Broadband Tech > Security > Security > OK to Have Two Installed Antivirus Programs?

OK to Have Two Installed Antivirus Programs?

As long as only one AV is activated as resident there is no problem. There are a couple of AV's that balk at installing on a pc where there is another AV, but it's generally not a problem. You'll find a lot of folks here have a back-up AV on their box, for the very reason you stated - one AV found what the other missed.
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God put me on this Earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now, I am so far behind I will never die.

reply to tiro
It has been mentioned about a zillion times and ought to be in the FAQ somewhere (but perhaps isn't).

It's typically okay to have multiple AV programs installed so long as only ONE of them is allowed to run its real-time scanning module(s). Otherwise, multiple real-time scanners MIGHT (but might not) interfere with each other sufficiently to adversely affect your access to the files or crash your system.

Some AV programs are better about turning off their "RTMs" than others; I don't have specifics handy. And there have been reports of definite INcompatibilities between specific AV brands. Again, I don't have the details handy.

NAV's pretty painful to remove in many cases as it is. Personally I'd be wary of trying to get it cooperate with another AV.

-- B
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In a realm outside causality and function

reply to tiro
Anyone have balking problems with AVG and NAV?

reply to B

Just out of curiousity, why NAV as resident and not KAV?

KAV does not monitor my email client, netscape messenger

NAV seems to me to have more removal tools and a better knowledge base for researching AV issues

i've used NAV longer and either have more faith in it or am more comfortable with it, or both

i considered flip-flopping the AVs, because i like them both very much, and decided to stick with what i know best as resident. i am one of those users who has no major bone to pick with symantec, and i have experienced very few of the multitude of issues that i see many users complain about. it seems like some people are lucky with norton products and others are destined to be dragged through hell for as long as it remains on their machines
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look out kid they keep it all hid

reply to tiro
I use KAV (resident) and BitDefender Free (on-demand) with no problems. I use KAV resident because it's just plain better in tests than the other AVs I have licenses for.
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Don't Blame Me, I Voted for Kerry!

I'd like Tiro to know that i am running
ANTIVIR as resident,on account of its heuristic capabilities,which include trojans & compressed files
and
AVG 7.0 as on demand,BUT, with Email Scanner running,
to provide enhanced detection for any email danger.

They are FREE, work flawlessly together,in spite of some test results i wouldnt change this combination for any other,and ,last bnl,together they eat half resources as Norton.
Only possible hassle is if you dont have a fast connection,as Antivir updates are very big and often twice a day,with a new engine install (automatic) about every two or three months time.
I think you have to pay for an antitrojan,but not for an antivirus, given the existence of these two. By the way,i knew some who were using AVG resident with antivir as a back up , on demand AV, with equally good results.

reply to tiro
Just remember to set each av onboard to ignore the other acs directories. Some times they detect each others signitures as viri not to mentin any virus in the virus vault.
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reply to tiro
All the replies are greatly appreciated. I especially appreciate them because I suspect some of you get tired of seeing basic questions like these repeated. I suspected this before I posted, but I searched and could not find a clear answer and need to know now. My NAV is expiring soon and the deal on NAV expires even sooner. Thanks again.

reply to tiro
I run KAV 4.5 real-time, because of its top-rated detection capabilities (viruses, trojans, and spyware), and NOD32 on-demand for its heuristics capabilities. When I install NOD32 (there is a new beta available that I am trying out), I use the custom intstall options to turn off all resident modules. When I run NOD32 on demand, I turn on its resident module (AMON) and turn off KAV's resident.

The new KAV 6.0 looks like it is going to have Pro-Active defenses (a la ProcessGuard and RegDefend) as wella s rootkit detection, which should make it a very formidable security product.

Rich

reply to tiro
In answer to the original question about being OK to run 2 AVs, it all depends upon whether they play nicely together IMHO. I have NAV and BitDefender, »www.bitdefender.com/index.php, running and they both play nicely with each other and have caused no problems what so ever.