AVG and McAfee

wolfwiser · 10-10-2006, 06:52 PM

I have both AVG free and McAfee internet security suite 2006 installed on my PC, is this a bad idea and should I uninstall one (well I guess that would be AVG free!). To compound things I have windows defender too, should I ditch this?

From looking here I am beginning to realise that McAfee uses lots of resources, so I guess 2 AV programs wont help...

crazijoe · 10-10-2006, 07:47 PM

Yes, you are correct. You should run a single AV program.

2 AV programs can conflict with each other.

wolfwiser · 10-10-2006, 07:58 PM

Should I get rid of windows defender too? FYI I regularly run scans using adaware, ccleaner and Spybot s&D, I guess these are OK as its not real-time protection, just a removal tool??

Is windows XP SP2 firewall and McAfee firewall ok to run on the same machine? (I also have a firewall in my modem/router -netgear DS645).

chauffeur2 · 10-11-2006, 12:05 AM

You'd be better off keeping AVG, as it isn't as resource hungry as McAfee.

crazijoe · 10-11-2006, 05:44 AM

If McAfee is a total security suite, I would just turn all the other stuff off. Do not run multiples of any security program.

I, myself, do not use McAfee so I'm not that familiar with it, but if you are comfortable with it then use it. Any security is better than no security. As for it being a resource hog, any security suite that gives you a install and go will use up resources. With some minor tweaking you may beable to lighten it up.

dorts · 10-11-2006, 06:59 AM

Please too read this great article written by our fellow Security Analyst, Glaswegian.

PC Safety & Security - What Do I Need?.

**johnwill** · 10-11-2006, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfwiser

Should I get rid of windows defender too? FYI I regularly run scans using adaware, ccleaner and Spybot s&D, I guess these are OK as its not real-time protection, just a removal tool??

Is windows XP SP2 firewall and McAfee firewall ok to run on the same machine? (I also have a firewall in my modem/router -netgear DS645).

Spyware scanners are a different animal. You shouldn't have two resident ones running, but running a transient one with Defender running shouldn't be an issue.

**dm01** · 10-15-2006, 11:30 AM

You can run two spyware scanners applications, but NOT two firewalls as stated previously.

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view.php/70868

**Cellus** · 10-15-2006, 12:01 PM

That is true to a certain extent with software firewalls. You can however have both a hardware and software firewall running at the same time safely as they are essentially separated from each other in a network. A common example is having a NAT router with its built-in firewall capabilities (SPI and what not) and a personal firewall on your system.

Infact this can be more beneficial. The router will block many common attacks from coming into the network while your personal firewall can, if it supports blocking applications, block malicious programs from "phoning home" and leaving the network.

10-10-2006, 06:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
wolfwiser Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 56 OS: WinXP MCE	AVG and McAfee I have both AVG free and McAfee internet security suite 2006 installed on my PC, is this a bad idea and should I uninstall one (well I guess that would be AVG free!). To compound things I have windows defender too, should I ditch this? From looking here I am beginning to realise that McAfee uses lots of resources, so I guess 2 AV programs wont help... Last edited by wolfwiser; 10-10-2006 at 06:54 PM.

10-10-2006, 07:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
crazijoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	Yes, you are correct. You should run a single AV program. 2 AV programs can conflict with each other. __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...other/Help.jpg Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

10-11-2006, 12:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
chauffeur2 Manager Emeritus Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 10,180 OS: Xp Sp3 with all updates + Vista™ Ultimate SP1. My System	You'd be better off keeping AVG, as it isn't as resource hungry as McAfee. __________________ Dave T. Submit New Articles If it works, Don't fix it! Especially if Bill Gates had anything to do with it!!

10-11-2006, 05:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
crazijoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	If McAfee is a total security suite, I would just turn all the other stuff off. Do not run multiples of any security program. I, myself, do not use McAfee so I'm not that familiar with it, but if you are comfortable with it then use it. Any security is better than no security. As for it being a resource hog, any security suite that gives you a install and go will use up resources. With some minor tweaking you may beable to lighten it up. __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...other/Help.jpg Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

10-11-2006, 06:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
dorts Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,599 OS: Windows XP SP2 My System	Please too read this great article written by our fellow Security Analyst, Glaswegian. PC Safety & Security - What Do I Need?. __________________ If you think TSF have helped you, please kindly donate to TSF and help keep this site free to all.

10-10-2006, 07:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
wolfwiser Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 56 OS: WinXP MCE	Should I get rid of windows defender too? FYI I regularly run scans using adaware, ccleaner and Spybot s&D, I guess these are OK as its not real-time protection, just a removal tool?? Is windows XP SP2 firewall and McAfee firewall ok to run on the same machine? (I also have a firewall in my modem/router -netgear DS645).

10-15-2006, 11:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
dm01 Moderator: Design Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Richmond, B.C.; Canada Posts: 1,447 OS: Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600] SP3 \| Ubuntu Jaunty Jackalope \| Windows 7 BETA My System	You can run two spyware scanners applications, but NOT two firewalls as stated previously. http://www.answerbag.com/q_view.php/70868 __________________ Validate your Markup Validate your CSS Notepad++ Please use [html], [php], and [code] when posting code or markup. I do not help by Private Message or e-mail. If for some reason I have over-looked a reply to a thread that I have previously replied to, then send me a message.

10-15-2006, 12:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
Cellus Moderator Networking Team Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,664 OS: Windows Vista Business SP1, Windows XP Professional SP3 My System	That is true to a certain extent with software firewalls. You can however have both a hardware and software firewall running at the same time safely as they are essentially separated from each other in a network. A common example is having a NAT router with its built-in firewall capabilities (SPI and what not) and a personal firewall on your system. Infact this can be more beneficial. The router will block many common attacks from coming into the network while your personal firewall can, if it supports blocking applications, block malicious programs from "phoning home" and leaving the network. __________________ TSF Networking Team Virus/Trojan/Spyware Removal Help Donate! Last edited by Cellus; 10-15-2006 at 12:04 PM.