How much protection?

> After reading many and various posts in this and other Newsgroups, I am a
little curious and confused by what I read on the topic of how much
protection one needs on their system.
> All MVP's seem to agree that only one Firewall is needed; good! But many MVP's seem to disagree on how much anti-virus protection one needs. Some say only one is needed, while others say two, three or even more are needed.
> Currently on my system I have Windows Firewall, AVG (free edition 7.5), SuperAntiSpyware (free version 3.9), Spybot S&D (free version 1.5), Ad-Aware 2007 (free edition), Spyware Blaster (free edition 4.0), Windows Defender and Windows Malicious Software Tool.
> Now my question is : Do I need all this anti-virus protection or just one or two? I get a little ticked having to update definitions all the time and having my system slowed down while I'm trying to work because an anti-virus program is running at the same time. I could also use the disk space and possibly, (hopefully), speed-up the boot time.
> My System: Acer 2450 laptop
Windows XP , Home Edition
SP2
Explorer 7
> I would really appreciate any info or comments on this topic so I can finally make a decision to remove or not to remove some of my anti-virus programs. THANK-YOU !

(Please don't use/add carats [ > ] for punctuation.)

> Currently on my system I have Windows Firewall, AVG (free edition 7.5),
> S*perAntiSpyware (free version 3.9), Spybot S&D (free version 1.5),
> Ad-Aware 2007 (free edition), Spyware Blaster (free edition 4.0), Windows
> Defender and Windows Malicious Software Tool.

Of all those applications, only AVG is an anti-virus application, and the
Malicious Software *Removal* Tool is not an installed application nor does
it provide any real-time protection.

Some would consider the real-time protections afforded by SAS, Ad-Aware
2007, Spybot, and Defender to be overkill. I'm one of them, but YMMV. If
it were my machine (and your browsing habits were as safe as mine), I'd
uninstall SAS, Ad-Aware, and Spybot...and replace AVG with something more
reliable and robust. Again, YMMV. One size does not necessarily fit all
here.

This is what's really important:

Before You Connect a New Computer to the Internet
http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/before_you_plug_in.html

Also see:

Security FAQ & Checklist
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/8463
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


slick1 wrote:
>> After reading many and various posts in this and other Newsgroups, I am a
> little curious and confused by what I read on the topic of how much
> protection one needs on their system.
>> All MVP's seem to agree that only one Firewall is needed; good! But many
>> MVP's seem to disagree on how much anti-virus protection one needs. Some
>> say only one is needed, while others say two, three or even more are
>> needed.
>> Currently on my system I have Windows Firewall, AVG (free edition 7.5),
>> S*perAntiSpyware (free version 3.9), Spybot S&D (free version 1.5),
>> Ad-Aware 2007 (free edition), Spyware Blaster (free edition 4.0), Windows
>> Defender and Windows Malicious Software Tool.
>> Now my question is : Do I need all this anti-virus protection or just
>> one
>> or two? I get a little ticked having to update definitions all the time
>> and having my system slowed down while I'm trying to work because an
>> anti-virus program is running at the same time. I could also use the
>> disk
>> space and possibly, (hopefully), speed-up the boot time. My System: Acer
>> 2450 laptop
> Windows XP , Home Edition
> SP2
> Explorer 7
>> I would really appreciate any info or comments on this topic so I can
>> finally make a decision to remove or not to remove some of my anti-virus
>> programs. THANK-YOU !

To PA Bear: What would you recommend to replace AVG? (something free).

