BitDefender versus Ad-aware

I've been told by both BitDefender this year and last year by F-Secure, that I had to remove Ad-aware in order for the program to install correctly AND to work correctly. In fact, both wanted me to remove everything (Spyware Blaster, Spybot, Counterspy) which I partially did. I disabled active protection in Counterspy but refused to remove it since I had paid for it. As for the freebies, they're gone but I'm wondering if that was really necessary. The company has not really given me any feedback other than the original warning. Last year, my ISP which supplied me with the F-secure suite told me in no uncertain terms that all other spyware had to be removed.

Any comments would be appreciated.

 

Wow, this is something of a first for me.

Did they at least give you any specific reasoning behind you removing the other software? Perhaps site some sort of conflicts?

I've never heard of a vendor insisting you remove all anti-spyware, nor for that matter an ISP saying so.

A little over the line I think. If it was me, I'd have been asking for my refund had I purchased any security software they asked me to remove.

 

Yes, here is the latest message I received from BitDefender:

Thank you for your interest in our BitDefender security solution. It is
recommended that you completely uninstall any other antivirus or antispyware application prior to installing BitDefender, as having these installed may lead to severe performance degradation and other compatibility issues that may cause problems such as the one you are experiencing. In particular, Adaware and Spybot have been known to prevent the BitDefender scan engine from performing as it should.

As BitDefender provides antivirus and antispyware protection, it is
recommended that no other such application is installed.
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And last year from my ISP: Charter and their security solution (F-Secure):

I understand that you wuold like to some spyware and addware programs. You can use these programs along with the Charter High-Speed Security Suite. BUT, you must be careful in deleting the files that these programs detect as spyware. Most spyware programs will detect the BackWeb Agent that the Charter High-Speed Security Suite needs to operate correctly. If these files are deleted or quarantined, the Charter High-Speed Security Suite will not operate correctly. Please look for the location of the files these programs detect. You DO NOT want to delete anything located in C:\Program Files\Charter High Speed Security Suite.

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I informed BitDefender's tech support that I wanted to continue with CounterSpy "but" would disable the active protection and only run it as a manual scan. They still insisted that it would create problems and that it should be removed entirely. In fact, during the installation a screen came up saying that it had detected Ad-aware and strongly advised against continuing the installation.

So... since I've paid for two licenses for two years with little hope of a refund, there is no way I'm going to go against this UNLESS another solution is found.

Is there anyone out there who is running the new BitDefender Internet Security suite and continuing to use these other apps? Thanks.

 

I am using F-Secure with Counterspy with no problems. I first installed F-Secure and then Counterspy after. F-Secure has upgraded their software detection schemes, so I would uninstall first and install it after installing your anti-virus. I am also using the real time detection in both with no issues (in fact CounterSpy's detection seems to be equal to F-Secure and I know they are going for a VB100 rating so eventually you won't need both). The only thing I notice is maybe it takes 30 seconds longer on a cold bootup. Other than that everything works happily together. F-Secure added anti-spyware to their products in 2006. That is when they started showing messages about Adaware and Spysweeper; however at that time Spybot and SpywareBlaster were not on their hit list. I think that changed in the 2007 version. Anyway, just install what you want after they are installed. Good luck.

Leland

 

Need Advice on these two security suites

Leland, thanks for the information. Since you have used F-Secure now (2007?) have you had any issues with it? It's offered free from my ISP (Charter) and it's created some real angst in my decision making.

I'm throwing this out to you (and anyone else who has experience):

Like most here, I have always been a stand-alone versus suite user. The only experience I had with suites was with Norton Internet Security Suite 2003. So, now after all these years of using independent programs (i.e. NOD32, Kerio, CounterSpy) I've gone and purchased BitDefender Internet Security Suite. Don't ask why. I really don't know.

Anyway, I'm in the market for some advice (strictly opinions) on which way to go. The options are relatively simple. I have two viable paths. Either I keep BitDefender which essentially means I will have to uninstall CounterSpy and Ad-aware and run it by itself according to their tech support OR I can use the highspeed internet security suite that my ISP provides free to its customers. It's a branded F-Secure 2007 suite (Charter is the ISP) which does more or less the same things that BitDefender does: anti-virus, anti-spam, anti-spyware, firewall.

As far as I can tell, both use about the same amount of system resources. I've tried to discover which is the better way to go, but to date the information is confusing.

So... help?! Can anyone out there supply me with some information that would help me nail down this decision?

Charter Highspeed Int. Security (i.e. F-Secure 22007)

OR

BitDefender Int. Security v10????

Thanks
ps: it has to be one of the two. I'm determined to stick it out for at least the duration of this year.

 

Sounds like a ploy on BitDefender's part to have people pay for their antispyware solution. Wrong, IMO, for any AV to be designed with incompatability to such well known applications. I'd dump BD without a moments hesitation and never look back.

 

Hi Noah

I'm likeminded. Charter said the following (from an earlier post I'm just reposting the pertinent section): " You can use these programs along with the Charter High-Speed Security Suite. BUT, you must be careful in deleting the files that these programs detect as spyware. Most spyware programs will detect the BackWeb Agent that the Charter High-Speed Security Suite needs to operate correctly. If these files are deleted or quarantined, the Charter High-Speed Security Suite will not operate correctly. Please look for the location of the files these programs detect. You DO NOT want to delete anything located in C:\Program Files\Charter High Speed Security Suite. "

What this told me was... they were agreeable to my using Ad-aware and Spybot provided I carefully monitored what it told me to remove since it has a history of trying to remove the backweb agent which would render F-Secure relatively useless. So, they were honest with me and that's a plus. BitDefender, on the other hand, insisted that all other spyware apps were to be uninstalled... period. No exceptions. Nada. I could not even run them on demand.

My wife insists she will stick with BitDefender since I paid for two licenses, but I'm ticked enough that I've decided to look for an alternative. I think the F-Secure option (which is free to me) sounds most reasonable. I suppose I was looking for some moral support, particularly with people who have some experience with F-Secure and these other spyware programs.

Thanks.

 

If you go to AOL.com and register just a free email address and get a screen name then you can go to their download page (bottom left of screen on AOL.com), you can download their special version of McAfee Anti-Virus Plus which is great. I've been using it ever since they released it and couldnt be happier. Its a full version of McAfee with everything like anti-virus, personal firewall, and email and IM protection. Not to add to your list of options that you already have but just thought I would throw the idea out there.

 

Thanks, Cyclone. The issue is two-fold. First, I've paid $40 for two licenses for two years and I don't like to just throw money away. BitDefender is certainly one of the premier anti-virus programs around. As for its security suite... well... that's another matter. Secondly, I'm not sure that having the McAfee suite would resolve the problem of conflict. Evidently F-Secure say the very same thing that BitDefender said: remove ALL other anti-spyware programs, particularly Ad-aware and Spybot S&D since both interfere with their security suite and create issues with the operation of one's computer. It sounds to me like someone with a security suite is going to have to put his/her proverbial eggs in one basket and live with it, which I suppose is not such a big deal.

Lastly, I'm truly beginning to question reviews and ratings of software programs that you find online. I looked up Trend Micro, F-Secure, BitDefender, Windows Live OneCare and discovered that according to the "review" you read, every one of them was rated vastly differently. The latest issue of Consumer Reports rates Trend Micro the best security suite on the market today. Consumer Reports is supposed to give an unbiased report... since they are uninfluenced by advertising. They use independent, reputable labs to do their testing. Yet when I follow up online with "other" reviews, Trend Micro does not come anywhere near the top.

So in the end, what does it really matter? I've been online for about ten years (maybe a little more) and have had one virus in that time. It was only two years ago I started using anti-spyware programs and frankly, they rarely cleaned anything out anyway. CounterSpy which is supposedly one of the best, rarely found anything. There were months that went by without a single hit and I had it scan daily. About all it did was provide some peace of mind. But now? Now I'm increasingly suspicious that we waste far too much time concerned about these things. It's why I opted for a suite. I was surprised, however, that it was so restrictive. I've learned my lesson.

Thanks anyway for the tip. Perhaps once I've used what I paid for, for a few months, I'll give it a try.