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is more than 1 antivirus program too many?

M

mindydee113

Flightless Bird
I have a question that I am a bit curious about. I'll lay out a bit of
background first. I have a laptop with Windows XP on it. A week ago I got a
nasty virus called "Malware Defense". I had both Avast and MBAM already
installed at that point, yet the "Malware Defense" still got threw. I did a
bit of research and found the following instructions for Malware removal......


http://social.answers.microsoft.com...y/thread/ba80504b-61f1-4d71-960f-b561798b7b42


As per the instructions, there are 4 steps. I already had everything I
needed on my computer, except the SUPERAntispyware, which is step 4. I
downloaded the SUPERAntispyware onto my computer, followed all the steps and
it worked. The pesky "Malware Defense" virus was gone!

So...last night I went to a site called TV Shack, that you can watch tv &
movies at. Sometimes when I go to this site, Avast will go off with a
warning and I click on "abort connection" and that is that, I continue on
watching my movie with no problem. I had been running a scan at the time
with the SUPERAntispyware, just for the hell of it. After the "Malware
Defense" virus, I was just trying to stay on top of things and make sure
nothing was wrong. While the scan is running, the Avast warning goes off and
both antivirus programs froze! I ended up having to click ignore on Avast,
which freed up the SUPERAntispyware to keep running. SUPERAntispyware then
said it found one malicious file, which I then deleted.

All that leads to my question.....do I now have too much virus protection on
my computer? I have 3..... Avast, SUPERAntispyware and MBAM. Also, I don't
know if this is my imagination, but I seem to think the computer is running a
bit slower ever since I had the problem with the Malware Defense virus. Is
it counterproductive to have all that antivirus protection? Do they end up
blocking each other and in essence "fighting over who is going to grab the
infected file"?

--
Message posted via WindowsKB.com
http://www.windowskb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/windowsxp/201001/1
 
D

David H. Lipman

Flightless Bird
From: "mindydee113" <u55080@uwe>

| I have a question that I am a bit curious about. I'll lay out a bit of
| background first. I have a laptop with Windows XP on it. A week ago I got a
| nasty virus called "Malware Defense". I had both Avast and MBAM already
| installed at that point, yet the "Malware Defense" still got threw. I did a
| bit of research and found the following instructions for Malware removal......


| http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistasecurity/thread/ba80504b-61f1-
| 4d71-960f-b561798b7b42


| As per the instructions, there are 4 steps. I already had everything I
| needed on my computer, except the SUPERAntispyware, which is step 4. I
| downloaded the SUPERAntispyware onto my computer, followed all the steps and
| it worked. The pesky "Malware Defense" virus was gone!

| So...last night I went to a site called TV Shack, that you can watch tv &
| movies at. Sometimes when I go to this site, Avast will go off with a
| warning and I click on "abort connection" and that is that, I continue on
| watching my movie with no problem. I had been running a scan at the time
| with the SUPERAntispyware, just for the hell of it. After the "Malware
| Defense" virus, I was just trying to stay on top of things and make sure
| nothing was wrong. While the scan is running, the Avast warning goes off and
| both antivirus programs froze! I ended up having to click ignore on Avast,
| which freed up the SUPERAntispyware to keep running. SUPERAntispyware then
| said it found one malicious file, which I then deleted.

| All that leads to my question.....do I now have too much virus protection on
| my computer? I have 3..... Avast, SUPERAntispyware and MBAM. Also, I don't
| know if this is my imagination, but I seem to think the computer is running a
| bit slower ever since I had the problem with the Malware Defense virus. Is
| it counterproductive to have all that antivirus protection? Do they end up
| blocking each other and in essence "fighting over who is going to grab the
| infected file"?


You are using a Usenet leech called WindowsKB.com.

This is the; microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
and you REALLY should be asking this in the; microsoft.public.security.virus

The following NNTP (News) URL will take your default news client to the proper news group.
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.security.virus

"Malware Defense" is NOT a "virus". It is malware but it was not a virus.

Malware is the super-classification of all bad software. Viruses are on sub-class of
malware and trojans is another sub-class of malware.
sub-types of trojans are such malware as; spyware, adware, fake anti virus applications,
porn dialers, Browser Helper Objects, etc.

"Malware Defense" is a trojan in the form of a fake anti virus application. It actually
its a con-job to get your money.

Avast is is your anti virus application.