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> (Please don't use/add carats [ > ] for punctuation.)
>
> > Currently on my system I have Windows Firewall, AVG (free edition 7.5),
> > S*perAntiSpyware (free version 3.9), Spybot S&D (free version 1.5),
> > Ad-Aware 2007 (free edition), Spyware Blaster (free edition 4.0), Windows
> > Defender and Windows Malicious Software Tool.
>
> Of all those applications, only AVG is an anti-virus application, and the
> Malicious Software *Removal* Tool is not an installed application nor does
> it provide any real-time protection.
>
> Some would consider the real-time protections afforded by SAS, Ad-Aware
> 2007, Spybot, and Defender to be overkill. I'm one of them, but YMMV. If
> it were my machine (and your browsing habits were as safe as mine), I'd
> uninstall SAS, Ad-Aware, and Spybot...and replace AVG with something more
> reliable and robust. Again, YMMV. One size does not necessarily fit all
> here.
>
> This is what's really important:
>
> Before You Connect a New Computer to the Internet
> http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/before_you_plug_in.html
>
> Also see:
>
> Security FAQ & Checklist
> http://www.dslreports.com/faq/8463
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>
>
> slick1 wrote:
> >> After reading many and various posts in this and other Newsgroups, I am a
> > little curious and confused by what I read on the topic of how much
> > protection one needs on their system.
> >> All MVP's seem to agree that only one Firewall is needed; good! But many
> >> MVP's seem to disagree on how much anti-virus protection one needs. Some
> >> say only one is needed, while others say two, three or even more are
> >> needed.
> >> Currently on my system I have Windows Firewall, AVG (free edition 7.5),
> >> S*perAntiSpyware (free version 3.9), Spybot S&D (free version 1.5),
> >> Ad-Aware 2007 (free edition), Spyware Blaster (free edition 4.0), Windows
> >> Defender and Windows Malicious Software Tool.
> >> Now my question is : Do I need all this anti-virus protection or just
> >> one
> >> or two? I get a little ticked having to update definitions all the time
> >> and having my system slowed down while I'm trying to work because an
> >> anti-virus program is running at the same time. I could also use the
> >> disk
> >> space and possibly, (hopefully), speed-up the boot time. My System: Acer
> >> 2450 laptop
> > Windows XP , Home Edition
> > SP2
> > Explorer 7
> >> I would really appreciate any info or comments on this topic so I can
> >> finally make a decision to remove or not to remove some of my anti-virus
> >> programs. THANK-YOU !
>
>

"slick1" <slick1@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2D997DB7-F22F-4C72-83C7-4DAFCFC19401@microsoft.com...
>> After reading many and various posts in this and other Newsgroups, I am a
> little curious and confused by what I read on the topic of how much
> protection one needs on their system.
>> All MVP's seem to agree that only one Firewall is needed; good! But many
>> MVP's seem to disagree on how much anti-virus protection one needs. Some
>> say only one is needed, while others say two, three or even more are
>> needed.
>> Currently on my system I have Windows Firewall, AVG (free edition 7.5),
>> SuperAntiSpyware (free version 3.9), Spybot S&D (free version 1.5),
>> Ad-Aware 2007 (free edition), Spyware Blaster (free edition 4.0), Windows
>> Defender and Windows Malicious Software Tool.
>> Now my question is : Do I need all this anti-virus protection or just
>> one or two? I get a little ticked having to update definitions all the
>> time and having my system slowed down while I'm trying to work because an
>> anti-virus program is running at the same time. I could also use the
>> disk space and possibly, (hopefully), speed-up the boot time.
>> My System: Acer 2450 laptop
> Windows XP , Home Edition
> SP2
> Explorer 7
>> I would really appreciate any info or comments on this topic so I can
>> finally make a decision to remove or not to remove some of my anti-virus
>> programs. THANK-YOU !


------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree with most of what Robear said.
To add, though:
The most important safety program is the user. No matter what you install,
if you browse dangerous sites and download dangerous programs you will get
infected. Those who know what they're doing can run for years with nothing
but a firewall and never get infected. Others can install everything you
have listed and get infected in a week.

