Is it Safe To Use Two anti-virus engines?

[Guest]

[Jaki]

My opinion, 1 Anti virus's is enough.
My opinion, 2 Anti virus's is Over-Kill.

There are many draw backs for having 2 Separate Av's... Clashes, Resource usage, To only gain less then 1% increase..

Kyle

I like over-kill and to tell you the truth 1% of malware is all it will take to mess you up. System resources are a no-brainer buy some more RAM. Even basic apps like nero requires at 1GB of RAM. Nowadays most applications do. My heart goes out to anyone who is still running a 512 MB RAM computer. Good luck with vista then. Conflict, not because the two engine concept creates conflict, but the infornation security software codes purposely written to mess their competitors products. Companies such as TrendMicro, Symantec, Kaspersky and in some respect Bitdefender are notorious in that respect.

Peace.

[DarkButterfly]

Kyle

I like over-kill and to tell you the truth 1% of malware is all it will take to mess you up. System resources are a no-brainer buy some more RAM. Even basic apps like nero requires at 1GB of RAM. Nowadays most applications do. My heart goes out to anyone who is still running a 512 MB RAM computer. Good luck with vista then. Conflict, not because the two engine concept creates conflict, but the infornation security software codes purposely written to mess their competitors products. Companies such as TrendMicro, Symantec, Kaspersky and in some respect Bitdefender are notorious in that respect.

Peace.

I agree 100% when you say that crashes happen not because 2 engines can't coexist, but rather due to the fact that they're coded that way.

And in what way could they possible conflict with one another?  By detecting and try to eliminate the same threats? People can set them to only detect and ask what to do...

But there is no need for 2 engines. Why? Because people would be counting on detection, when they really should rely on prevention. If a good prevention system is set, then people only need 1 engine of detection if the anti-virus they use offers both virus and spyware protection. Otherwise, yes, they will need 2 engines: one for virus and a second one for spyware.

[Jaki]

I agree 100% when you say that crashes happen not because 2 engines can't coexist, but rather due to the fact that they're coded that way.

And in what way could they possible conflict with one another?  By detecting and try to eliminate the same threats? People can set them to only detect and ask what to do...

But there is no need for 2 engines. Why? Because people would be counting on detection, when they really should rely on prevention. If a good prevention system is set, then people only need 1 engine of detection if the anti-virus they use offers both virus and spyware protection. Otherwise, yes, they will need 2 engines: one for virus and a second one for spyware.

DarkButterfly

Thusfar I can tell that if you install let's say Avira and NOD32 on a computer and let's say further that they will coexist well and you install avira first and then NOD32 second. Whenever there is a threat that both Avira and NOD32 have signature for its detection Avira will have priority in dealing with the threat. If however, there is threat that Avira does not yet have a signature and NOD32 does, consequently NOD32 will deal with the threat even when you did install it second, after avira. If you do not believe me please create a new virtual operating system with SunMicroSystem Virtual BOX and see for yourself. There will be no conflict whatsoever.

Bottom line, whatever anti-vrus program you install first, that anti-virus program will have priority in dealing with threats. I have not experienced a situation where two antivirus programs were fighting with each other in order to deal with a threat. And I have experimented a lot. I have downloaded several trials of anti-virus programs just to experiment; and the more I experiment the more I'm leaning to believe that the notion you cannot run two antivirus programs side by side is a myth, pure and simple.

[DarkButterfly]

DarkButterfly

Thusfar I can tell that if you install let's say Avira and NOD32 on a computer and let's say further that they will coexist well and you install avira first and then NOD32 second. Whenever there is a threat that both Avira and NOD32 have signature for its detection Avira will have priority in dealing with the threat. If however, there is threat that Avira does not yet have a signature and NOD32 does, consequently NOD32 will deal with the threat even when you did install it second, after avira. If you do not believe me please create a new virtual operating system with SunMicroSystem Virtual BOX and see for yourself. There will be no conflict whatsoever.

Bottom line, whatever anti-vrus program you install first, that anti-virus program will have priority in dealing with threats. I have not experienced a situation where two antivirus programs were fighting with each other in order to deal with a threat. And I have experimented a lot. I have downloaded several trials of anti-virus programs just to experiment; and the more I experiment the more I'm leaning to believe that the notion you cannot run two antivirus programs side by side is a myth, pure and simple.

