Running NIS 2008 With Other Security Programs

Question

I have NIS 2008 installed (I usually do although sometimes I switch to AVG Free to compare), and I also have the full paid version of Spyware Doctor running, along with Norton AntiBot (which I know is compatible with NIS) and McAfee free Siteadvisor.  I've had the Norton programs for several months with no problem on my previous computer (I took them off that and have them now only on my new computer), but I only just added the Siteadvisor and Spyware Doctor.  Siteadvisor has different features than NIS's phishing protection, so I want to run them simultaneously.  And Spyware Doctor is top rated by several computer magazine sites that I read so I want to have its real-time protection on simultaneously with NIS's real-time spyware protection.  Does anyone think I will get any conflicts from doing this?  I also run AVG free antispyware but that is a manual scan so I'm sure it wouldn't conflict.  Any opinions on this?  So far, everything is working just fine.  I think the different programs have different benefits, and I don't feel safe on the internet without this whole collection.

joe53 · Answer

Whew! That's a lot of protection...

First of all, I have to say I don't have most of these programs installed, so I can only talk generalities here. And my sense is that the more defensive apps one has running in real-time, the greater the chance of conflicts, and performance slowdowns. I suspect that you are running way more than you need.

You obviously appreciate that running more than one AV in real-time can cause conflicts, and NIS 2008 certainly includes an adequate AV. As long as you only run AVG Free Antivirus as an on-demand scanner, you are OK.

Running more than one real-time anti-malware is potentially problematic. You seem to be running many:
- NIS 2008 has a real-time antispyware module
- Spyware Doctor
- Norton Anti-bot
In general, I would suggest running only one anti-spyware in real-time (and use the others as -on-demand scanners) but this is just my opinion FWIW. I have to admit I have run more than one in the past without problems- I no longer do so. YMMV.

You also use AVG Anti-spyware as an on-demand scanner. No problems there- you can use as many on-demand antispyware scanners as you like without worrying about conflicts. (I use several without problems).

As far as McAfee's SiteAdvisor goes, I tried it and abandoned it. For my tastes, it is too dependent on user opinions which can blackball a site.

In summary, I would say there is an industry out there that preys on paranoia. It's a jungle out there to be sure, but I think if you have one good AV, one good real-time anti-spyware app, and a good software firewall then you are OK. My only other suggestion would be to get a good hardware firewall, such as is found in most NAT routers.

joe53 · Answer

All I can comment on Spyware Doctor is based on what I found when I tried it myself:

http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=si_virus&message.id=65486

http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=si_virus&message.id=63702

I haven't seen anything since that changes my opinion. It is not an app I would want on my PC.

Message Edited by joe53 on 01-31-2008 04:59 AM

njs1 · Answer

To clarify, I've never had the two AV programs installed at the same time.  A few times I've uninstalled Norton and installed AVG instead to see if I noticed any difference in my computer's performance.   As for Norton Antibot, from what I've read, it will eventually be integrated into NIS.  I don't think it conflicts with any of the antispyware programs.  The point of it I think is that it detects new threats based on behavior (not downloaded signatures like the other programs.)  It has actually warned me before not to install something because it had suspicious behavior.   I guess I don't need Siteadvisor.   That leaves Spyware Doctor as the only potential conflict.  I could turn off it's real-time protection, but it doesn't seem to be causing any performance problems and it fills in the gaps that NIS misses.  Hopefully if I leave it on it will work so smoothly that I'll just forget about it and get my money's worth.  I like how both NIS and SD are almost automated so I don't have to think about it.

ky331 · Answer

while i still run either McAfee's SiteAdvisor or TrendSecure's TrendProtect on each of my PC's, I really don't take either one seriously:

I've encountered both false-positives.... good sites that have been "red-flagged" [marked as dangerous]...

as well as bad sites that have been given the "green light" [safe to proceed].

The same can be said about FireTrust's SiteHound (which I have running on only one of my machines).

the bottom line: each of these might be "interesting" to consider, but nothing to actually rely on.

------------------------------

like joe, " I have run more than one [resident anti-malware program].... without problems". the difference being, that I still do: I regularly run Windows Defender, along with SpyBot's TeaTimer on all my systems [except my older WinME, which does not support Defender]. I have noticed no conflicts, nor slowdowns, in doing so. The one (potential) downside, which I will point out [since if i didn't, i'm sure joe would :smileywink: ], is that i sometimes receive double advisories (one from Defender, one from TeaTimer) on some "issues". I believe this is the main (only?) reason why Joe is not running both.

I've recently added (for testing purposes) Malware Bytes Anti- Malware [resident] on (only) one of my PC's. I have not encountered any conflicts (yet??). I'm not sure if there's any slowdown... sometimes I think there is, other times I don't [it may just be my internet connection]. But I'm not advocating anyone do this, except for testing purposes. MBAM is getting some great reviews from the community, and I am deciding just how I want to handle the matter of its residency; I certainly will keep it as an on-demand scanner.

EDIT: The MBAM scanner is FREE; the resident protection is not free. So for people insisting on only free applications, the question of running MBAM resident in addition to another resident anti-malware program, is a moot point.

Message Edited by ky331 on 01-31-2008 08:23 AM

joe53 · Answer

I have the paid version of SiteHound, but generally keep it disabled (except when I wish to check out a site). I share your reservations on these browser tools' reliability, and also find it noticeably slows down my browser.   MBAM has been performing well for me also. I'm not sure yet if it is better than Defender in real-time, or the implications of using both together. Based on your experience, I might well try it.

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Running NIS 2008 With Other Security Programs

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