--
Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM
www.fjsmjs.com
Do not reply with email

it is all relative.

people provide suggestions
that have worked best for
them and their successful
experiences.

if your system runs fine
and perfect with 20 anti virals,
then "more power to you".

however, there are others with
systems that are inadequate or
poorly configured that can only
handle one anti virus.

so, there is no rule of thumb.

besides most all antiviral engineers
will eventually obtain the latest
threats and incorporate the
definitions/threats via online downloaded
updates - plus or minus a couple of days
and a couple of virus definitions.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

"slick1" <slick1@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2D997DB7-F22F-4C72-83C7-4DAFCFC19401@microsoft.com...
>> After reading many and various posts in this and other Newsgroups, I am a
> little curious and confused by what I read on the topic of how much
> protection one needs on their system.
>> All MVP's seem to agree that only one Firewall is needed; good! But many
>> MVP's seem to disagree on how much anti-virus protection one needs. Some say
>> only one is needed, while others say two, three or even more are needed.
>> Currently on my system I have Windows Firewall, AVG (free edition 7.5),
>> SuperAntiSpyware (free version 3.9), Spybot S&D (free version 1.5), Ad-Aware
>> 2007 (free edition), Spyware Blaster (free edition 4.0), Windows Defender and
>> Windows Malicious Software Tool.
>> Now my question is : Do I need all this anti-virus protection or just one or
>> two? I get a little ticked having to update definitions all the time and
>> having my system slowed down while I'm trying to work because an anti-virus
>> program is running at the same time. I could also use the disk space and
>> possibly, (hopefully), speed-up the boot time.
>> My System: Acer 2450 laptop
> Windows XP , Home Edition
> SP2
> Explorer 7
>> I would really appreciate any info or comments on this topic so I can finally
>> make a decision to remove or not to remove some of my anti-virus programs.
>> THANK-YOU !

Thanks to all! I'm gonna kiss some programs goodbye now. Keep-up the good
work guys & gals.

"db ´¯`·.. ><)))º>` .. ." wrote:

> it is all relative.
>
> people provide suggestions
> that have worked best for
> them and their successful
> experiences.
>
> if your system runs fine
> and perfect with 20 anti virals,
> then "more power to you".
>
> however, there are others with
> systems that are inadequate or
> poorly configured that can only
> handle one anti virus.
>
> so, there is no rule of thumb.
>
> besides most all antiviral engineers
> will eventually obtain the latest
> threats and incorporate the
> definitions/threats via online downloaded
> updates - plus or minus a couple of days
> and a couple of virus definitions.
>
> --
>
> db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
>
> "slick1" <slick1@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:2D997DB7-F22F-4C72-83C7-4DAFCFC19401@microsoft.com...
> >> After reading many and various posts in this and other Newsgroups, I am a
> > little curious and confused by what I read on the topic of how much
> > protection one needs on their system.
> >> All MVP's seem to agree that only one Firewall is needed; good! But many
> >> MVP's seem to disagree on how much anti-virus protection one needs. Some say
> >> only one is needed, while others say two, three or even more are needed.
> >> Currently on my system I have Windows Firewall, AVG (free edition 7.5),
> >> SuperAntiSpyware (free version 3.9), Spybot S&D (free version 1.5), Ad-Aware
> >> 2007 (free edition), Spyware Blaster (free edition 4.0), Windows Defender and
> >> Windows Malicious Software Tool.
> >> Now my question is : Do I need all this anti-virus protection or just one or
> >> two? I get a little ticked having to update definitions all the time and
> >> having my system slowed down while I'm trying to work because an anti-virus
> >> program is running at the same time. I could also use the disk space and
> >> possibly, (hopefully), speed-up the boot time.
> >> My System: Acer 2450 laptop
> > Windows XP , Home Edition
> > SP2
> > Explorer 7
> >> I would really appreciate any info or comments on this topic so I can finally
> >> make a decision to remove or not to remove some of my anti-virus programs.
> >> THANK-YOU !
>
>

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:

