Running multiple anti-virus programs?

Question

This is just a question that's been in my head for a while and I'd like to know what potential problems come from running multiple anti-virus/anti-malware programs. I've currently using BitDefender and Malaware's Anti-Malware, but I'm having trouble removing Norton Antivirus Corporate Edition from 2008 so I've kind of just left it there.

Thank you in advance for your help and please let me know if I'm lacking any details.

Answer 1

You will have the clash of the anti viruses. They will slow your computer down. The other question has been answered.

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

If you want to uninstall a Norton program, go to the Norton website and download and run the Norton Uninstaller. Why? Like any good Security program, Norton has registry entries that can not be deleted by the normal uninstall method. The only file the Norton Uninstaller will delete is the stamp indicating you had a lapsed version of their product on your computer. (Preventing people from repeatedly uninstalling and then re-installing the trial version.)



However, when (actively) running multiple applications, you end-up with the programs fighting for resources. This fight opens holes that allow through threats that either program would have otherwise detected.



Good Luck!

Answer 4

Its unrecommended having 2 anti-virus programs as they "clash" together and can cause problems, but it doesn't do any harm having two just it makes real complications

Although have an anti-virus and anti-malware should be fine as one focuses on viruses and the other on malware

As for removing Norton try going into control panel then add or remove programs then find the Norton one and remove it from there

Answer 5

You can run as many anti spyware, malware, trojan, etc... programs as you want. You just can't run more than 1 antivirus program because they conflict and will crash your system. BitDefender and Norton are both antiviruses, so you have to choose 1 and uninstall the other. You can keep the anti malware program and run it along with whichever antivirus you keep though.

Answer 6

Here's a possible problem.



You open a file, and both antiviruses scan it. (First problem: if antivirus A locks the file while scanning, antivirus B complains.) To know what to look for, antivirus A must load its virus definitions file. When it attempts to do that, antivirus B sees that and possibly tries to scan that definitions file. To do that, it loads its own def file, which is seen by A. A is still waiting to load its defs, so can't scan B's defs right now. B is doing exactly the same. Both antiviruses wait indefinitely, and you can't access any file either.

Answer 7

Worst offenders are Norton and McAfee. If you run more than one virus program, each sees the other's activities as a threat and blocks. This reduces security by up to 60%.

Answer 8

You should have only 1 antivirus running, norton is hard to remove on your own, you need a removal tool which is available from symantec, the makers of norton



http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039



go to their site and download and run. There should be no charge to get this removal tool, in other words it's free.

Answer 9

Right click on 'My computer" icon > Click search > Click all files and folders > Enter the word Norton > Click search -

Any files remaining will be displayed - You should be able to delete each file one at a time - First make sure you delete it from 'Add / delete' in Control panel -

Answer 10

hello! running both will cause one to detect the other as a virus and lower your computer efficiency and cause lag time with virus checks/scans etc.

Answer 11

It's not recommended because your AV will clash each other.