MBAM and SUPERAntiSpyware (SAS) are not anti virus applications, they are anti malware
applications that pick up where Avast falls off in the non-viral types of malware an thus
all three happily co-exist.

However if you asked if you could have Avast and Avira AntiVir installed simultaneously,
the answer would be no as they are both true anti viruses and would hinder each other.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp
 
M

Michael Jennings

Flightless Bird
"David H. Lipman" <DLipman~nospam~@Verizon.Net> wrote in message
news:%23$k8Y4WnKHA.1548@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> From: "mindydee113" <u55080@uwe>

<snip>
> You are using a Usenet leech called WindowsKB.com.
>
> This is the; microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
> and you REALLY should be asking this in the; microsoft.public.security.virus
>
> The following NNTP (News) URL will take your default news client to the proper
> news group.
> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.security.virus
>

<snip>

Dave, neither the CDO nor WindowsKB will activate newslinks - look:
http://www.windowskb.com/Uwe/Forum.aspx/windowsxp/277785/is-more-than-1-antivirus-program-too-many
You say it's a link, and in OE it is, but otherwise you need to either link
to the CDO (sensible) or explain that even though it doesn't look like a
link, it will perform as a link if pasted in the browser's address window.
A forum poster is unlikely to act on such an instruction, so
http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...fault.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.security.virus
has been really about the best you can do for quite a while now.
 
D

David H. Lipman

Flightless Bird
From: "Michael Jennings" <metarhyme@gmail.com>

| "David H. Lipman" <DLipman~nospam~@Verizon.Net> wrote in message
| news:%23$k8Y4WnKHA.1548@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> From: "mindydee113" <u55080@uwe>

| <snip>
>> You are using a Usenet leech called WindowsKB.com.


>> This is the; microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
>> and you REALLY should be asking this in the; microsoft.public.security.virus


>> The following NNTP (News) URL will take your default news client to the proper
>> news group.
>> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.security.virus


| <snip>

| Dave, neither the CDO nor WindowsKB will activate newslinks - look:
| http://www.windowskb.com/Uwe/Forum.aspx/windowsxp/277785/is-more-than-1-antivirus-
| program-too-many
| You say it's a link, and in OE it is, but otherwise you need to either link
| to the CDO (sensible) or explain that even though it doesn't look like a
| link, it will perform as a link if pasted in the browser's address window.
| A forum poster is unlikely to act on such an instruction, so
| http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.
| security.virus
| has been really about the best you can do for quite a while now.


It's a URL, just not clickable. :-(

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp
 
D

db

Flightless Bird
nothing wrong with having
more than one antivirus program
installed

however, there is a problem with
having more than one loaded in
memory and running.

the computer will be too busy
running anti virus programs
instead of doing what you really
want to do.

my suggestion is to keep one
running in memory.

and if you experience any funny
business with your pc,

then run the others manually,
then close when done.

--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @Hotmail.com
- nntp Postologist
~ "share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>


"mindydee113" <u55080@uwe> wrote in message news:a28ba623bd468@uwe...
> I have a question that I am a bit curious about. I'll lay out a bit of
> background first. I have a laptop with Windows XP on it. A week ago I
> got a
> nasty virus called "Malware Defense". I had both Avast and MBAM already
> installed at that point, yet the "Malware Defense" still got threw. I did
> a
> bit of research and found the following instructions for Malware
> removal......
>
>
> http://social.answers.microsoft.com...y/thread/ba80504b-61f1-4d71-960f-b561798b7b42
>
>
> As per the instructions, there are 4 steps. I already had everything I
> needed on my computer, except the SUPERAntispyware, which is step 4. I
> downloaded the SUPERAntispyware onto my computer, followed all the steps
> and
> it worked. The pesky "Malware Defense" virus was gone!
>
> So...last night I went to a site called TV Shack, that you can watch tv &
> movies at. Sometimes when I go to this site, Avast will go off with a
> warning and I click on "abort connection" and that is that, I continue on
> watching my movie with no problem. I had been running a scan at the time
> with the SUPERAntispyware, just for the hell of it. After the "Malware
> Defense" virus, I was just trying to stay on top of things and make sure
> nothing was wrong. While the scan is running, the Avast warning goes off
> and
> both antivirus programs froze! I ended up having to click ignore on
> Avast,
> which freed up the SUPERAntispyware to keep running. SUPERAntispyware
> then
> said it found one malicious file, which I then deleted.
>
> All that leads to my question.....do I now have too much virus protection
> on
> my computer? I have 3..... Avast, SUPERAntispyware and MBAM. Also, I
> don't
> know if this is my imagination, but I seem to think the computer is
> running a
> bit slower ever since I had the problem with the Malware Defense virus.
> Is
> it counterproductive to have all that antivirus protection? Do they end
> up
> blocking each other and in essence "fighting over who is going to grab the
> infected file"?
>
> --
> Message posted via WindowsKB.com
> http://www.windowskb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/windowsxp/201001/1
>
 
D

DL

Flightless Bird
You only have one AV app, the others you mention are malaware removal tools,
completely different

"mindydee113" <u55080@uwe> wrote in message news:a28ba623bd468@uwe...
>I have a question that I am a bit curious about. I'll lay out a bit of
> background first. I have a laptop with Windows XP on it. A week ago I
> got a
> nasty virus called "Malware Defense". I had both Avast and MBAM already
> installed at that point, yet the "Malware Defense" still got threw. I did
> a
> bit of research and found the following instructions for Malware
> removal......
>
>
> http://social.answers.microsoft.com...y/thread/ba80504b-61f1-4d71-960f-b561798b7b42
>
>
> As per the instructions, there are 4 steps. I already had everything I
> needed on my computer, except the SUPERAntispyware, which is step 4. I
> downloaded the SUPERAntispyware onto my computer, followed all the steps
> and
> it worked. The pesky "Malware Defense" virus was gone!
>
> So...last night I went to a site called TV Shack, that you can watch tv &
> movies at. Sometimes when I go to this site, Avast will go off with a
> warning and I click on "abort connection" and that is that, I continue on
> watching my movie with no problem. I had been running a scan at the time
> with the SUPERAntispyware, just for the hell of it. After the "Malware
> Defense" virus, I was just trying to stay on top of things and make sure
> nothing was wrong. While the scan is running, the Avast warning goes off
> and
> both antivirus programs froze! I ended up having to click ignore on
> Avast,
> which freed up the SUPERAntispyware to keep running. SUPERAntispyware
> then
> said it found one malicious file, which I then deleted.
>
> All that leads to my question.....do I now have too much virus protection
> on
> my computer? I have 3..... Avast, SUPERAntispyware and MBAM. Also, I
> don't
> know if this is my imagination, but I seem to think the computer is
> running a
> bit slower ever since I had the problem with the Malware Defense virus.
> Is
> it counterproductive to have all that antivirus protection? Do they end
> up
> blocking each other and in essence "fighting over who is going to grab the
> infected file"?
>
> --
> Message posted via WindowsKB.com
> http://www.windowskb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/windowsxp/201001/1
>
 
M

Michael Jennings

Flightless Bird
"David H. Lipman" <DLipman~nospam~@Verizon.Net> wrote in message
news:-OFf1hHbnKHA.1304@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> From: "Michael Jennings" <metarhyme@gmail.com>


> | You say it's a link, and in OE it is, but otherwise you need to either link
> | to the CDO (sensible) or explain that even though it doesn't look like a
> | link, it will perform as a link if pasted in the browser's address window.
>
> It's a URL, just not clickable. :-(


My aim is to chump someone into coming up with an effective way
to get forum posters to copy the URL and paste it into their browser's
address window. I can't motivate them - maybe someone can.
 
D

David H. Lipman

Flightless Bird
From: "Michael Jennings" <metarhyme@gmail.com>

| "David H. Lipman" <DLipman~nospam~@Verizon.Net> wrote in message
| news:-OFf1hHbnKHA.1304@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> From: "Michael Jennings" <metarhyme@gmail.com>


>> | You say it's a link, and in OE it is, but otherwise you need to either link
>> | to the CDO (sensible) or explain that even though it doesn't look like a
>> | link, it will perform as a link if pasted in the browser's address window.


>> It's a URL, just not clickable. :-(


| My aim is to chump someone into coming up with an effective way
| to get forum posters to copy the URL and paste it into their browser's
| address window. I can't motivate them - maybe someone can.



Based upon this helpful feedback, I will modify such text to inform them to copy & paste
the News URL into their Browser.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp
 
A

Anteaus

Flightless Bird
You can have as many anti-malware apps as you like, so long as only one acts
to scan files as they are opened (termed memory-resident or realtime scanning)

Realtime scanning should not in any case be seen as a total protection, as
it can only detect known malware. A software-restriction policy (limiting
programs to predetermined folders only) is in some ways more effective. When
combined with performing hazardous tasks such as browsing as a limited user,
together these offer good protection.

