[dillemma]

Hi i am running windows xp

I have these programs on my computer:

McAfee Security Center 2009 (with Viruscan, Firewall)
AVG Free 8.0
SUPER ANTI SPYWARE free
Spyware Blaster
Avira Antivirus free
Panda Anti-rootkit

of these mcafee, avg, and avira are offering real time protection. I heard that i should only use one real time protection, so which one should i use?And which should i remove? Also are the programs im using good? I had Spybot but it is now unable to update so i removed it. Please give me facts to support your opinions!

THANKS!!!!!!!!

[perfume]

Dear dillemma,
Hey there! you have THREE ANTI-VIRUS PROGRAMS running there! Remove the free ones and keep the bought version (Mcafee) before trouble comes knocking on your door. I've used and discarded Mcafee long back.How are the updates running? Are you downloading the updates daily,if not ,do it. You may face problems un-installing AVG8 free,but you have no choice but to go thru' the horror experience! Anyway you have highly experienced pro's here who can guide you. Don't hesitate to ask(post), if need be.WELCOME TO THE SITE AND GOOD LUCK!

[dillemma]

what are the problems with uninstalling AVG 8 going to be? Also i heard Avira was good, can i keep all of the programs and just leave avira with real time protection? how will i disable mcafee's real time protection?

THANKS PERFUME - UR WONDERFUL! (if u solve my problem)

[dillemma]

updates are fine very frequent, can i keep super anti-spyware? I thought avira was better than mcafee, so can i just discard mcafee and AVG8? You said keep mcafee, then you said you discarded it????

[1002richards]

Hi,
I think perfume means keep McAfee for the moment as you've paid for it and that maybe you reconsider when next payment due.

Richard

[dillemma]

Im not worried about the payment, just consider they're all free. I want the best protection, i dont care about the money for mcafee right now (though im not buying anything else). I want to know what to keep out of the three. It sounds like AVG 8 free will be hard to remove, i want to know what's hard about it and all steps of removal before i uninstall it. Can i only keep 1 a/v? Or can I keep 2 and only one has real-time protection enabled? Perfume: I need you!!!!

[perfume]

Dear dillemma,
I may ultimately prove to be "normal" ,probably even less but not "wonderful". But like Sniper, iam one hell of a guy to go out for a date with (like surrounded by ex-commandos ) ,if only one can ignore their glassy looks! My dad's afraid not that i may be kidnapped (Iam their only son),BUT BECAUSE HE'S THE GUY WHO HAS TO SHELL OUT THE MOOLAH! Some love,huh!

Now ,on a more serious note,keep only one A-V!I have no experience with most of the freeware except AVG8 (It too has real-time protection like Mcafee). How does one gauge the efficiency of an A-V? Let's keep it open for discussion for a short while as i too will be benefited!

[Gizzy]

Check out This Page in the library for anti-virus options and at the bottom there's links to sites that test anti-virus's

They should really only be used as a reference for your decision since deciding on what anti-virus depends on a few other things to consider like what features it has and if it works nicely on your computer with your setup,

Most offer real-time protection, The link I posted says which ones of the free options offer resident-protection (real-time) and which don't.

[dillemma]

I want an answer asap! what to keep and what to throw... just a simple answer. i have avg, avira and mcafee. what do i keep? it seems like avg is definitely going. But i want to know whats the problems going to be in uninstalling avg before i do it. Perfume: what were your problems with mcafee? And what are you using now? Im starting to get frustrated now (not with you guys, if u guys werent there i would be more frustrated). But i want an answer quickly please!

Thanks

[perfume]

Dear dillemma,
Here's the lowdown with Mcafee! When you install their A-V,the updates had to be manually downloaded (i don't know now) and it was only once a day. Now the Kas and nod32, update many times in a day,in the background and that's one headache less!


Mcafee used to prompt me via e-mail that the one-year license was about to expire and next to nothing,they used to renew the license and send the bill to my plastic card! I had a spat with them as to how they could store my card's number and since then,we parted ways!

If you peruse the other posts(which is highly educative), you will find a question about TR/downloader.gen, and the original post tells us that Avira is only detecting it but not removing it! If you are not bothered about the cash lost,i advise you to remove all three and install either ESET's nod32 (Karbo will be pleased) or Kaspersky Internet Security Suite2009 (my Choice).

[dillemma]

okay, so ill remove avg and avira, but ill keep mcafee because im not having problems with it. How good is mcafee's protection though? Also if i keep safe from doing bad things on the net, will i be safe? Also what will be the problems with removing AVG for the 4th time
PLEASE TELL ME!!!!

[Gizzy]

Hello dillemma,

Sorry but I'm not aware of uninstall problems with avg since I've never used it so perfume or someone else would be better suited to answer that question,

Its hard to say if you'll be safe since nothing is 100%,

But you should be alright if you keep mcafee and superantispyware up to date and scan often,

But if you're still worried about protection while browsing the net you can try a Sandbox,

[perfume]

Dear Dilemma,
Sorry for not answering your query as to why uninstalling AVG8 is a pain!
Whenever an installation takes place,many important files,for example,.dll files are also downloaded. One such .dll file is avgse.dll file! When you try to uninstall AVG8,that's the one file which sticks like glue and won't delete in a normal mode. Suppose you dont want Mcafee and install ESET or KIS2009, you need to remove all traces of the previous A-V! Actually when AVG released their 8 version, complaints galore about problems with removal of this particular avgse.dll were vented. Then AVG issued an apology to users and said they were working on a solution! Anyway,i didn't hear it! Just go back in this particular forum and you will see a post"avgse.dll deletionand sleepless nights-REALLY need Help"(PAGE 5) and i posted it! You will get all the help i received when you go thru' the post! Safe mode is the way to go! We are with you and will give your 7-8 hours of the beauty sleep you may need! I can't afford to sleep that long and that's a long story! Best wishes.

[dillemma]

will avg removal tool help?
so how was mcafee's protection?

[perfume]

Dear dillemma,
That was BRILLIANT! I sincerely hope the avg removal tool does a thorough job.

Mcafee was top class when i used it. My only problem with them was ethics! The particular card i had was from "credit Suisse". A Gold card with unlimited credit facility, thanks to my Dad! I told him that Mcafee were keeping the card number and were renewing it without my permission.Credit Suisse too were informed. It was a bad trip and i never trusted them again!