« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Looking for a smaller Anti-virus program to install  (Read 780 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline ComicsLover

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 41
Looking for a smaller Anti-virus program to install
« on: December 15, 2011, 10:50:16 AM »
We are looking to install an additional AV program in addition to MSE on our Windows 7 computers.  Until January (maybe longer) we are stuck with dial-up only.  Along with that misfortune, the sheer traffic at this time of year has made it impossible to do much of any surfing let alone more than downloading Windows Updates.

Our first choice was Avast, but after several attempts each we had to let that go...best we could manage was 20% before either it slowed down so much it quit or our limited dial-up hours online expired.  (Apparently, that program can not be resumed even with FireFox Add-on DownLoadThemAll! which had never failed me before as long as I didn't turn off the power.)

I'm going over the 40MB or smaller choices in Major Geeks and there's something called Panda Cloud?  As far as I knew, Cloud is an online storage that is becoming more common.  As someone who believes in keeping their own external hard drives as backup devices, I'm a bit leery of this, but if it will cut down on hours spent trying to download definitions this might be our best bet.

Any advice on this?

Note: we also tried downloading ClamAV to no avail.  Probably would work after Christmas or New Years, but sibling has several drives he wants to check before installing the software onto his new machine.
Logged

Offline winchester73

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5081
  • Half a bubble off plumb
Re: Looking for a smaller Anti-virus program to install
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2011, 12:47:59 PM »
"install an additional AV program" ...

It's not advisable to run two AV programs at the same time.  Are you looking to replace MSE?
Logged
Speak softly, but carry a big Winchester ... Winchester Arms Collectors Association member


Offline ComicsLover

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 41
Re: Looking for a smaller Anti-virus program to install
« Reply #2 on: December 15, 2011, 02:29:50 PM »
Not replace...more 'get a second opinion.'  Not actually have both scanning at the same time, but yeah, both installed with MSE doing the actual 'live' checking of email and downloads.  The second would be for double checking individual folders in case we suspected MSE missed something.

Also, is it okay to run more than one anti-malware program other than anti-virus software?  :confused:

Late Edition:  Wait a minute?!  This computer came with MSE and Norton Antivirus pre-installed.  If it's bad, why would HP install Norton with Windows MSE?  :shocked:
Logged

Offline winchester73

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5081
  • Half a bubble off plumb
Re: Looking for a smaller Anti-virus program to install
« Reply #3 on: December 15, 2011, 05:42:43 PM »
Quote
Not replace...more 'get a second opinion.'  Not actually have both scanning at the same time, but yeah, both installed with MSE doing the actual 'live' checking of email and downloads.  The second would be for double checking individual folders in case we suspected MSE missed something.

Instead of installing a second anti-virus, and not "running it", I'd suggest you just use an online scanner now and then.  Examples are:

ESET:  http://www.eset.com/us/online-scanner/

F-Secure:  http://www.f-secure.com/en/web/labs_global/removal/online-scanner

Kaspersky:  http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner

An advantage of that approach is you haven't installed something on your hard drive that might conflict with MSE if you forget to turn it on/off.  Another plus is that the online scanners are continuously updated, so you're always using the most current virus definitions and engines.  It would be a fire and forget approach ...

Or, you might consider replacing MSE with something you think will be more to your liking.  Personally, I use (and recommend) ESET NOD32 on all of my boxes.  It is not free, however.

NOD32 v5:  http://www.eset.com/us/home/products/antivirus/

Quote
Also, is it okay to run more than one anti-malware program other than anti-virus software?


I generally suggest that one runs in real time, the others are on-demand scanners.  I have several anti-malware programs installed on my various machines.  This box runs Windows Defender and ESET at the same time, and they play nicely together.  I use Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) as an on demand scanner.

Quote
This computer came with MSE and Norton Antivirus pre-installed.  If it's bad, why would HP install Norton with Windows MSE?

I don't know if they were both turned on, or if you had to activate the trial of Norton.
Logged
Speak softly, but carry a big Winchester ... Winchester Arms Collectors Association member


Offline ComicsLover

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 41
Re: Looking for a smaller Anti-virus program to install
« Reply #4 on: December 16, 2011, 07:54:01 AM »
It was just the trial for Norton, but still....don't recall seeing any warning to turn off MSE if I did install it.

Anyway, thanks.  I've told me sib to stop trying to install another av.
Logged

Offline winchester73

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5081
  • Half a bubble off plumb
Re: Looking for a smaller Anti-virus program to install
« Reply #5 on: December 16, 2011, 11:47:48 AM »
Quote from: ComicsLover on December 16, 2011, 07:54:01 AM
It was just the trial for Norton, but still....don't recall seeing any warning to turn off MSE if I did install it.


If memory serves, most anti-virus installations check for another product previously installed, and warn you to uninstall the old one first.
Logged
Speak softly, but carry a big Winchester ... Winchester Arms Collectors Association member


Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »