Question about computer anti-virus/malware (please see details inside).

I can’t help you but sent it on to three who should be able to.

It is best to have both an anti-malware/spyware program and an antivirus program active all the time. However, the decision on which programs to install, and whether to stick with the free versions or upgrade to the paid versions needs to be made by each computer user.

When I was running Windows XP & Windows 7 I found the combination to Spybot S&D (anti-malware/spyware) and the Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite (anti-virus plus robust firewall for about $40 a year) to be ideal.

Now that I’m running Windows 8.1 I have switched to the combination of Malwarebytes and AVG (both available as freeware as well as paid versions). This pair works extremely well together with no conflicts. This is not surprising, given that both programs continue to be very highly rated by the labs that test such software.

Don’t forget a ad-blocker. It seems most malware is being delivered through ads now. And I mean ads on webpages. There are so many holes in browsers and plugins (Flash) that allow them to install shit on your computer from visiting a compromised webpage. I use ublock. It is fantastic.

@johnpowell‘s suggestion I downloaded “Ghostery.” With it you can see who is tracking you on various Web sites and disable their tracking.

I myself run Avast for antivirus and Spybot S&D 1.6.2 for non-virus malware. I used to use Avira, but found Avast offers roughly equivalent protection without the “nagware” of Avira begging me to update to paid versions.

I prefer the older version of Spybot as it offers real-time scanning (it can stop things before they start) for free whereas the newer Spybot and free version of Malwarebytes only scan on-demand and “leaves the door open” at other times unless you upgrade to a paid version. In other words, I prefer prevention over removal/cleanup, and prefer not to pay for what I can get for free.

As for browsers, I run Firefox with AdBlocker Plus…. though I may switch to uBlock now.

@johnpowell Thanks for the suggestion. I am concerned about clashes among the “good guys”. Can uBlock be run at the same time as Avast and Malwarebytes? I agree with @jerv that prevention is far better than the cure. I would like real-time ‘round the clock protection.

Yes.

The simple way to think of it is that browser plugins like uBlock operate at a different “level”, so it’s kind of like having to get through two secure checkpoints instead of one as threats would have to get through both the browser’s protection (uBlock) and the system’s protection (Avast and Spybot).

But you are wise to be concerned about conflicts. Running multiple antivirus programs is a notoriously easy way to have a problem; running, say, Avast and Avira at the same time would lead to tears. But non-viral security programs usually play nice with each other; security software conflicts are mostly just an anti-virus program thing.

I’m using AVG Free since few years. Still working perfectly.