"mindydee113" wrote:

> I have a question that I am a bit curious about. I'll lay out a bit of
> background first. I have a laptop with Windows XP on it. A week ago I got a
> nasty virus called "Malware Defense". I had both Avast and MBAM already
> installed at that point, yet the "Malware Defense" still got threw. I did a
> bit of research and found the following instructions for Malware removal......
>
>
> http://social.answers.microsoft.com...y/thread/ba80504b-61f1-4d71-960f-b561798b7b42
>
>
> As per the instructions, there are 4 steps. I already had everything I
> needed on my computer, except the SUPERAntispyware, which is step 4. I
> downloaded the SUPERAntispyware onto my computer, followed all the steps and
> it worked. The pesky "Malware Defense" virus was gone!
>
> So...last night I went to a site called TV Shack, that you can watch tv &
> movies at. Sometimes when I go to this site, Avast will go off with a
> warning and I click on "abort connection" and that is that, I continue on
> watching my movie with no problem. I had been running a scan at the time
> with the SUPERAntispyware, just for the hell of it. After the "Malware
> Defense" virus, I was just trying to stay on top of things and make sure
> nothing was wrong. While the scan is running, the Avast warning goes off and
> both antivirus programs froze! I ended up having to click ignore on Avast,
> which freed up the SUPERAntispyware to keep running. SUPERAntispyware then
> said it found one malicious file, which I then deleted.
>
> All that leads to my question.....do I now have too much virus protection on
> my computer? I have 3..... Avast, SUPERAntispyware and MBAM. Also, I don't
> know if this is my imagination, but I seem to think the computer is running a
> bit slower ever since I had the problem with the Malware Defense virus. Is
> it counterproductive to have all that antivirus protection? Do they end up
> blocking each other and in essence "fighting over who is going to grab the
> infected file"?
>
> --
> Message posted via WindowsKB.com
> http://www.windowskb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/windowsxp/201001/1
>
> .
>
 
V

VanguardLH

Flightless Bird
mindydee113 wrote:

> All that leads to my question.....do I now have too much virus protection on
> my computer? I have 3..... Avast, SUPERAntispyware and MBAM. Also, I don't
> know if this is my imagination, but I seem to think the computer is running a
> bit slower ever since I had the problem with the Malware Defense virus. Is
> it counterproductive to have all that antivirus protection? Do they end up
> blocking each other and in essence "fighting over who is going to grab the
> infected file"?


Read the other posts regarding the classification of the particular
anti-pest products you mentioned.

As to running multiple security products, yes, there can be conflicts as
they often want to hook into the same system calls. Most times users don't
know what causes the conflict. There are hacker tools to show what program
is linked into which hooks in the OS and some will show when multiple
product are linked to the same hook. I've used a tool from Resplendence in
the past but they discontinued it (but I still have an old saved copy of
it). This was quite handy when reporting problems with multiple security
products that didn't work well together.

The normal recommendation is that you can install multiple security products
but only have one of them active at a time. That is, you only enabled the
real-time (on-access) scanner in one of them (whatever you considered the
best product). You then used the other quiescent product as manual
(on-demand) scanners but only one at a time. However, this doesn't always
work because some security products will still load a "safety" driver on
Windows startup to ensure their product can load (in case malware attempts
to target their program). This resident protection can still interfere with
other security products. So installing a security product but configuring
to be dormnant (until YOU manually use it) usually works but in a few cases
will still cause a conflict because of these protection processes that try
to ensure that security product can load.

When you install multiple security products but make them dormant (no
real-time protection), remember to update them before using them. Although
you believe that you configured these secondary security products to be
dormant (so they are on-demand tools), check the Processes tab in Task
Manager to see if they still load a process that runs on Windows startup
(their typical reason is that it helps load their program in the presence of
malware that would otherwise try to keep if from loading).

Also remember that the more security you enforce then the less easy it is to
use your computer and the more impact there is on its responsiveness.
Security and ease-of-use are the antithesis of each other: the more you have
of one, the less you have of the other. You have to determine with what
level of security you are comfortable and how much interference and impact
on your host you are willing to tolerate. The more you educate yourself,
the less you need to rely on security software. An educated user is the
most powerful anti-pest protection. Anyone with a garage overflowing with
loads of tools can work on or modify a car's engine (but that doesn't mean
the engine will survive or be as healthy). An expert mechanic use just a
few basic tools along with just a few specialty ones.

