2 anti virus programs both running ?

Presently using NAV 2006. It does the job it's suppose to however it does have its drawbacks. IE: slows computer, interfers with my Popfile program I use with my Courier Email program. Have been thinking about trying AVG.
IJ know I should not be running 2 antivirus programs at same time but any problem if I just shut down Norton and leave it on computer while I try AVG. ?
Budo

 

Hi Budo

You might want to read the following for general info on Norton:
http://windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=61013

And this one page 2 my last post about multiple virus scanners
http://windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=61310

Do a search on the BBS as there is more info.

Mike

 

Hi, Budo. As long as you don't have more than one anti-virus (AV) program running resident in memory at any one time (because they tend to "fight" each other for control of active processes), you should be OK.

In fact, having other reputable AV programs installed to periodically run as on-demand scanners to supplement your main AV application is a good idea because one AV application will probably catch viruses that the other will miss.

I have Norton AntiVirus (paid-part of Norton SystemWorks 2006) as my main (memory-resident) AV application and Webroot's SpySweeper version 5.2 (paid) as my main anti-spyware application (memory-resident). I don't know if running these both as memory-resident is undesirable but I have not noticed any ill-effects yet.

I periodically scan with A-squared-free anti-malware, BitDefender 8 Free Edition, and AVG v7.5 Anti-Spyware (paid).

FWIW, I also use Courier Email. Occasionally, when I boot, Norton's AntiVirus reports (via a system tray popup) that my email scanning isn't working but that seems to fix itself within minutes each time so I have been ignoring it.

 

Hi Nflynn
Tks for reply.
My first thought after reading the steps necessary to go through to get rid of Norton is "wow" is it worth it to go thru all this. I have the URL for Nortons removal tool for their antivus programs. Are you saying that this will not do it ?
Also If I downloaded another program to try do I have to uninstall NAV first ?
budo

 

From everything I've read on the issue, mflynn is correct: you can have two AV progs as long as only one is set to run as a resident prog and the other an on-demand prog.

But personally? I would take the trouble to get rid of Norton. I know there's a lot involved but I would not want it sunk so deeply into my registry. I feel the same about McAfee. Neither of these programs will ever be placed on this box. That's just a personal opinion.

 

Seriously considering uninstalling Norton but just in case did a current "disk clone" on a separate HD
Still undecided on replacement anti virus program.
Also Mailman, in re to Courier, I use Popfile for anti spam which works fine. It puts a tag on spam that come in but the problem is that it will not move the spam into the spam folder as long as Norton Antivirus 2006 is running. If I shut it down the the spam goes into the spam folder. I fooled around with this problem quite a while before I realized it was Norton causing the problem.
This should teach me that when a problem shows up then go right to Norton first as a likely culprit.
budo

 

Hello Budo and thanks for the post on NAV.

I'm keeping track of the possible problems NAV causes and will write it up.

So far:

System Restore and possibly Windows Update.

XP's Security Center.

And now Courier.

Regards - Charles

 

Hello Budo

Just got back from errands.

This all depends on what you want, and how you do it.

First there are Virus "Cleaners" like Stinger and Avast cleaners, etc that run do their job and exit.

Then there are standalone Virus scanners like Sophos stand alone, Mcafee stand alone, Sysclean and Dr.Web that basically do the same do their job and exit.

I reccomend you use these in addition to what ever main online scanner that you have. The signal to use these come when the main one start detecting and complaining. So when it finishes to make it "honest" run a confirmation scan with one of these.

These two types augment the online scanner.

All of the above either require reinstalling or manually updating before runing.

An online memory resident Scanner like Norton, Mcafee and AVG can be set to disabled from being active if configed to do so properly, so that you could try another scanner.

But in this case even if not active the performance issues will still be there especially with Norton.

If you have a fast processor and plenty of RAM then stay with Norton. Norton is a good scanner if you have the horsepower for it.

If the cpu hogging and incompatabilties are the issue then get rid of Norton.

Most that have AVG are very satisfied with its ability to protect and very happy with the new performance if they had Norton.

Cleaning Norton properly is a real chore. Uninistalling it "only" is no big deal. But the performance will not completelt return until the processes I presented are done. I have done this many times.

We gave the ammo you shoot the gun!

Mike

 

Hi flynn
Many tks for the time u have taken to respond.
Am really undecided now. NAV as far as I can tell has done the job for me. I realize it hogs the horse power however beyond the problem it causes in Popfile spam filter I am not aware of others. I have read quite a few reviews and Norton still rates up near the top. The old saying "take the bad with the good" probably applies.
budo

 

Hi Budo,

Norton does rate well, the issue is how it does its job.

There are 4 - 5 AV's that are just as good, and some better Kaspersky (KAV), Eset (NOD32), and Avira that rated better w/o having to "take the bad with the good" as you put it.

http://www.av-comparatives.org/

Regards - Charles

 

Went to Kasperskys and decided to try their free trial version however the documentation said prior to installation if I had another Antivirus program it must be uninstalled before installing Kaspersky. Not going to go thru that with Norton for a trail version. Have downloaded AVG's trial version so Will give that a try this weekend (providing they dont said to uninstall other AV programs)
budo