>(Please don't use/add carats [ > ] for punctuation.)
>
>>Currently on my system I have Windows Firewall, AVG (free edition
>>7.5), S*perAntiSpyware (free version 3.9), Spybot S&D (free version
>>1.5), Ad-Aware 2007 (free edition), Spyware Blaster (free edition
>>4.0), Windows Defender and Windows Malicious Software Tool.
>
>Of all those applications, only AVG is an anti-virus application, and
>the Malicious Software Removal Tool is not an installed application
>nor does it provide any real-time protection.
>
>Some would consider the real-time protections afforded by SAS,
>Ad-Aware 2007, Spybot, and Defender to be overkill. I'm one of them,
>but YMMV. If it were my machine (and your browsing habits were as
>safe as mine), I'd uninstall SAS, Ad-Aware, and Spybot...and replace
>AVG with something more reliable and robust. Again, YMMV. One size
>does not necessarily fit all here.
>
>This is what's really important:
>
>Before You Connect a New Computer to the Internet
>http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/before_you_plug_in.html
>
>Also see:
>
>Security FAQ & Checklist
>http://www.dslreports.com/faq/8463

Hi Pa Bear,

The the concept of 'safe wex' is one that I find amusing. Any site can
be compromised. Second, if you are going to really make use of all the
information on the web then you end up going to sites that may not have
as much security as others. I tend to go to links that I see in news
groups on a regular basis. I download files from sites other than PCMAG
and CNET.

That might be considered 'unsafe wex', but in the process of going to
all those different sites, I have found some good tech files and
programs. When I am going to places I feel uncomfortable with, I turn
on Returnils protection mode. Other times I don't bother.

Their are a large number of scanners out there, so I scan my machine
regularly and if it finds something I have it delete it. For me I am
not going to limit my access to the Internet based on a white-list of
'supposedly safe' web sites.

--

Sincerely,
C.Joseph Drayton, Ph.D. AS&T

CSD Computer Services
Web site: http://csdcs.tlerma.com/
E-mail: csdcs@tlerma.com

Avast.

"slick1" <slick1@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C2EAE110-A2E6-4D2A-B5D0-C69F1B54C5E2@microsoft.com...
> To PA Bear: What would you recommend to replace AVG? (something free).
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>
>> (Please don't use/add carats [ > ] for punctuation.)
>>
>> > Currently on my system I have Windows Firewall, AVG (free edition 7.5),
>> > S*perAntiSpyware (free version 3.9), Spybot S&D (free version 1.5),
>> > Ad-Aware 2007 (free edition), Spyware Blaster (free edition 4.0),
>> > Windows
>> > Defender and Windows Malicious Software Tool.
>>
>> Of all those applications, only AVG is an anti-virus application, and the
>> Malicious Software *Removal* Tool is not an installed application nor
>> does
>> it provide any real-time protection.
>>
>> Some would consider the real-time protections afforded by SAS, Ad-Aware
>> 2007, Spybot, and Defender to be overkill. I'm one of them, but YMMV.
>> If
>> it were my machine (and your browsing habits were as safe as mine), I'd
>> uninstall SAS, Ad-Aware, and Spybot...and replace AVG with something more
>> reliable and robust. Again, YMMV. One size does not necessarily fit all
>> here.
>>
>> This is what's really important:
>>
>> Before You Connect a New Computer to the Internet
>> http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/before_you_plug_in.html
>>
>> Also see:
>>
>> Security FAQ & Checklist
>> http://www.dslreports.com/faq/8463
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
>> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
>> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>>
>>
>> slick1 wrote:
>> >> After reading many and various posts in this and other Newsgroups, I
>> >> am a
>> > little curious and confused by what I read on the topic of how much
>> > protection one needs on their system.
>> >> All MVP's seem to agree that only one Firewall is needed; good! But
>> >> many
>> >> MVP's seem to disagree on how much anti-virus protection one needs.
>> >> Some
>> >> say only one is needed, while others say two, three or even more are
>> >> needed.
>> >> Currently on my system I have Windows Firewall, AVG (free edition
>> >> 7.5),
>> >> S*perAntiSpyware (free version 3.9), Spybot S&D (free version 1.5),
>> >> Ad-Aware 2007 (free edition), Spyware Blaster (free edition 4.0),
>> >> Windows
>> >> Defender and Windows Malicious Software Tool.
>> >> Now my question is : Do I need all this anti-virus protection or just
>> >> one
>> >> or two? I get a little ticked having to update definitions all the
>> >> time
>> >> and having my system slowed down while I'm trying to work because an
>> >> anti-virus program is running at the same time. I could also use the
>> >> disk
>> >> space and possibly, (hopefully), speed-up the boot time. My System:
>> >> Acer
>> >> 2450 laptop
>> > Windows XP , Home Edition
>> > SP2
>> > Explorer 7
>> >> I would really appreciate any info or comments on this topic so I can
>> >> finally make a decision to remove or not to remove some of my
>> >> anti-virus
>> >> programs. THANK-YOU !
>>
>>

"Colin Barnhorst" <c.barnhorst@comcast.net> wrote:

>Avast.

