Which AVs are you running together?

Discussion in 'other anti-malware software' started by Crinie, Sep 17, 2011.

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  1. trjam

    trjam Registered Member

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    Insecurity? From what? People are looking a antivirus product like it is a washer or dryer, an adamant object .

    Keep in mind, it is just code written to perform a specific action. The same code written into products labeled spy cleaners, malware fighters, etc. They all perform a single action to scan, in different ways. Is the action of 2 AVs scanning a file worse then a AV,and WSA and Spyshelter also doing the same thing. I think not. Where it would be a serious conflict would be running 2 suites together, but I honestly dont think 2 AVs scanning specific files is different or more taxing on a system then some setups I see posted here. It is just my 2 cents and I am no longer doing it, but I still say it isnt the end of the world like some imply.

    And WSA was used a reference. The product is very good, or am I just being, insecure.:cool:
     
  2. Crinie

    Crinie Registered Member

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    I'd like to try more combos like that. :thumb:
     
  3. Konata Izumi

    Konata Izumi Registered Member

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    you have all my thumbs up :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:
     
  4. fax

    fax Registered Member

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    WSA has been designed to work with other AVs, if you want to. Not the right example for multiple AVs.
     
  5. Hungry Man

    Hungry Man Registered Member

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    I don't know what those programs are ... but it's a widely accepted fact that when two programs try to scan a file you get poor results. It is really as simple as that.


    Such as malwarebytes, which is designed to work with other antivirus products.

    It is specifically made to do this otherwise, like everyone has said, it would conflict with other antiviruses.
     
  6. John Bull

    John Bull Registered Member

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    With 64 posts so far this thread appears to be approaching mammoth proportions, but confusing - some do, some don`t and no firm conclusion is evident. A Newbie reading this thread would be totally confused. I fact this confusion is not exclusive to Newbies.

    I have touched on the following question earlier, but nobody answered it.
    When I raised a thread about using multiple Firewalls, I was geeked off stage with a barrage of logical and accepted arguments against it.

    Why then is using multiple AV`s any different ? The same arguments simply must apply.

    As several experienced posters here apparently endorse using multiple AV`s, can they please clarify their reasons for flying against the tide of software logic immediately, so we can all enjoy a new horizon and live happily ever after.

    I suggest any one of these posters finish this text :-
    " My reasons for using multiple AV`s are -----------------?"

    John
     
  7. NRProia

    NRProia Registered Member

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    Hello,

    I run Microsoft Security Essentials and Norton Security Suite together. Both seem to work well, but Norton does a better job. I used to run additional spyware protection, but have since given them up due to performance issues:

    IOBit.com - Malware Fighter Free
    LavaSoft.com - Ad-Aware Free Internet Security
    MalwareBytes.org - Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free
    SuperAntiSpyware.com - SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition

    Regards,

    Nathan
     
  8. cozumel

    cozumel Registered Member

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    Please could the answer also include supporting evidence to support their argument.

    Could those who advise against multiple instances of real-time av also include supporting evidence.

    Many thanks
     
  9. NRProia

    NRProia Registered Member

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    Hello,

    I occasionally re-format my hard drive and install Windows 7 x64 from scratch, followed by a fresh download of all of my freeware and commercial applications. Microsoft Security Essentials is one of the first programs that I install (usually via Windows Update, but a direct link is available as well). And Norton Security Suite is that last program that I install so that it doesn't become bloated by all of the installation routines. I then run-test all of the applications and utilities on my PC to properly configure the Norton firewall. I run both at the same time because I'm used to it and have not had any problems.

    Regards,

    Nathan
     
  10. Hungry Man

    Hungry Man Registered Member

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    It's really a common sense thing. You can see similar things happen all of the time.

    If you have a.exe and it's started and is process A and you try to delete a.exe you can't because it's being used/ running.

    If you have a.exe being scanned by Antivirus 1 and then Antivirus 2 tries to scan it it won't be able to because it's already being used.

    This is why we also have boot-time scans, because if a file is being used it's much harder to deal with.

    The difference between the situations is that the first one is a.exe starting the process so you can simply end the a.exe process and delete it. For a single antivirus that's no issue.

