how many anti-spyware programs can u run at once?

xxMandyxx

hi i was hoping someone could tell me how many anti-spyware programs i can have on my computer at once?

i had a virus so i've now downloaded avg anti-virus (free version), ewido anti-malware (free), lavasoft ad-ware se personal (free) + i also have windows defender!

i dont know if ive went a bit mad and downloaded too many or not enough?? and also is it harmful to your computer to have more than one antispyware program? i think ive heard that you shouldnt have more than one anti-virus.

thanks for any replies folks :beer:

Browntoa

thats fine, AVG is just anti virus, do what I do and run the others once in a while to scan your machine to help keep it clean

I have the same as you + spybot and the new trial version 4 of ewido

xxMandyxx

oh i forgot i have spybot search + destroy too! thanks

albertross_2

one resident AV, one resident anti-spyware, and as many as you like on demand scanners. Doubling up on resident scanners will grind your PC to a halt.

skiddy2k

agree, one AV, one AS + Windows Diffender and as many on-demand scanners as you like.

skiddy2k

you can also use online virus-scanners now and then as well, just incase something penetrates AVG... i recomend one of the following online AV scanners:
http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Browntoa

only windows defender is a resident scanner , the others are "On Demand"


snap...beat me to it !!!!!!!

thecornflake

Spybot s&d used to flag up Ad-Aware as potential spyware! I thin k they may have resolved thi sissue, but it could happen with running multiple programs.

The most obvious issue to me is performance. You shouldn't ever need more than one av program (I recommend AVG) but using more than anti-spyware program covers all the bases. If they continuously check though keep an eye on performance.