can you have too much security?

joncarpet

just been looking at what security i have on lappy and wandered if there is such a thing as too much security?
currently got:

• AVG 8.5
• ad-Aware
• Spyware blaster
• Spybot search and destroy
• Malwarebytes anti Malware
• Superantspyware
• ccleaner

is it too much? or do/can they conflict each other?

macman

CCleaner is not really security, it is a disk cleaner (and a good one).
You can have as many anti-spyware progs as you like, they should not conflict.
But you should only run a single AV program, which you are. Unfortunately it's AVG...best course would be to remove AVG and install Kaspersky (currently free with Barclays online banking), or use Avira (free).
Lots of problems reported on this forum with AVG in the last 6 months, it's not what it was.

LeeSouthEast

AntiVirus is about the only product I recommend actually paying for, security wise. You really do get what you pay for. I fully recommend ESET Internet Security (from the makers of NOD32). It's not too badly priced, but it will set you back some pennies for a year's subscription. Check out this link for more info.

DCFC79

Id get rid of avg and ad aware, theres avast which is better than avg, as to what you can get to repalce ad awrae i dont know,

4743hudsonj

DCFC79 wrote: »

Id get rid of avg and ad aware, theres avast which is better than avg, as to what you can get to repalce ad awrae i dont know,

replace avg with avira
(a lot of bench marks show its the best free antivirus also beating most subscription ones)


also replace ad aware with super anti spyware as once again its the best in its business, or at least free ones.

aliEnRIK

Id replace AVG with AVIRA (Use the AVG removal tool. Simply uninstalling leaves bits behind/running)
Id also remove AD AWARE which is next to useless these days

esuhl

joncarpet wrote: »

...wandered (sic) if there is such a thing as too much security?

Security is always a case of balancing risk against functionality. A highly secure system would be in a bunker with doors controlled by biometric sensors, CCTV, etc. and the PC wouldn't be connected to the Internet.

As for the security applications you mentioned, they should all work together fine and offer a good degree of security (assuming they're kept up-to-date).

Essentially you shouldn't have more than one antivirus or software firewall installed on a PC. Sometimes running scans in different applications simultaneously may cause problems (so I've heard), but having them installed and running the scans sequentially should be fine.

It might be an idea to use Firefox with the NoScript add-on which blocks scripts on web pages by default. (They can easily be enabled on a per-domain basis.)

Edit:
Oh, and I totally agree with aliEnRIK's post above...

Knub

To be honest you have 1 average Anti Virus installed (AVG) and 4-5 Malware programs.

I personally only run MalwareBytes and Spy Bot. This has always been enough for me. Also these types of "Anti-Malware" program often clash with each other if too many are installed.

I think with regards to malware you are going overboard a bit

Also echo what AlienRik and eshul has said: Remove AVG, replace with Avira AntiVir. Remove AdAware. Thats a good start!

You also mention "too much security" but I see nothinhg about a firewall listed? Is it on your router? How do you control it?

(I don't mean the windows firewall either)

Jaffa.

esuhl wrote: »

Essentially you shouldn't have more than one antivirus or software firewall installed on a PC. Sometimes running scans in different applications simultaneously may cause problems (so I've heard), but having them installed and running the scans sequentially should be fine.

You have to take into account real time protection - which all feasible antiviruses have.

Knub wrote: »

(I don't mean the windows firewall either)

Actually Windows firewall is fine for blocking inbound, thats all a router does in terms of firewall.

Psychofly

A good antivirus (I use Avast!, AVG is pretty much useless these days), Windows firewall (if your router has a built in one) and maybe if you're feeling paranoid then an anti-spyware of some sort will be plenty if you're sensible about your net access. I'm certainly not paranoid about my net access and I've not had virus problems in a long time. To be honest I don't even use anti-spyware. Every couple of months I run CCleaner and my system runs like a dream and I'm certainly not an occassional gamer. I rely heavily on my PC for work, I'm a fairly hardcore gamer and I've worked in the IT industry for over 10 years so I'm not uneducated on the risks. I find people tend to worry too much and cause more problems for themselves than anything else, in fact I've seen people with 4 or 5 separate programs live scanning every time a file is accessed then complaining that their system runs slowly.
As long as you have an up to date antivirus and a firewall and a little common sense in what you download and click on then you'll be relatively safe. If I'm in doubt about a site or a file I simply walk away. The internet is a huge place and there's always going to be another site that will cater to your needs.

[Deleted User]

joncarpet wrote: »

just been looking at what security i have on lappy and wandered if there is such a thing as too much security?

Yes. They'll slow your laptop down unnecessarily.

I'd suggest the following:

Anti-virus - Avira AntiVir
Anti-malware - Malwarebytes
Anti-spyware - SUPERAntiSpyware

The anti-virus runs all the time and the anti-spyware and anti-malware are on demand i.e. you manually start a scan.

Ensure the PC is patched properly by visiting http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

Finally ensure you've got a firewall - XP / Vista's are fine.