It drove me bonkers with all of its updating and need to restart my
computer. Went back to AVG.

In order: Avira AntiVir; Avast4.

Multi-year subscriptions to NOD32 and Kaspersky 7 (top o' the heap in my
book) are quite reasonable.

[Why pinch pennies when it comes to security for your computer(s), yourself
and your family? If you needed a guard dog to protect your family, would
you get a toothless, meek chihuahua from the pound ("not that there's
anything wrong with that") or a purebred Rottweiler from a reputable
breeder? Free AV apps, no matter how reputable, simply cannot stand up to
NOD32 and KAV7.]


slick1 wrote:
> To PA Bear: What would you recommend to replace AVG? (something free).
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>
>> (Please don't use/add carats [ > ] for punctuation.)
>>
>>> Currently on my system I have Windows Firewall, AVG (free edition 7.5),
>>> S*perAntiSpyware (free version 3.9), Spybot S&D (free version 1.5),
>>> Ad-Aware 2007 (free edition), Spyware Blaster (free edition 4.0),
>>> Windows
>>> Defender and Windows Malicious Software Tool.
>>
>> Of all those applications, only AVG is an anti-virus application, and the
>> Malicious Software *Removal* Tool is not an installed application nor
>> does
>> it provide any real-time protection.
>>
>> Some would consider the real-time protections afforded by SAS, Ad-Aware
>> 2007, Spybot, and Defender to be overkill. I'm one of them, but YMMV.
>> If
>> it were my machine (and your browsing habits were as safe as mine), I'd
>> uninstall SAS, Ad-Aware, and Spybot...and replace AVG with something more
>> reliable and robust. Again, YMMV. One size does not necessarily fit all
>> here.
>>
>> This is what's really important:
>>
>> Before You Connect a New Computer to the Internet
>> http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/before_you_plug_in.html
>>
>> Also see:
>>
>> Security FAQ & Checklist
>> http://www.dslreports.com/faq/8463
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
>> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
>> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
>>
>>
>> slick1 wrote:
>>>> After reading many and various posts in this and other Newsgroups, I am
>>>> a
>>> little curious and confused by what I read on the topic of how much
>>> protection one needs on their system.
>>>> All MVP's seem to agree that only one Firewall is needed; good! But
>>>> many
>>>> MVP's seem to disagree on how much anti-virus protection one needs.
>>>> Some
>>>> say only one is needed, while others say two, three or even more are
>>>> needed.
>>>> Currently on my system I have Windows Firewall, AVG (free edition 7.5),
>>>> S*perAntiSpyware (free version 3.9), Spybot S&D (free version 1.5),
>>>> Ad-Aware 2007 (free edition), Spyware Blaster (free edition 4.0),
>>>> Windows
>>>> Defender and Windows Malicious Software Tool.
>>>> Now my question is : Do I need all this anti-virus protection or just
>>>> one
>>>> or two? I get a little ticked having to update definitions all the
>>>> time
>>>> and having my system slowed down while I'm trying to work because an
>>>> anti-virus program is running at the same time. I could also use the
>>>> disk
>>>> space and possibly, (hopefully), speed-up the boot time. My System:
>>>> Acer
>>>> 2450 laptop
>>> Windows XP , Home Edition
>>> SP2
>>> Explorer 7
>>>> I would really appreciate any info or comments on this topic so I can
>>>> finally make a decision to remove or not to remove some of my
>>>> anti-virus
>>>> programs. THANK-YOU !