How many/Which Antiviruses should you use?

[utkarsh30june]

Hi,

I've observed here that most of the people here use or want to use Multiple Security softwares for Protection from Viruses. Sadly, this method is a fallacy since you try to over-protect your PC with all these useless stuffs.

Use one good security software. Personally speaking, I do not use any Antivirus/Antispyware/ Third Party Firewall on my Windows 7 machine and I haven't got infected even once. Perhaps I am lucky.

Just for being on the safe side, I used Microsoft Security Essentials which does the job whenever a threat is detected via a USB Drive. MSE is extremely good, light and fast, trust me. You don't need the hassle of multiple AVs slowing down your PC. Like I said, use ONE good av and that's enough.

Don't use a cannon to kill a mosquito. -Confucius


Here are my recommendations-

-Microsoft Security Essentials (Free)
-Avast! (Free)
-Avira (Free)
-Kingsoft AV
-SpyBot Search n Destroy

*DO NOT use multiple security softwares concurrently. Also, If you want a premium protection, Go for Kaspersky or ESET.

I would not suggest Norton no matter how lightweight it is, solely because it regards you as a TOTAL IDIOT and intereferes with your daily browsing. It doesn't put you in the driving seat. Also, most of BSODs or Lockups are caused by Norton Av, what my experience with Computers says.

Last time I installed Norton, it bugged the hell out of me and I kicked that thing out of my PC. Don't get me wrong, I'm not hating Norton, it's just that it has failed me everytime.


For Firewall, Windows Firewall is more than enough. The default one in Windows 7 is excellent. For XP users, Use ZoneAlarm. Win7 Users, you don't need additional Firewall, trust me.




*Secondly, Use Firefox or Chrome with WOT installed. Look it up on Google for more info. Also, use a AdBlock Plus and do not download objectionable/hacking tool content, esp from YouTube video descriptions. They contain key-loggers which'd steal your passwords.




*Thirdly, keep it simple and make your common sense follow you wherever you go.

Remember "If you see a thing too good to be true, it ain't"


Do not remain under-protected but also do not indulge into over-protection. These are my own views so that your PC remains in top shape and is not slowed down by multiple AVs instead of viruses.

I'm not pressurizing anyone, just advising. Feel free to add something I forgot. I'm not great at remembering things.

Happy browsing to everyone!

[Raymond]

Sadly, this method is a fallacy since you try to over-protect your PC with all these useless stuffs.

I guess you unknowingly humiliated a lot of people with the above quoted sentence.

Using multiple antivirus is wrong and there is no argument about that. However using different security products which works differently and protecting different area is absolutely fine if you don't mind it hogging on your computer a little bit.

Just because you never had a single virus infection it doesn't mean that everyone else won't.

As for Norton, not sure when was the last time you used Norton but I had a few friends which is using Norton and they never complained any BSOD or lockups.

I don't mean or want to argue with "your perception" of how a computer should be protected but you definitely sounded very harsh and angry.

[sm1]

I use only one security software for real time protection and I am using Norton in my laptop without any problems

[sujay]

Hi Utkarsh, I am one of the guy who changes AVs frequently and after trying many of these and using these many times I have to say that I personally do not hold bitter experience about any antivirus. BSOD/slowdown/crash varies on PC to PC, hardware to hardware, setup to setup. And about detection that is also very relative. No antivirus can detect all things and no one can judge the effectiveness of an antivirus by whatever number of samples they use for testing or whatever methodology they use to test. For a particular person common sense/Consciousness is the only thing that protects him/her. So my suggestion is
to use any antivirus to backup your states of unconsciousness (Peace of mind).
Use a basic firewall to filter traffic.
Use a reliable web browser add-on to assist your consciousness....
Turn off autoplay.
Update windows regularly.
And if possible, if you are comfortable with it, use a behavior blocker/HIPS to let you know what is going on beyond your consciousness...

