anti-virus products, your system will be bogged down, SAME WITH two real-time anti-spyware blockers.

    You should only have one real time anti-virus and one real-time spyware blocker, but you can have more than one spyware scanner (there is a difference).

    While restating the fact is nice, you may as well do it in your own words.

    Those links you gave were to forums.. where people state their opinions on the matter.
     
    csinth, Oct 22, 2007
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  16. eyecon82

    eyecon82 Notebook Deity

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    Thanks for stating it the way I meant to state it; Using 2 real time scanners, whether it be antivirus or antispy can have negative consequences.

    however, having 2 scanners (not real time ie: adaware) is not harmful. It can be beneficiary to have 1 program double check another program

    I restated it in a short phrase. It was in my own words. No copying intended

    btw the first link is not to a forum.
     
    eyecon82, Oct 22, 2007
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  17. Hiker

    Hiker Notebook Deity

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    NOD32 (realtime)
    Windows Defender (realtime)
    Spybot
    Adaware

    All work fine here, no conflicts.
     
    Hiker, Oct 23, 2007
    #17