should i turn all of windows security off?

donnajunkie

i know i cant have two firewalls on at the same time so windows firewall is off and norton firewall is on. however i have read the odd thing recently that says other aspects of security software clash. the anti malware and spyware is also turned on in windows as well as in norton. so should i turn that aspect of windows off and just leave it to norton?

djohn2002uk

Antispyware doesn't clash with antivirus. Antispyware progs don't clash with each other unless they are running at the same time or as in Spybot teatimer, running in realtime. But I find that Windows defender and Spybot co-exist quite happily. I have Comodo firewall on, and Windows firewall switched off. Get no spyware apart from the odd cookie and can't remember the last virus. Oh, and I use AVG anti-virus.

donnajunkie

while i dont run a windows scan and norton scan at the same time they are both constantly monitoring arent they? so is it just if i run a scan with both at the same time that it can be a problem?

Cat695

firewalls can run together....antivirus can't though

jjscotman

consensus of advice is that 2 anti-virus programs should not be switched on at same time as they are very likely to conflict with each other while the same goes for firewalls as they may conflict.

This is also the advice also given in Vista Help and Support about firewalls. In fact several third party firewalls turn off the Windows firewall during their installation process.

Anti-spyware programs can run with both firewall and anti-virus programs. A frequent recommendation is to have 2 or 3 anti spyware programs as none of them are fully comprehensive.

You should keep your norton firewall running and add anti -virus and anti-spyware programs if you do not already have them. The anti-virus is particularly important.

Sput2001

Cat695 wrote: »

firewalls can run together....antivirus can't though

I think a software and a hardware firewall can run together safely, but not two software ones.

John_Gray

NickMidgley wrote: »

I think a software and a hardware firewall can run together safely, but not two software ones.

Correct. In fact this is the recommended usage!

aliEnRIK

Cat695 wrote: »

firewalls can run together....antivirus can't though

Completely wrong ~ UNLESS one IS Windows firewall (But STILL not to be done). If you tried running say...Norton with Comodos firewall you could very well end up with an unbootable computer

donnajunkie

in windows security check it says dont have two firewalls on at the same time. however it says nothing like that in the malware section were it tells me both windows defender and norton are turned on and functioning normally. the confusion has been caused in relation to anti malware and spyware. i have read that two things working against these can also conflict, or is it just two anti virus programs that conflict because windows doesnt have anti virus just anti malware and spyware. so that wouldnt be an issue.

Ken68

Routers have firewalls, so why have another.

donnajunkie

arent routers used when people have wireless internet? i dont have wireless internet. it comes straight from the modem via an ethernet cable.