Am I Going Overboard?

[sidorak95]

I think I have too many security programs. Any tips on which ones I should remove? (Yes, I know it's bad to have 2 antiviruses installed, however, I don't want the licenses to expire when it hasn't been used, and they work fine together)

Programs:

Norton Antivirus 2009 (Paid, not removing this)
Eset Nod32 Antivirus (Paid, not removing this)
Spyware Doctor (Paid, without antivirus, probably not removing this)
Advanced Systemcare 3 (Paid)
a-squared Free
HijackThis
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (Free)
Snoopfree Privacy Shield
Spybot Search and Destroy
Spyware Terminator
Spyware Blaster
SUPERAntispyware (Free)
System Protect
Trend Micro RUBOTTED
Windows Defender

This is probably the order I would remove them in:

RUBOTTED (Keeps on saying that I'm botted, even though I'm sure I'm not)
Spyware Terminator (Don't need it, not very useful)
System Protect
Windows Defender
Spybot Search and Destroy
a-squared Free
SUPERAntispyware
Snoopfree
Hijackthis
Spyware Blaster
Advanced Systemcare 3
Malwarebytes
Spyware Doctor

[LCaveman]

Here's what i would do, keep #1 #3 ,get a free spysweeper key from freebies on this forum and install that (as far as i know running 2 antispywares is ok, if you think otherwise then disable 1 real time protection and use for scanning only), i don't think i see a firewall there so i would get comodo firewall (free) and install that,and since i see you are paranoid like me i would also get threatfire (free) and install that, you will have one tough system to mess with.

P.S. Although it seems that both antivirus coexist with no problems you are most likely at greater risk than just running 1, that's what all the experts say not me.

[sidorak95]

Thanks for the advice. I'm downloading Threatfire and Comodo right now. I'll see if I can get a SpySweeper license soon.

[LCaveman]

When you install comodo ,make sure you uncheck antivirus.

[sidorak95]

Yea, I'll do it tomorrow. It's 11:00 here.

[Polkadot]

Whoa..'nuf's enough! My personal opinion (backed up by tests) is that A-squared is BETTER than the first three on your list. It doesn't have a lot of publicity, but it is one of the strongest AVs out there! If you want to dump something on the list, my suggestion would have to be Spybot S&D...Windows Defender actually catches S#$% that S&D can't! If you get rid of it though, you should also re-do your 'hosts' file to get rid of the drag it will still impose on your browsing...unless you like someone deciding which sites you can visit. At one time, S&D was the best free program available. Now it is merely a drag on resources, with little if any benefit...if you have all of that other stuff running, I don't see any advantage to keeping it.

[findingmyzen]

Well, that's definitely way too much. You're using up so much space and wasted memory with all of that.

Programs you should probably keep:

Norton Antivirus 2009 (Paid, not removing this)
Eset Nod32 Antivirus (Paid, not removing this)
Spyware Doctor (Paid, without antivirus, probably not removing this)
Advanced Systemcare 3 (Paid)
a-squared Free
HijackThis

I consider ASC3 more of a computer cleaner..not much on privacy or protection, so thats good to have around, I really like the paid version

And you should probably use a firewall, unless you can control your own. And just as the others stated - disable the protection for one of the AVs and use it as an on demand scanner.

[Kees]

Yes, that is quite a lot! I would also go for A-squared Pro (as distinct from Free), but since you have got that I would be silly to buy yet another program, so leave that. A firewall is definitely a must. My pick would be Online Armor, but others prefer Comodo. These two are the best.
As to the Antivirus section, I would keep Norton (not my favourite), which seems to be efficient. If you have a second PC I would switch the Eset Nod32 over to that one, if not, disable the real time guard, as recommended by other members.
Do not use Acrobat reader, and if you have to (like me), don't make it start up together with your PC. Better to use another PDF reader less prone to be targeted.
Most important, use your common sense, and update all your programs (browser, OS) regularly.

typo: line 1, read: since you have NOT got that ...

[gery79]

man are you going to war? you are not over boarded you are super loaded .

[ted]

all you need now is a couple of rottweillers and your computer will be fully protected