I use Avast (free edition). It's been too long since I used
SuperAntiSpyware to remember if its free or paid versions leave a remnant
load helper process running in memory (I don't think so but I'm not sure).
The free version of MalwareBytes does not include an on-access scanner (it's
just for on-demand use). My guess is that you can install all of them but
check the config settings to ensure that SAS and MBAM do not load on Windows
startup and check the Task Manager to see if any processes get loaded for
them when you believe you have fully exited those programs.
 
M

mindydee113 via WindowsKB.com

Flightless Bird
VanguardLH: thanks for your reply. you have been very helpful. i did check
in task manager under processes and SUPERAntispyware is running & does open
at start-up. i now know that is a problem & was obviously the cause of both
Avast and SUPERAntispyware freezing at the same time. i think i am just
going to delete this free version of SUPERAntispyware for now. it did help
to get rid of the malware problem i had, but i have had malware problems
before that i was able to rid of with just MBAM. i guess i can always go
back to SUPERAntispyware at another time if i need it. i suspect the
SUPERAntispyware would be the reason my computer is running slower at the
moment.

VanguardLH wrote:
>> All that leads to my question.....do I now have too much virus protection on
>> my computer? I have 3..... Avast, SUPERAntispyware and MBAM. Also, I don't

>[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>> blocking each other and in essence "fighting over who is going to grab the
>> infected file"?

>
>Read the other posts regarding the classification of the particular
>anti-pest products you mentioned.
>
>As to running multiple security products, yes, there can be conflicts as
>they often want to hook into the same system calls. Most times users don't
>know what causes the conflict. There are hacker tools to show what program
>is linked into which hooks in the OS and some will show when multiple
>product are linked to the same hook. I've used a tool from Resplendence in
>the past but they discontinued it (but I still have an old saved copy of
>it). This was quite handy when reporting problems with multiple security
>products that didn't work well together.
>
>The normal recommendation is that you can install multiple security products
>but only have one of them active at a time. That is, you only enabled the
>real-time (on-access) scanner in one of them (whatever you considered the
>best product). You then used the other quiescent product as manual
>(on-demand) scanners but only one at a time. However, this doesn't always
>work because some security products will still load a "safety" driver on
>Windows startup to ensure their product can load (in case malware attempts
>to target their program). This resident protection can still interfere with
>other security products. So installing a security product but configuring
>to be dormnant (until YOU manually use it) usually works but in a few cases
>will still cause a conflict because of these protection processes that try
>to ensure that security product can load.
>
>When you install multiple security products but make them dormant (no
>real-time protection), remember to update them before using them. Although
>you believe that you configured these secondary security products to be
>dormant (so they are on-demand tools), check the Processes tab in Task
>Manager to see if they still load a process that runs on Windows startup
>(their typical reason is that it helps load their program in the presence of
>malware that would otherwise try to keep if from loading).
>
>Also remember that the more security you enforce then the less easy it is to
>use your computer and the more impact there is on its responsiveness.
>Security and ease-of-use are the antithesis of each other: the more you have
>of one, the less you have of the other. You have to determine with what
>level of security you are comfortable and how much interference and impact
>on your host you are willing to tolerate. The more you educate yourself,
>the less you need to rely on security software. An educated user is the
>most powerful anti-pest protection. Anyone with a garage overflowing with
>loads of tools can work on or modify a car's engine (but that doesn't mean
>the engine will survive or be as healthy). An expert mechanic use just a
>few basic tools along with just a few specialty ones.
>
>I use Avast (free edition). It's been too long since I used
>SuperAntiSpyware to remember if its free or paid versions leave a remnant
>load helper process running in memory (I don't think so but I'm not sure).
>The free version of MalwareBytes does not include an on-access scanner (it's
>just for on-demand use). My guess is that you can install all of them but
>check the config settings to ensure that SAS and MBAM do not load on Windows
>startup and check the Task Manager to see if any processes get loaded for
>them when you believe you have fully exited those programs.


--
Message posted via WindowsKB.com
http://www.windowskb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/windowsxp/201001/1
 
M

mindydee113 via WindowsKB.com

Flightless Bird
David H. Lipman: i did not realize i was asking my question in the wrong
place. thanks for letting me know about that. whenever i have a question, i
just automatically come to this site as it has been very helpful for me in
the past. also, i appreciate you letting me know the difference between the
virus's and malware and antivirus programs and malware programs. this was
information i did not know & i'm trying to learn as much as i can, so every
little bit helps. have a great day! :)

David H. Lipman wrote:
>From: "mindydee113" <u55080@uwe>
>
>| I have a question that I am a bit curious about. I'll lay out a bit of
>| background first. I have a laptop with Windows XP on it. A week ago I got a
>| nasty virus called "Malware Defense". I had both Avast and MBAM already
>| installed at that point, yet the "Malware Defense" still got threw. I did a
>| bit of research and found the following instructions for Malware removal......
>
>| http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistasecurity/thread/ba80504b-61f1-
>| 4d71-960f-b561798b7b42
>
>| As per the instructions, there are 4 steps. I already had everything I
>| needed on my computer, except the SUPERAntispyware, which is step 4. I
>| downloaded the SUPERAntispyware onto my computer, followed all the steps and
>| it worked. The pesky "Malware Defense" virus was gone!
>
>| So...last night I went to a site called TV Shack, that you can watch tv &
>| movies at. Sometimes when I go to this site, Avast will go off with a
>[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>| which freed up the SUPERAntispyware to keep running. SUPERAntispyware then
>| said it found one malicious file, which I then deleted.
>
>| All that leads to my question.....do I now have too much virus protection on
>| my computer? I have 3..... Avast, SUPERAntispyware and MBAM. Also, I don't
>[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>| blocking each other and in essence "fighting over who is going to grab the
>| infected file"?
>
>You are using a Usenet leech called WindowsKB.com.
>
>This is the; microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
>and you REALLY should be asking this in the; microsoft.public.security.virus
>
>The following NNTP (News) URL will take your default news client to the proper news group.
>news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.security.virus
>
>"Malware Defense" is NOT a "virus". It is malware but it was not a virus.
>
>Malware is the super-classification of all bad software. Viruses are on sub-class of
>malware and trojans is another sub-class of malware.
>sub-types of trojans are such malware as; spyware, adware, fake anti virus applications,
>porn dialers, Browser Helper Objects, etc.
>
>"Malware Defense" is a trojan in the form of a fake anti virus application. It actually
>its a con-job to get your money.
>
>Avast is is your anti virus application.
>
>MBAM and SUPERAntiSpyware (SAS) are not anti virus applications, they are anti malware
>applications that pick up where Avast falls off in the non-viral types of malware an thus
>all three happily co-exist.
>
>However if you asked if you could have Avast and Avira AntiVir installed simultaneously,
>the answer would be no as they are both true anti viruses and would hinder each other.
>


--
Message posted via WindowsKB.com
http://www.windowskb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/windowsxp/201001/1
 
J

Jose

Flightless Bird
On Jan 28, 10:52 am, "mindydee113 via WindowsKB.com" <u55080@uwe>
wrote:
> VanguardLH:  thanks for your reply.  you have been very helpful.  idid check
> in task manager under processes and SUPERAntispyware is running & does open
> at start-up.  i now know that is a problem & was obviously the cause ofboth
> Avast and SUPERAntispyware freezing at the same time.  i think i am just
> going to delete this free version of SUPERAntispyware for now.  it did help
> to get rid of the malware problem i had, but i have had malware problems
> before that i was able to rid  of with just MBAM.  i guess i can always go
> back to SUPERAntispyware at another time if i need it.  i suspect the
> SUPERAntispyware would be the reason my computer is running slower at the
> moment.  
>
>
>
>
>
> VanguardLH wrote:
> >> All that leads to my question.....do I now have too much virus protection on
> >> my computer?  I have 3..... Avast, SUPERAntispyware and MBAM.  Also,  I don't

> >[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> >> blocking each other and in essence "fighting over who is going to grabthe
> >> infected file"?

>
> >Read the other posts regarding the classification of the particular
> >anti-pest products you mentioned.

>
> >As to running multiple security products, yes, there can be conflicts as
> >they often want to hook into the same system calls.  Most times users don't
> >know what causes the conflict.  There are hacker tools to show what program
> >is linked into which hooks in the OS and some will show when multiple
> >product are linked to the same hook.  I've used a tool from Resplendence in
> >the past but they discontinued it (but I still have an old saved copy of
> >it).  This was quite handy when reporting problems with multiple security
> >products that didn't work well together.  

