Re: Spy Sweeper, McAfee, and SLOOOW Computer

thanks to both of you for sharing your expertise, this is an interesting
back-and-forth! A further note on my situation: I actually tried uninstalling
McAfee (after reading some posts that said McAfee hogs resources) and left
Spy Sweeper on. My computer was soon after infected with something (Spydawn?)
that just took over every time I tried to connect to the internet. I was able
to fix this (at least, I THINK I fixed it) by doing a system restore to
before I removed McAfee.

I think this experience means that Spy Sweeper alone doesn't protect my
computer. Ken, if your opinion is not to run more than one at a time, do you
have a recommendation about one protection program that really works?

Earl Grey, if your opinion is more than one is needed, do you have any
recommendations about fixing the REALLY SLOW start up?

Any other opinions out there?

Thanks.
--
Helmut


"Earl Grey" wrote:

Hi Ken:

I'm glad we can disagree and still be respectful of each other's points
of view.

As the threats facing users become more and more complex, which they
unfortunately are, security software has to sink deeper hooks into a
system. Also, malware is becoming more of a blended threat, so the
distinctions between viruses and spyware, for example, are beginning to
blur.

Consequently: Whereas in the past it might have been fine to have two AV
applications installed if only one was active, that is fast becoming no
longer true. And whereas in the past it was not only fine, but
recommended practice to have several 'anti-spyware' applications running
at the same time, that advice is also starting to fall by the wayside.

Nowadays, many AV and/or AS apps won't even install if they detect the
presence of similar apps, whether running or not. And the newest version
of Zone Alarm Security Suite is not the only application that will crash
under different circumstances in the presence of other AV's and AS's.

(In my particular case, on-demand disk scans crashed vsmon until I
uninstalled Spy Sweeper, even though it wasn't active at the time.
Interestingly enough, there are other anti-spyware applications that
cause no trouble for ZASS.)

It's still possible to combine security software from different vendors,
but you have to keep on top of what is still compatible with what. I
have not read any recent advice saying that it's still OK to have to AVs
on the same computer.

For better or worse, suite solutions are gaining traction over a
best-of-breed approach, even where a suite combines products from two
vendors (SS w/AV and ZASS are examples). It comes down to compatibility.

Earl Grey

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
Earl Grey wrote:

Helmut:

By themselves, McAfee Total Protection and Spy Sweeper w/Antivirus
will cause your computer to start and operate slowly. You have both.

Moreover, you should never have two anti-virus programs installed on a
computer.


I don't agree. There is nothing wrong with having two or more installed at
once. But there is a lot wrong with having two or more *running* at once.


The same is becoming increasingly true for anti-spyware
programs, too.


I disagree vehemently with that statement. One anti-spyware program is
simply not enough. Note that Eric Howes, who has done extensive testing on
Anti-Spyware products, states:

"No single anti-spyware scanner removes everything. Even the best-performing
anti-spyware scanner in these tests missed fully one quarter of the
"critical" files and Registry entries" See
http://spywarewarrior.com/asw-test-guide.htm



.

Relevant Pages

  • while were on the topic...
    ... what's your recommendation for anti-spyware? ... McAfee and I think a Norton version. ... -Are these easy to install and use...or are they like most software packages ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Brief poll, your preferred spyware?
    ... > reasoning behind this. ... > I'm using WinXP pro and would like to install anti-spyware. ... Ad-aware and McAfee ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: MS Homepage and Anti-Spyware
    ... HDD was the MS Windows update site, so if I got a spy, I would think it ... I did not install the ... If you don't have any anti-spyware programs installed, ... copy of Spy Sweeper that was given to me for Father's Day. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser)
  • Re: svchost consuming CPU even after boot-up
    ... Norton, McAfee, TrendMicro etc.) then please do a FREE online virus scan from ... Once you have properly cleaned your pc please install SpywareBlaster ... latest version of Windows Update and the patch for the SVCHOST issue ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain)
  • Re: svchost consuming CPU even after boot-up
    ... Norton, McAfee, TrendMicro etc.) then please do a FREE online virus scan from ... Once you have properly cleaned your pc please install SpywareBlaster ... latest version of Windows Update and the patch for the SVCHOST issue ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain)