Combining anti-virus ware

[Ron Whitfield]

Seems even if you pay good $ you still need to combine services to get the fullest protection, but even tho it's promoted some say not to. Why is it not good to combine?

What are some free programs that have super strong points that combined with others will create a good system protection?

For payer's - Avira Premium combined with Spyware Doctor w/antivirus may be the best way to go.

Here's some interesting sites w/maybe very important info to consider - http://www.antivirus.about.com/od/fr...p/aaonline.htm
http://www.antivirus.about.com/od/ro...s_to_Avoid.htm
http://www.antivirus.about.com/od/se...irusalerts.htm

[craigwatanabe]

Re: Combining anti-virus ware

One antivirus may see another as a potential threat just because of the definitions it creates to determine possible threats.

One of the best antivirus' out there is NOD32 but you gotta pay for it. Better than Norton and McAfee.

For good free antivirus protection, AVG free

[helen]

Re: Combining anti-virus ware

I really don't see the logic of running more than one anti-virus software on your computer. The real trick is making sure that your anti-virus software is currently updated.

[Ron Whitfield]

Re: Combining anti-virus ware

Some do certain things better than others, combine and they cover all ground. But I'm going for the $30 BitDefender AV 2010 and be done.

[Amati]

Re: Combining anti-virus ware

For good free antivirus protection, AVG free

I use that, and it works well.

[Ron Whitfield]

Good thing I procrastinated... as usual...

My Sat. account came home early from vaca and told me to bring it over next week and he'll kick it's butt big time before I go on-line and mess it up. He's an IT for the US Navy and knows what's hottest, and the free stuff he uses is better than the pay. Say's anti-virus programs alone are a waste. He combines McAfee Anti-virus, Spybot Search & Destroy, Malwarebytes, and Ccleaner dload. They don't overlap and compete. Plus he knows the best way to clean out the residue and get rid of all the stuff that comes on a new laptop that needs to go. All these are free on www.cnet.com He also said to get them from that site because there are fakes that will trojan horse.

[craigwatanabe]

Re: Combining anti-virus ware

McAfee sucks big time. It also does a BIOS scan. If you don't update your McAfee and a virus gets in and attacks your BIOS, you may as well buy a new computer unless you like flashing your BIOS and risk the entire motherboard if HECO decides to glitch while flashing.

AVG does a BIOS scan but it doesn't attach itself to it in order to perform the scan.

Since if your friend is in the US Navy's IT I'm sure they have a much better antivirus scanner than what's available for commercial or private users. The rest is good stuff. Malwarebytes and Spybot Search and Destroy are both antispyware software not to be confused with antivirus software. CCleaner is a registry cleaner.

For the best all around protection I'd recommend the following: NOD32 along with Malwarebytes, Advanced System Care, CCleaner and Zone Alarm.

NOD32 for bulletproof antivirus protection
Malwarebytes for excellent antispyware/malware scanning and protection
Advanced System Care for complete OS care and RAM tuning
CCleaner for registry cleaning.

Add Zone Alarm for a good software-based firewall and you have a fairly impenetrable system.

BTW cnet.com and download.com are one in the same and yes it is one of the more reputable download sites to go to.

[Ron Whitfield]

Re: Combining anti-virus ware

Thanx, Craig. I'll be running all that past him asap.

[matapule]

Re: Combining anti-virus ware

Consumer's Report did a review of popular virus software recently. The popular choices like McAfee, Symantic, and BitDefender did not fare well. They recommend a suite of free software (including Avira). I use free software and I am very satisfied.

[Ron Whitfield]

Re: Combining anti-virus ware

It sux that there are so many conflicting opinions on AV ware. Not one seems to be king. As soon as I get up on one program someone is there (the net/mags/friends) to slag it with good reasoning, but it keeps me in the search for what will be best. I still got almost a week to decide. Craig's NOD32 is looking better.

[helen]

Re: Combining anti-virus ware

Whatever you decide to get make sure you can verify that its knowledge of viruses is up to date.

[Ron Whitfield]

Re: Combining anti-virus ware

How can any program be totally up to date when the virus senders are evolving/reinventing their abilities so quickly and often now?

[helen]

Re: Combining anti-virus ware

There is always a time delay between new viruses coming out and whoever is making the virus checker figuring out a solution to those viruses and shipping that solution to the end-users.

The point I am trying to make is that you need to make sure that you can verify when is the last time your anti-virus software is up to date. Does it show as today or yesterday, then fine you should be okay, but if it shows that the last time it was updated was a month ago, then your anti-virus software is at disadvantage because it doesn't know about the new stuff.

[Ron Whitfield]

Re: Combining anti-virus ware

Shoots, thanx!

[StinkyTheGrump]

Re: Combining anti-virus ware

You should be able to adjust a setting on your antivirus to have it check for updates automatically every day. Set that and forget about it. Your Navy friend offers some good advice re: which software to use. One of the most if not THE most important things you can do to protect your system (this is vastly overlooked among consumers, BTW) is ensure that all of your software is updated and patched. How do you think a lot of malware/viruses end up on your system? You browse a compromised website with a browser/plugin exploit and you don't have the latest patches = your system is owned. The problem is that it can be a pain in the @ss to keep all of your software up to date. Fortunately there happens to exist a FREE program that automatically keeps track of all of your software versions, lets you know if a patch is available and gives you a direct download link to the update. Doesn't get much simpler than that - http://download.cnet.com/Secunia-Per...-10717855.html