Yes, and I agree with you, again! 

Having both NOD32 and Avira AntiVir Premium won't slow your system, and I know that for a fact. That's why I mentioned those 2 engines before. Having both will slow your system if you have more apps loading at startup, such as additional security tools, for example. But only on that case, for what I can tell. Otherwise, they will work just fine together.

This is the list of engines I tested together, 2 by 2, of course:

Sunbelt VIPRE + AVG 8.0 - first I had to install AVG, then VIPRE. I had other security tools under testing, so I don't know how would work AVG 8.0 first and VIPRE in second.

NOD32 + Avira AntiVir Premium - NOD32 installed first, AntiVir in second. I also had other security tools under testing, which made me notice slow downs on the system boot. I'm pretty sure the system would load fine if just they were the only security tools installed and loading on startup.

Kaspersky 2009 - couldn't test. BSOD after BSOD...

[Info-Sec]

I like running two engines, but it is not needed.

On my laptop with vista, I run Avast! just with web shield and Avira, for file scanning.

Works well, no problems.

[webbie146]

if ya want 2 engines in 1 use AVK 2008. It uses the kaspersky engine, and the avast engine.
 

[3xist]

Think of it like this.

Detection (Anti-Virus) Relies on Signatures. OK & Even some use "Heuristics" to TRY and catch unknown threads. Fine. But what if a "signature" is not in the database off an AV, & It gets into your PC, Then the AV won't detect it, right? So you're doomed. That's why Comodo Firewall Pro 3 comes in handy, It uses "Prevention" to catch viruses, spyware, malware, rookits, etc. No signatures involved. Behavior Based, Policy Based, etc. I personally don't use an AV Because basically CFP 3 controls all my applications, etc I run on my PC. I also am a safe net user. However, Most people need layered Security, Detection & Prevention (AV & CFP 3).

Detection Vs Prevention.
Important Topics:

1. https://forums.comodo.com/melihs_corner_ceo_talkdiscussionsblog/detection_vs_prevention_your_first_line_of_defense-t15891.0.html

2. https://forums.comodo.com/melihs_corner_ceo_talkdiscussionsblog/a_door_a_burglar_alarm_and_insurance_all_you_need_for_computer_security-t22635.0.html

3. https://forums.comodo.com/melihs_corner_ceo_talkdiscussionsblog/pay_for_av_but_still_get_infected_and_you_still_have_to_clean_up-t19126.0.html


Cheers,
Josh

[eXPerience]

Thx Josh, that was what I was saying all the time. Using several antivirusses makes no sence. USE Prevention instead of detection.

Xan

[Vettetech]

Try proving that to Jaki who started this thread. LOL.

[axl]

Thx Josh, that was what I was saying all the time. Using several antivirusses makes no sence. USE Prevention instead of detection.

Back I when I used anti-spyware and was more paranoid than today, I had NOD32, KAV and AVG installed all at the same time.
NOD32 was the only one resident though, with regular NOD32 on-demand scans supplemented by KAV and AVG on-demand scans.
If you don't trust your actions, you have cash to burn for multiple licenses, and you ONLY run one AV resident at any given time, I guess you could make a case for it.

[ailef]

u can always install many engine detection if they're not loaded at startup, so u can use them to scan a file with various engines but www.virustotal.com will scan your file with 36 engines online, what is a good alternative.
so u can use only one engine on your system and submit your file to virustotal.com
and D+ is always there to help u decide what to do :-)

[Kyle]

I agree with ailef! if there is a suspicious file, just send it to virus total

[3xist]

I agree with ailef! if there is a suspicious file, just send it to virus total

+1

[dnugent]

I installed today comodo firewall pro where norton av 2007 was already installed. I noticed while doing a quick scan that only 4 files were scanned as opposed to 6700 before comodo came on the scene. Something was changed in nav by comodo. How can I change comodo to use nav properly?

Thanks

[3xist]

I installed today comodo firewall pro where norton av 2007 was already installed. I noticed while doing a quick scan that only 4 files were scanned as opposed to 6700 before comodo came on the scene. Something was changed in nav by comodo. How can I change comodo to use nav properly?

Thanks

Did you pay for NAV? 2007 is pretty old...

Cheers,
Josh

[Tags:]