Virus Protection Overkill 16

[A1Pat]

Hello all

I don't know very much about Virus protection and I just downloaded bunch of them into my laptop, just to realize that installation creates more BAD than GOOD. Now, my laptop just stall, frozen, slow...

This is the list of my virus "protection":
-AdSubtract
-McAfee Security
-Microsoft AntiSpyware
-SpamSubtract
-SpySubtract
-SpyCatcher
-GhostSurf
-and a few more Microsoft XP sp2 security updates.

Could someone tell me which "protection" I should get rid of to give my laptop life back, with somewhat protection.

Thanks!!!

 

[ibmtech65]

Something else to keep in mind about having multiple AV software running on one machine is that it is not only going to hinder your performance but you also run into the problem of the AV programs actually trying to remove each other.

I have experimented in the past with trying to run multiple AV software on the same machine and the AV software ended up fighting with each other for control of the machine and caused a huge performance decrease.

Pick a good AV program and spyware program and stick with it. Also as someone else suggested stop using IE. I switched to Firefox several months ago and have seen a major decrease in spyware and adware on my PC.

 

[Sympology]

In addition to ibm65's comment about multiple Virus programs, he is spot on.

The problem with AV programs is they contain the signatures for Virus detection, each program will ignore it's own. However a second may see the 1st ones as a genuine Virus and try to remove it, this screwing it up. For this reason, it's never recommend to run more than 1 at a time.
That said you could sort of have two, but still not recommended, but you must put each others folders in the exceptions list for scanning and realtime protection.

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[MasterRacker]

I'm surpised at this many posts and no one has mentioned using a hosts file. Download and install the MVPS Hosts file. (Read the notes on the website about possibly disabling the DNS service also.)

A good hosts file like theirs will protect you from known crapware sites, adservers, etc. The other benefit is that sites that throw a lot of ads at you will load faster as your machine doesn't waste time downloading all the ads.



[sub]Jeff
[purple]It's never too early to begin preparing for [/purple]International Talk Like a Pirate Day

"The software I buy sucks, The software I write sucks. It's time to give up and have a beer..." - Me[/sub]

 

[wolluf]

captaincrunch00 - my post was based on the experience of the most common job I perform for my clients - machine clean-up. They nearly all have a good functioning anti-virus program, but their machines are crippled with spyware, malware, trojans etc. I was suggesting least overhead which seems to do a reaonable job of keeping machine running ok. You can't legislate for a person's use (I also try to use my intelligence to avoid obvious problems - but others don't always know how to do this...) - so a reasonable level of protection IS necessary (and without a firewall - which could be a router of course - you can get 'infected' within seconds of first going on the internet, however sensible you are.

MasterRacker - good idea/link, I must admit I've not considered that approach, will have a look and see.

 

[A1Pat]

Thank you all for very helpful recommendations!!!

Of course, I found all of your inputs are useful, and I would like to specially thanks to Jasen for his particular technique.

MasterRacker's idea also very special and I also found such IP setting is utilized by one of my software called GhostSurf. However, the software taken up 16,000K in the Windows Task Manager, and always the main reason of the frozen up in my laptop. I would like to learn more about the link you mentioned and hopefully the tool it provides won't cost me as much as the GhostSurf has done.

All and all, thank you all and best luck!!! Keep up the good work.