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    Do I Have Too much Security software?

    Discussion in 'Security and Anti-Virus Software' started by rbraughn, Jun 30, 2008.

  1. rbraughn

    rbraughn Notebook Enthusiast

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    I ended up with the following on my M1330 Dell with Vista premium:

    Windows Defender

    AdAware 2008 with adwatch realtime monitor

    macafee internet security center

    and PC tools Spyware doctor

    should I uninstall any of these, is it overkill?

    PC Doctor keeps warning me to turn off widows defender. will there be conflicts?

    thanks in advance
     
    rbraughn, Jun 30, 2008
    #1
  2. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    Choose 1 Antivirus, 1 Antispyware, and 1 Firewall.
     
    Lithus, Jun 30, 2008
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  3. The_Observer

    The_Observer 9262 is the best:)

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    One of each is the best.
     
    The_Observer, Jun 30, 2008
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  4. jin07

    jin07 Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    I don't think one of each program type is best except in the case of firewalls. Now, you should have only one anti-virus/anti-spyware with its real time protection on. However, you should still have a back up scanner with the back up's real time protection turned off.

    To get into your programs, yes you have too many programs running with active protection on. Right now you basically have four anti-spyware programs vying for active protection which can cause problems. The programs in question are ad-aware, defender, doctor, and mcafee. I personally don't like any of these programs anti-spyware and wouldn't use any of them. I strongly prefer SuperAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, and A Squared over all of those programs.

    Furthermore, I don't like mcafee as a firewall or anti-virus program. In both cases there are better free alternatives. For a good free firewall check out Comodo or Online Armor. For anti-virus check out Avira and Avast for free or Nod32 for paid.

    Edit: For the record, in terms of firewall: mcafee scored a 6% and a protection level of none from matousec; Comodo free got a 95% and protection level of excellent; Online Armor free got 89% and a protection level of very good.

    http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-challenge/results.php
     
    jin07, Jun 30, 2008
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  5. stewie

    stewie What the deuce?

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    Yes, that's way too many.

    Try to use a good antivirus suite that also has antispyware and firewall features, this way you don't have to use so many others. And having multiple real-time active protections is not a good thing.
     
    stewie, Jul 1, 2008
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  6. THAANSA3

    THAANSA3 Exit Stage Left

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    Research Kaspersky Internet Security suite. That's what I have and it's rated very high.
     
    THAANSA3, Jul 1, 2008
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  7. coolguy

    coolguy Notebook Prophet

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    I second this.
     
    coolguy, Jul 1, 2008
    #7