You want ONE and ONLY ONE anti-virus program (running in real-time) on your computer. Running two (or more) is a source for slowdowns and/or conflicts.
Likewise, you want ONE and ONLY ONE software firewall running. [It's okay to have a software firewall in addition to a hardware firewall, such as is typically included (NAT-firewall) in a router.]
What you also need to watch out for are "suites" --- a single product offering multi-components/types of protection --- if these include an anti-virus / firewall as well. As just noted, you don't want more than one of each.
Those are the general rules. Beyond that, there can be conflicts between between specific products... and there's no way to list all possible contingencies here. If there are particular/specific products you're considering, and you list them here, perhaps someone can offer something more definitive.
Well you can't be sure that you will be fully protected. Even with the latest updates you can still get some bug in. Your best bet is like ky331 said get a "suite" like ESET Smart Security and something for spyware and malware and you will be relatively protected.
I completely agree that the "suites" are just all-in-one and I'm not saying there are better in all cases. It's just the easier solution if someone is not that advanced with computer technology and in most cases will take care of all security problems without compatibility issues. In most of the cases I completely agree that a person can find better (and even free) solutions that will suite his needs.
Sobermonkey wrote: "Your best bet is like ky331 said get a "suite" like..."
No, I did NOT say "get a suite"... rather, I warned that, if someone opted to use a suite, then they would have to consider all its various components when contemplating potential conflicts between, e.g., multiple anti-virus programs on one's system.
As for the "wisdom" of suites, I am on record as NOT being a fan. Typically, a "suite" started-out with a company's focus on singular component... such as an anti-virus program (Norton, McAfee) or a firewall (Comodo, Online Armor, ZoneAlarm). Having established a reputation based on this "flagship" product, each company then extended [read: bloated] their product into a full-fledged "suite", attempting to offer a "one-stop-shopping" experience. Granted, using a suite offers guaranteed compatibility [between its components, and hopefully with Windows itself... but not necessarily with all other third-party programs on your system]. But more often than not, these additional components were not of the same quality/caliber as the original component. Joe53 is fond of the description: "Jack of all trades, master of none". [Perhaps master of "one" would be more accurate.]
For someone who doesn't have the knowledge, and doesn't want to take the time to investigate everything, I guess a "suite" would be a simpler choice... though not necessarily an optimal one.
But for those wishing "to do their homework" [by reading through forums such as this], I am an advocate of a "pick-and-choose" security system, so that the user can combine his/her choice of anti-virus, anti-malware, and firewall components: for example, if you look at my signature, you will see that I'm using avast6 anti-virus, Windows Defender [anti-malware], and Comodo 2.4 firewall. [Stress: I am not trying to assert that these are the "best" choices in each category... rather, I'm just offering an example of how to build/combine a "pick-and-choose" system... something that's worked-well for me.]
ky331
3 Apprentice
•
15.6K Posts
0
July 30th, 2011 10:00
You want ONE and ONLY ONE anti-virus program (running in real-time) on your computer. Running two (or more) is a source for slowdowns and/or conflicts.
Likewise, you want ONE and ONLY ONE software firewall running. [It's okay to have a software firewall in addition to a hardware firewall, such as is typically included (NAT-firewall) in a router.]
What you also need to watch out for are "suites" --- a single product offering multi-components/types of protection --- if these include an anti-virus / firewall as well. As just noted, you don't want more than one of each.
Those are the general rules. Beyond that, there can be conflicts between between specific products... and there's no way to list all possible contingencies here. If there are particular/specific products you're considering, and you list them here, perhaps someone can offer something more definitive.
sobermonkey
4 Posts
0
August 5th, 2011 06:00
Well you can't be sure that you will be fully protected. Even with the latest updates you can still get some bug in. Your best bet is like ky331 said get a "suite" like ESET Smart Security and something for spyware and malware and you will be relatively protected.
sobermonkey
4 Posts
0
August 5th, 2011 08:00
I completely agree that the "suites" are just all-in-one and I'm not saying there are better in all cases. It's just the easier solution if someone is not that advanced with computer technology and in most cases will take care of all security problems without compatibility issues. In most of the cases I completely agree that a person can find better (and even free) solutions that will suite his needs.
ky331
3 Apprentice
•
15.6K Posts
0
August 5th, 2011 08:00
Sobermonkey wrote: "Your best bet is like ky331 said get a "suite" like..."
No, I did NOT say "get a suite"... rather, I warned that, if someone opted to use a suite, then they would have to consider all its various components when contemplating potential conflicts between, e.g., multiple anti-virus programs on one's system.
As for the "wisdom" of suites, I am on record as NOT being a fan. Typically, a "suite" started-out with a company's focus on singular component... such as an anti-virus program (Norton, McAfee) or a firewall (Comodo, Online Armor, ZoneAlarm). Having established a reputation based on this "flagship" product, each company then extended [read: bloated] their product into a full-fledged "suite", attempting to offer a "one-stop-shopping" experience. Granted, using a suite offers guaranteed compatibility [between its components, and hopefully with Windows itself... but not necessarily with all other third-party programs on your system]. But more often than not, these additional components were not of the same quality/caliber as the original component. Joe53 is fond of the description: "Jack of all trades, master of none". [Perhaps master of "one" would be more accurate.]
For someone who doesn't have the knowledge, and doesn't want to take the time to investigate everything, I guess a "suite" would be a simpler choice... though not necessarily an optimal one.
But for those wishing "to do their homework" [by reading through forums such as this], I am an advocate of a "pick-and-choose" security system, so that the user can combine his/her choice of anti-virus, anti-malware, and firewall components: for example, if you look at my signature, you will see that I'm using avast6 anti-virus, Windows Defender [anti-malware], and Comodo 2.4 firewall. [Stress: I am not trying to assert that these are the "best" choices in each category... rather, I'm just offering an example of how to build/combine a "pick-and-choose" system... something that's worked-well for me.]
I also believe that there is a good/quality selection of FREE security products... especially in terms of the individual components. [There are also some free suites, for those who prefer to go that way.] For my personal thoughts on computer security, see http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/virus-spyware/f/3522/p/19334094/19703248.aspx#19703248 ;
and I also highly recommend Joe53's advice here: http://naut.homestead.com/files/Free/free1.html
Bugbatter
3 Apprentice
•
20.5K Posts
0
August 5th, 2011 13:00
In case you are interested, please see these pages for
LISTS OF FREE SECURITY SOFTWARE
FREE SECURITY SOFTWARE
iroc9555
2 Intern
•
1K Posts
0
August 5th, 2011 16:00
Another place where you can have a quick reading about security (free) programs, and decide for yourself which one may suit your needs is Gizmo´s. IMO
http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/top-freeware-picks-category-editors.htm
Check the security section.