I was under the impression that mse was enough protection and one should never run more than 1 program, yet i just read this...Microsoft Security Essentials is *much* better than Norton. Norton isone of the *worst* ones available, and Microsoft Security Essentialsis one of the better ones. I strongly recommend dumping Norton. Here's my standard advice on the subject: For an anti-virus program, I recommend eSet NOD32, if you are willingto pay for it. If you want a free anti-virus, I recommend one of thefollowing three: AviraAvastMicrosoft Security Essentials You also need anti-spyware software. I recommend that you download andinstall (both freeware) MalwareBytes AntiMalware *and*SuperAntiSpyware. > I very confused about how to protect my p.c. Norton also said that my wireless connection is not secure. Looking for some guideline/support. TKS Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP I run xp-sp3 with mse. should i add malwarebytes too?1 person got this answerI do too

Have you successfully used Microsoft Security Essentials with other anti-spyware programs that have real-time protection? If so, please give us the details.There are dozens of messages in the Microsoft Security Essentials forms that say not to do that. Here are a few of them:Realtime Protection (MBAM)microsoft security essentials is it compaditible with an anti-malware appWill malwarebytes and MSE work together?Can I also run Malwarebytes and Stopzilla scanners to look for problems?ONLINE SECURITYBoulder Computer Maven Microsoft Most Valuable Professional

Actually you might be wrong. I am running the full, real-time version of MBAB, and also recently installed Mcafee on my older XP Vaio latop.Conflicts? YES - all over the place. So much so that the Mcafee has to come off. I aint parting with my MBAB. So for me, running the full MBAB and A/V software has been a pain in the ____!!

If MBAM remains and McAfee goes, it's a win-win. :-)But since MBAM is not really an AV program, you should definitely run an AV program, too. Actually the advice pasted into the original post is spot on, in my opinion.Attribution goes to Ken Blake:[quote]For an anti-virus program, I recommend eSet NOD32, if you are willingto pay for it. If you want a free anti-virus, I recommend one of thefollowing three: AviraAvastMicrosoft Security Essentials[/quote]

I respectfully disagree with any notion that MBAM full version with real-time protection cannot be run along side an anti-virus software with real time protection.A quote from the creators of MBAM below;"Going after malware by family is not the way we do things as most current malware blends two or more types in almost all cases .The majority of the research that goes into MBAM is based on what the Antivirus vendors are failing on most frequently . This allows us to keep a smaller database and prevents conflicts with antivirus software .The only thing MBAM does not do is to unpatch system files as this is the job of your dedicated antivirus software .MBAM is designed to work along side your existing antivirus software , not conflict or compete with it ."http://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=8068I have personally installed MBAM along side most anti-virus software, including MSE, hundreds of times and never had any type of conflict. Nevertheless, if one experiences conflicts, adding exceptions and/or delayed start-up for one or the other should be the answer. If any users have experienced problems running MBAM full and MSE the problem is exclusive to MSE. Personally, I fail to see and understand why anyone would choose MSE as their anti-virus anyway when there are so many other free anti-virus which are much better. The only exception to this is when one has very limited resources. If and when that is the case using two real-time scanners would not make much sense anyway with or without conflicts being considered.Most all techs I know use and recommend a layered approach to maintaining a malware free computer. This includes real-time anti-virus software, as well as, real-time MBAM. As noted by Malwarebytes, it is the means to the end which will or will not cause conflicts. Because MBAM, and most other non-antivirus malware scanners, do not function in the same manner as an anti-virus software the two can be used simultaneously with both having real-time protection.With all due respect to Mr Winograd, I read each of the links you posted. Unless I overlooked something in the post, the recommendations not to use two real-time scanners was system performance related as opposed to conflicts along the lines of malware detection. Most concerns of conflicts deal with the potential that two malware scanning software will cause one or the other to miss a detection. Additionally, there are post on those links which disagree with the notion that one having two malware scanners is not recommended.It is agreed that while installing MSE, the recommendation is made not to have two anti-virus with real-time protection and/or two spyware with real-time protection."Uninstalling existing antivirus or antispyware programs before installing Microsoft Security EssentialsIf you use more than one antivirus or antispyware program at the same time, your computer may experience decreased performance, become unstable, or restart unexpectedly. Before you install Microsoft Security Essentials, you should disable or uninstall other security-related programs."This recommendation is exclusive to MSE meaning the problem is with MSE.Having said these things, I respectfully decent on the notion that having the real-time protection of a spyware scanner and anti-virus is not recommended. My decent is based on years of experience with malware detection and removal.I don't vote for myself I'm not here for the points. If this post helps you, vote. Visit my forum @ http://repairbotsonline.com/

