can I install 2 antivirus programs.

[hssstevens]

New at this.

Read that various antivirus programs have it's distinct advantages. therefore can I install 2 of them at the same time?

If I have Avg can I install another like AntiVir, BitDefender or Avast?

Thanks.

[jholland1964]

No, absolutely not. The rule to follow is ONE anti-virus program, ONE firewall on a computer.
Using two actually decreases your protection because they end up conflicting with each other and will miss something "coming in the door".
Any ONE of the anti-virus programs you mention are very good. I usually recommend AVG just because of it's ease of use but that is really up to you.

[hssstevens]

Thanks

[starshooter10]

ACCTUALLY

2 is ONLY bad for a common user...

because they attack each others defanitions and then neither program know what a virus looks like +_O

you CAN install 2 but you must configure BOTH to ignore the others .exe's and it's location (IE c:/program file/xxxxx)

the advatage is that differant programs use differant scannin engines the down side is... it's SLOW

i'd take off AVG anti-vir is WAY better


or you can be cool like me an use NONE

(but then agein i don't think there is any viruses for x64 vista... yet)

also being CARE-FULL about what you do and you should be fine with none/one

[jholland1964]

Sorry starshooter, but I honestly believe this is VERY POOR advice. To tell somebody to NOT run an anti-virus program is just plain unacceptable.

And I hate to be the one to tell you, but I found this or warnings like it on NUMEROUS websites searching for info on viruses and x64 Vista;
The new Windows Vista operating system brings increased productivity and dependability as well as many security enhancements. Nonetheless, the risk of malware infection on this platform is still relatively high. Effective protection is a must.

There has never been a totally secure operating system. Never. Period.
Every attempt by Microsoft to "focus on security" has been met with at least one well-publicized hack shortly thereafter. Computer hackers are getting smarter every single day and now which one would NOT want to be the one who hacks this new system. Hope it isn't yours.

[starshooter10]

how about this....

EVERY one should have anti-vius (although i think NORTON is a virus (and SBC anti-virus sucks too))

but i havn't had ANY anti-virus software on my system since the day RC1 came out...

my system is clean.... agein im carfull and know what im do'in


i've got 2 computer running VISTA they are differant enought that out of 250 or so KNOWN infected files none affected my computer (on my TESTING computer)

so i ask you.... are you running x64 vista?

[TurcoLoco]

Sharp, even though I can relate to what you are saying since I do not run an AV scanner on my gaming computer. I do not advice or even suggest that others should do this as well. Why? Even though I know what I am doing and very careful, there are still ways to get infected without much if any user interaction.
That said, I do have various types of scanners installed even on my gaming system where performance is #1 for me, so I do not have the AV scanners run in the background at all times but time-to-time I update the definitions and have it scan the entire system when it's not in use.
After all, how can you say or think the system is clean? Not every malware causes a noticeable system performance hit which alerts most users! Most personal info transfering baddies are almost transparent as far as the system/application errors and lag goes!

I have multiples systems as well so even if my gaming PC gets hit despite my best efforts (and I always consider this possibility), I know I am prepared:
~ I have no critical, confidential info on that PC.
~ I make regular backups to an external drive and also sync the data with a data storage PC.
~ I do not use System Restore, however, I placed a shortcut for Erunt in a startup folder so with every bootup it does a full registry backup (I generally keep 3-4 backups, delete older ones as each backup could consume quite a bit of space).
~ I also have created a fully functional image of the system after Windows XP all sps + security patches installed and also have my needed apps installed and configured. So I can be up and running in as little as 45mins if a fully re-image is needed.

Remember, always consider giving advice that is applicable and proper for general, common PC user with the least amount of PC knowledge. You might know what you are doing and be virus-free but there are many users who could not or do not use the PC like you do, not to mention their lack of computer skill. Also most people use only 1 PC to do all their work!

~TL

[starshooter10]

this is true...

and i DO scan my computer while im at work...

it goes over the netowrk from my file server...

=-P

[TurcoLoco]

As long as you understand that we do not post here to see who is smarter or knows more, we simply share what we know to be true and of value when helping others.

Regardless of how each one of us thinks of the topic at hand or does his/her own computing, the advice we offer here to users has to be as safe, as simple, as logical and yet as inexpensive as possible.

As long as the advice you give goes along with the ideal, we will welcome your $0.02 cause you seem like a smart person who wants to share his knowledge too!

~TL

[F1]

As long as you understand that we do not post here to see who is smarter or knows more, we simply share what we know to be true and of value when helping others.

Regardless of how each one of us thinks of the topic at hand or does his/her own computing, the advice we offer here to users has to be as safe, as simple, as logical and yet as inexpensive as possible.

As long as the advice you give goes along with the ideal, we will welcome your $0.02 cause you seem like a smart person who wants to share his knowledge too!

~TL

I agree with this wholeheartedly. We deal with folks who are trying to get help and giving out flimsy advice, Star (No antivirus is a fool's game) does not help.