A lot of anti-virus questions!

Ok I have McAfee Internet Security Suite with SiteAdvisor 2008. I know it protects me from computer viruses.


But does McAfee Internet Security Suite with SiteAdvisor 2008 protect me from adware, spyware, malware,and Trojans?

If not what other software do i need? Is there any free ones?

Doesn't more than one anti-virus program hurt your computer?

 

Windows Defender that comes with Vista is a good real-time anti-spyware blocker. You can have SuperAntiSpyware as your on demand scanner.

You should only have one real time anti-virus as conflicts can occur between the two. Avira is a good one and it's free

Not sure about McAfee as I have never used it before.

 

It does.

It's not good to run multiple real-time antivirus/antispyware at the same time.

 

ok that's a relief others told me it did not. Thank you!

 

Most of the popular antivirus software suites today have spyware protection too, and that includes adware and malware. Just make sure you have the definition up-to-date and you should be ok. The most important is actually what a user does. For example, if a site gives you a popup asking you to install something, and if you're not sure what it is, just click no. Write down the ActiveX name and type it in google, normally you will be able to find out if it's safe or not. Same for free applications or shareware on the web, reading user comments can give you an idea how clean the software is.

 

Hi folks...

This is getting a little confusing...so there are realtime antispyware and antimalware programs and then there are those which are 'on demand'. Elsewhere I have mentioned that my security set up is Avira+Threatfire+Online Armor. I also have SAS and AVG AntiSpyware. Now about the last two - these are all 'on demand' programs? Is there a realtime program that I can add to the A+TF+OA lineup? If yes, please let me know. My habits involve doing a thorough can of everything once a week and at the latest once every 15 days. I also primarily use Opera for surfing and IE only for WIndows Updates.

Thanks

 

Hi,

my actual configuration is:

Resident protection:
AV: Avira AntiVir Premium (has anti-spyware anti-malware protection)
Firewall Hardware: Router
Firewall Software: Online Armor Personal Firewall
ThreatFire,
SandboxIE.

On-demand:
SAS, MBAM, ShadowDefender.


That is all what i need to be safe.

 

Thanks. But what does 'on demand' actually mean? Does it mean that the program (say SAS or AVG Anti Spyware) resides in your program files and when you need to use them, you activate them. In this way, they are not on at the Start Up stage and running in the System Tray all the time?

Thus, for example, I have Threatfire running 'real time'. It loads up when I fire up my machine and stays on and visible in the System Tray all the while. Earlier I used to do the same for AVG ASP, but I disabled it - forgot the reason why I did that.

My set up right now is: Avira (free version) + OA + Threatfire.

So, basically what I am looking for is a real-time anti spyware (that will update itself automatically) running all the time. Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

Hi,

on-demand, meand that when i need this software then i start application from menu start. When i finish system scan then i close this softwares.

If you are looking for very good anti-spyware software which will be working in real-time in your system, then i can suggest you one of the best in this time on the market - paid version of SUPERAntiSpyware PRO http://www.superantispyware.com/index.html

 

Hi...

Lolzzz...thanks...and what about a 'free' option? Or are not many?

Cheers!

 

free version of SAS dont have real-time scaner.
you can try windows defender - it is free, but in my opinion weaker than SAS.

 

Yup that's what I have been reading thus far...Win Defender aint so good! The key question of course is whether a real time scanner is actually needed. If I use CCleaner, SAS (free version) and AVG Antispy... during the weekly maintenance run, then is that realtime scanner essential?

Actually, I think I'd like to have a fairly robust security suite that is light on resources for my machine...which is why I am asking of the necessity.

Thanks

 

There simply aren't many.
If you have Avira, Online Armor and ThreatFire for real time protection and SAS for your on-demand scans, you've got an excellent set of security programs.
You really shouldn't need anything more than that as far as AV/AS/FW are concerned.
If you want to explore further means of free protection, take a look at SandboxIE or Returnil. Check my sig for download links.
Cheers.

 

Hey...

Thanks...sounds good! I think I will freeze on this then and move on...the only thing is once that OA beta version is finalized, I'd like to update that because the thought of uninstalling and reinstalling to update a firewall is itself painful - auto updates are so much more convenient!

Cheers!

 

I just have to add one thing; give Malwarebytes'AntiMalware/MBAM also a try (if you haven't already).
It's also an excellent on-demand AS scanner, like SAS.
Cheers.

 

Ok. Will do. I already downloaded it, but have not executed it - in a manner of speaking.

Thanks again!