On Sat, 12 Jul 2008 19:00:56 -0400, Old Enough wrote:

> If this is not the correct group for this question, please let me know
> what is.
>
> Besides running the latest version of AVG (updated daily) , I also
> have (and use) Spybot Search and Destroy, Ad-Aware and SpywareBlaster
> on my computer.
>
> Am I "over-protected"?
> Are some of these programs duplicating each other?
> Could I get rid of one (or more) of these programs?
>

SpywareBlaster is not a scanner application. It blocks the installation of
most ActiveX-based spyware, adware, browser hijackers, dialers and other
unwanted programs from the user's computer (it does so in real-time). It
will not conflict with your existing set-up.
SpywareBlaster works by blacklisting the CLSID of known malware programs,
effectively preventing them from infecting a protected computer and also
allows the user to prevent privacy hazards such as tracking cookies.

You have one (1) *real-time* AV (Anti-Virus) apps. (AVG), thats all what's
required.

You could add one (1) more *on-demand* A-S (AntiSpy) apps. to your two (2)
existing *on-demand* apps. (Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware).

SuperAntispyware - Free
http://www.superantispyware.com/supe...freevspro.html

The effectiveness of an individual A-S scanners can be wide-ranging and
oftentimes a collection of scanners is best. There isn't one software that
cleans and immunizes you against everything. That's why you need multiple
products to do the job i.e. overlap their coverage - one may catch what
another may miss.

Consider utilizing an *real-time* A-S apps. (it will not conflict with
AVG):
Windows Defender - Free (build-in in Vista)
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...e/default.mspx
WD monitors the start-registry and hooks registers/files to prevent spyware
and worms to install to the OS.
Interesting reading:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,136195/article.html
"...Windows Defender did excel in behavior-based protection, which detects
changes to key areas of the system without having to know anything about
the actual threat."

For your consideration:
On-demand AV applications.
(add one or all of them to your arsenal and use them as a "second opinion"
av scanner).
David H. Lipman's MULTI_AV Tool
http://www.pctipp.ch/ds/28400/28470/Multi_AV.exe
http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp
English:
http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/...irus-for-free/
Additional Instructions:
http://pcdid.com/Multi_AV.htm
and/or
BitDefender10 Free Edition (*NOT FOR VISTA*)
http://www.bitdefender.com/PRODUCT-1...e-Edition.html
Kaspersky's AVPTool
http://downloads5.kaspersky-labs.com/devbuilds/AVPTool/
There's no updating involved since the scanning engine is updated
several times a day and you simply download the updated scanner whenever
you want to do a scan.

Dr.Web CureIt!® Utility - FREE
http://www.freedrweb.com/cureit/

Malwarebytes© Corporation - Anti-Malware
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam/program/mbam-setup.exe
Note: It is Free for private use. Just download (do NOT buy) and install.

HTH