Do you think there is anything detrimental about using Ad-Aware in conjunction with other programs (on IE)? I usually run SpywareBlaster, Spybot S&D, Ad Aware and AVG AntiSpyware
Last year I used all the same 4 together with no problems on XP Home. However, with the latest versions of these programs, I have re-evaluated which version, and how many will work nice together on my computer.
Excluding the former in your list, SpywareBlaster, which should pose no problems for conflicts w/ any security program I am aware of, the concern for conflict is with the real-time/active protection of the others being active/on at the same time:
Spybot S & D (Tea-Timer) free
AdAware (Ad-Watch) costs
AVG AS (Resident shield/Guard) free during 30 day trial, then costs
Today I read at the Lavasoft support forums:
"Note: Ad-Aware SE Personal will be expiring Dec. 31, 2007". As we are recommended only to use a scanner with the latest updates, it would be detrimental to continue to use that version of Ad-Aware after it is no longer being provided updates by the vendor.
If you are already using Ad-Aware2007 w/ no errors, or update problems, then my only other recommendation would be to choose to "quarantine" any on-demand scan results, as opposed to immediately "deleting or removing". Once in quarantine, it can do no harm, and you have the opportunity to "undue" or restore (a possible false positive) if for some reason you experience problems. After 1-2 weeks of no ill effects, then cleaning out your quarantine folder should be safe.
I personally quarantine (some vendors use different terms) items found in an on-demand scan, with all my security programs, if available. Exception being cookies, which are always safe to delete.
and every once in a while Ad Aware picks up something that the other programs miss.
Historically, for me, the "something" AdAware
used to pick up was:
MRU's. Until I turned that level of scanning off w/in AdAware.
Most
Recently
Used is a term used in computing to refer to the list of programs or documents which were last accessed. It can be of convenience since it allows you to quickly see and access the last few used files and documents, but if you are concerned w/ others not seeing what you have been doing on your puter, i.e.privacy, the choice is yours.
Cookies. In my maintenance routine, before I use any scanner, I clean all the cookies I don't want to save, temp internet files, temp files, etc., as it speeds up the scanning process (less stuff to scan).
So you might want to take notice of the "something" that AdAware is picking up, and see if it is of value in combination with your other scanners.
The reason I re-evaluated the combination of these 3 scanners, had to do with the newer versions of AVG-AS & Adaware2007, adding a background process, that the previous versions didn't have, say, 12 mos ago, when I used them as on-demand scanners only. The more processes running in the background, the increased potential for slowing down your computer. You can find information online to "control" or disable all or part of what is running in the background, but I didn't want to futz with it.