[leofelix]

"Some people easily jump to conclusions avoiding to think that different factors can be implied" (leofelix)

Each person run the security systems that meet their needs, habits and hardware requirements, I would add

Other people seem to ignore that an antivirus is not an antispyware, for instance (and I am not surprised)
eg: MalwareBytes' Antimalware is not meant to replace an antivirus but has been developed to complement an antivirus (*) as well as SpyBot S & Destroy


In order to reply to your relevant and original implicit question, here is my desktop PC security setup:

Currently running in background
1) Avast Internet Security 6.01 as a resident antivirus and resident firewall and it has been customized.
2) Winpatrol Plus which is a system monitor and a very good task manager replacement and it is very light in memory usage
3) Sanboxie is a virtualization software that I use to surf the web into an isolated environment since I believe it works better than the integrated Avast sandbox
-------------
Not set to start when windows start:

4) MalwareBytes' Antimalware pro (I activate its real time module when necessary (**) ) and it doesn't self register into the Windows Security Center

additional security software

5) Hitman pro is a cloud based second opinion scanner which scans the most important system areas very quickly only, it is stand alone and it doesn't provide any real time protection nor conflicts with any security software (***), check by yourself ; )

6) Acronis True Image Home 2011 to perform periodical system images back up as you can never know


And, yes, I was forgetting to say that I am also guilty to change my security set up from time to time


"I am not young enough to know everything" (Oscar Wilde)

*Secondly, Use Firefox or Chrome with WOT installed.. Also, use a AdBlock Plus

WOT isn't an antivirus or a link scanner, neither WOT nor Adblock plus will prevent a malicious Java Script to load and infect your system: hence, add No Script if you use Firefox or Not Script if you use Chrome.

Thirdly, keep it simple and make your common sense follow you wherever you go.

Common sense ain't so common

I do not use any Antivirus/Antispyware/ Third Party Firewall on my Windows 7 machine and I haven't got infected even once

And how do you know it? : )

(*) I have been one of the first MBAM beta testers in the early 2008, Marcin Kleczynski (Malwarebytes' Corp President and CEO) rewarded me and a few other testers with a life-time MBAM Pro license, in return.
(**) as an active WOT, siteadvisor, phishtank, virustotal member etc etc etc I visit hundreds of potentially malicious websites daily; )
(***) as I reported some bugs to Erik Loman (HitMan pro developer) he was so kind to reward me with a 3 years free license, he also gave me 10 free 1 year licenses for Raymond cc blog readers (plus 2 more that I bought with my money)

[Murphy]

Hi,

''By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.''
Confucius

''The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution.''
Sun Tzu

Best regards !

[Student26]

Use Norton and agree that it can seem like it thinks you are an idiot but many AV are aiming to be user friendly. Consequently the user may have disagreements with the AV but at least it is pretty customizable (unlike panda)

No one can dispute the central point - never use 2 avs . . . ever!

[Murphy]

....
No one can dispute the central point - never use 2 avs . . . ever!

Hi,
Indeed . + 10
Best regards !

[212eta]

Just run Sandboxie and Returnil (Both FREE! versions)
Chrome with WOT & Adblock
and Norton DNS.

No need for Resident Scanners...

[gery79]

my opinion on this issue about Norton
Norton is a top notch product even though it does make you feel you are an idiot. I would rather be treated that way rather that use crap like spybot or kingsoft av or anything like that.
Since there are tons of new antiviruses today and really it is hard to choose amongst them but still is true that the major vendors that play the most important role in this industry are Norton Trend Micro McAffe Kaspersky and so. Does this tell us something? Now there are Avast Avira AVG and others that are following but there is still something to notice that BIG GUYS remain BIG guys.
Secondly it is the first time that i hear that Norton does BSOD-s but i can not say it is not the case with some.
Nortons also have the greatest product ever in all my 10 years experience with computing and problems. I installed Norton trial once and after contacting with them via - chat they called me . I was so impressed .
Personally i don't use Norton now and will not for the same reasons mentioned here because i do not like someone else take decisions for me but Nortons have a great product in both protection and detection wise