>
> >The normal recommendation is that you can install multiple security products
> >but only have one of them active at a time.  That is, you only enabledthe
> >real-time (on-access) scanner in one of them (whatever you considered the
> >best product).  You then used the other quiescent product as manual
> >(on-demand) scanners but only one at a time.  However, this doesn't always
> >work because some security products will still load a "safety" driver on
> >Windows startup to ensure their product can load (in case malware attempts
> >to target their program).  This resident protection can still interfere with
> >other security products.  So installing a security product but configuring
> >to be dormnant (until YOU manually use it) usually works but in a few cases
> >will still cause a conflict because of these protection processes that try
> >to ensure that security product can load.

>
> >When you install multiple security products but make them dormant (no
> >real-time protection), remember to update them before using them.  Although
> >you believe that you configured these secondary security products to be
> >dormant (so they are on-demand tools), check the Processes tab in Task
> >Manager to see if they still load a process that runs on Windows startup
> >(their typical reason is that it helps load their program in the presence of
> >malware that would otherwise try to keep if from loading).

>
> >Also remember that the more security you enforce then the less easy it is to
> >use your computer and the more impact there is on its responsiveness.
> >Security and ease-of-use are the antithesis of each other: the more you have
> >of one, the less you have of the other.  You have to determine with what
> >level of security you are comfortable and how much interference and impact
> >on your host you are willing to tolerate.  The more you educate yourself,
> >the less you need to rely on security software.  An educated user is the
> >most powerful anti-pest protection.  Anyone with a garage overflowing with
> >loads of tools can work on or modify a car's engine (but that doesn't mean
> >the engine will survive or be as healthy).  An expert mechanic use just a
> >few basic tools along with just a few specialty ones.

>
> >I use Avast (free edition).  It's been too long since I used
> >SuperAntiSpyware to remember if its free or paid versions leave a remnant
> >load helper process running in memory (I don't think so but I'm not sure).
> >The free version of MalwareBytes does not include an on-access scanner (it's
> >just for on-demand use).  My guess is that you can install all of thembut
> >check the config settings to ensure that SAS and MBAM do not load on Windows
> >startup and check the Task Manager to see if any processes get loaded for
> >them when you believe you have fully exited those programs.

>
> --
> Message posted via WindowsKB.comhttp://www.windowskb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/windowsxp/201001/1


If you have the free versions of MBAM and SAS, they are not supposed
to run at start up. If you did not manually launch them, no part of
either should be running. The free versions are designed to run on
demand.

If you feel that is happening, something went wrong, is wrong or
something is misunderstood and you should remedy the situation.

Install both of them, run them when you feel the need and have the
time. While either is running, other applications will have to
compete for the CPU and memory resources, so it is no surprise things
will run slower.

If you think your system performance is less than optimal for your
environment, then figure out why and do something about it - or
understand and then accept the fact that you know things are the best
they can be with what you have.

There is no need to guess about anything.
 
V

VanguardLH

Flightless Bird
mindydee113 via WindowsKB.com wrote:

> VanguardLH: thanks for your reply. you have been very helpful. i did check
> in task manager under processes and SUPERAntispyware is running & does open
> at start-up.


I've since tested SuperAntispyware. It will load on Windows startup because
it is configured that way by default. You will have to go into its settings
to DISABLE that startup option. Then nothing of it will be loaded when you
load Windows (or when you exit that program when you want to use it as an
on-demand scanner).

I've had no problems running Avast 4.8 (and not 5.0) with SuperAntiSpyware
(ran manually, not with it loading on Windows startup). Since the free
version does not include a on-access (real-time) scanner, I see no point in
leaving anything of SuperAntiSpyware loaded when I'm not performing a
manually-initiated scan operation.

I also have MalwareBytes AntiMalware installed but it is also the free
version and does not include an on-access scanner. It's used as an
on-access scanner.

So I now have Avast 4.8 (updated last night to 5.0) loaded, MBAM installed
(but dormant), and SuperAntiSpyware (also dormant) and have not encountered
any problems with running MBAM or SuperAntiSpyware (and while Avast was
still running in the background).

Are you sure that you downloaded the free version? The trial version is
full featured which means it runs its on-access scanner which would conflict
with the on-access scanner of any other anti-virus software. There are some
products that users forget about, like Threatfire, or firewalls with
anti-virus functions, like Comodo's IS suite, because they don't quite think
of them as anti-virus programs. You didn't mention what ALL of security
software that you run on your host.
 
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