    If you have a.exe being used by a separate process like Antivirus 1, it's not so simple a process. Antivirus 2 may try to end Antivirus 1 or scan a.exe before Antivirus 1 gets the chance. They are both trying to get to a.exe before it can execute and before any other program gets the chance to execute it - after all, if it's malicious and it executes you could be infected.

    I think that it's fairly obvious to see that when two programs are designed to get to a file before anything else has a chance there can be conflicts.

    Will you always see this? No. Obviously not, the fact that people do this and think they're fine is evidence of this. Does this mean it's not conflicting? No.

    Errors can manifest in so many ways. If AV 1 is unable to scan because AV 2 screws something up you may end up with a false positive... or AV2 might mess with a.exe in a way that makes it seem more legitimate and the file may be incorrectly marked as valid.

    These are complex programs and I can't pretend that I can predict how different ones would work together but I can predict that, at their base level, they're trying to do conflicting actions.
     
  11. Hungry Man

    Hungry Man Registered Member

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    And that's just for basic scanning... don't even get me started on suites that include things like .dll injection or other methods... or performance hits.


    Basically, if you don't feel safe with a single antivirus maybe you should look into something that is widely accepted not to conflict with it instead of chancing it on something that is widely accepted to conflict with it.
     
  12. twl845

    twl845 Registered Member

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    If you get infected with a virus, and both AV's swing into action to contain it, only one is going to win the race to contain it, and the resulting conflict could hamper the operation, I'm told. It's like buying 2 auto insurance policies. Only one will pay your claim if you have an accident, so why waste money buying two?
     
  13. Hungry Man

    Hungry Man Registered Member

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    I'd love it if a moderator could break it down in terms of which API's are called and explain more in-depth why they can't run together.

    But honestly, even if they could... talk about a heavy set up. All that disk I/O, probably around 100-150MB of RAM between the two of them. Egh, no thanks.
     
  14. cozumel

    cozumel Registered Member

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    I completely agree with everything you state (in your entire post, even if I only quoted a tiny part). The theory is completely sound and is the basis, foundation, of every system I build and configure. I have never tested this theory and was hoping someone here had done so. I have basically used the statements from av manufacturers and ms to support my theory which is quite unsatisfactory.
    I was kinda hoping that someone here had done some testing and would be able to post the results demonstrating how running two (or more) AVs together reduces effectiveness.

    That is the only reason I have not expressed my opinion. I have nothing except theory to support my argument. Without the justification, my theory means nothing (except in my head).

    Does that make sense?
     
  15. cozumel

    cozumel Registered Member

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    Now that would be -Phrase removed- perfect!! :D
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 18, 2011
  16. John Bull

    John Bull Registered Member

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    Hungry -

    Fine, but there are some brilliant software and PC experts who are members of Wilders, who could eat this AV matter and spit it out with no trouble at all, giving us all a precise and clear answer.

    The trouble is, they are not coming in on the discussion.

    John
     
  17. G1111

    G1111 Registered Member

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    Emsisoft AM & MBAM. No conflicts here.
     
  18. tommy456

    tommy456 Registered Member

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    I use SAS eset ss5 and pc tools spyware doctor , but not running at the same time, i only use the Anti spyware apps for on demand scans, no real issues to report
     
  19. pabrate

    pabrate Registered Member

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    You guys are too scared :)
    I see no reason to even run one AV, let alone more.
     
  20. John Bull

    John Bull Registered Member

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    No disrespect, but this is a classic.
     
  21. Hungry Man

    Hungry Man Registered Member

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    Yup. As long as you understand that this is a widely accepted idea and that there have likely been tests in the past and that there's no real reason to believe that this isn't the case, of course.
     
  22. pabrate

    pabrate Registered Member

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    None taken, but classic what ?
     
  23. John Bull

    John Bull Registered Member

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    Classic what ?

    Well it`s kinda like bombing up the Freeway on your Harley at 150 mph with no brakes.

    John :eek:
     
  24. Hungry Man

    Hungry Man Registered Member

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    I run no AV... there are plenty of alternatives to an AV for protection,
     
  25. pabrate

    pabrate Registered Member

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    Yeah, kinda depends on the driver :p
    Guess you're still on the bike :D
     
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