That's right: the recommendation not to use two real-time scanners is due to the possibility of system performance problems, which could be slow performance, system hangs, etc.Boulder Computer MavenMicrosoft Most Valuable Professional

if av protection and real time scanners were any good at killing/stopping viruses before they entered our os we would not need other scanners to find them after they have slipped through.av protection progs. are just chasing and missing and not stopping %100 as they claim to do. one day the absolute virus/spyware stopper av will be available, untill then, be careful out there.

"Uninstalling existing antivirus or antispyware programs before installing Microsoft Security EssentialsIf you use more than one antivirus or antispyware program at the same time, your computer may experience decreased performance, become unstable, or restart unexpectedly. Before you install Microsoft Security Essentials, you should disable or uninstall other security-related programs."This recommendation is exclusive to MSE meaning the problem is with MSE.I don't believe the recommendation for removing previous AV/AM is exclusive to MSE. It's common sense!With respect to MSE and MBAM both running Realtime Protection, have you ever experienced simultaneous detection and alerts for actions? If so, did you encounter issues with removal or if no issues, which software did you opt to take action? Which would you recommend and why?Have been using MSE for over a year and have Full version of MBAM but presently only use on-demand.Regards,Gerry

I don't believe the recommendation for removing previous AV/AM is exclusive to MSE. It's common sense!With respect to MSE and MBAM both running Realtime Protection, have you ever experienced simultaneous detection and alerts for actions? If so, did you encounter issues with removal or if no issues, which software did you opt to take action? Which would you recommend and why?Have been using MSE for over a year and have Full version of MBAM but presently only use on-demand.Regards,GerryCommon sense? If that is the case then the makers of Malwarebytes, SuperAntiSpyware, Avast, AVG, Norton, Kapersky, Trend Micro, F-Secure, BitDefender and many other security software creators, as well as, thousands of techies have no common sense.It is clear your comment is an uninformed speculative opinion and is absolutely incorrect. Keep in mind this discussion is not about having two anti-virus software. Everyone, or should I say everyone even slightly educated on computer security issues, knows having two anti-virus software is not recommended and is strongly discouraged. The discussion is about having an anti-virus and a spyware software at the same time with both having real-time protection.Of course the combination of chosen software will play the biggest part in this. However, as with Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware, most spyware scanners are designed to run alongside a quality anti-virus without conflicts.MBAM is designed to work along side your existing antivirus software , not conflict or compete with it ."http://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=8068"The bottom line is you need more than one program to protect and/or scan/clean your system. It's just the reality. SUPERAntiSpyware is designed to be light on resources so you can run it with another product."http://forums.superantispyware.com/index.php?/topic/3622-superantispyware-vs-antivirus/ From the Malwarebytes Staff (Note however, exclusions were added to prevent conflicts):"I have used (and still do use) Microsoft Security Essentials in realtime with the PRO version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware on all of the following operating systems without a single conflict:"Windows XP Pro SP3 Windows Vista Ultimate x86 SP2 Windows Vista Ultimate x64 SP2 Windows 7 Ultimate x86 Windows 7 Ultimate x64 "I've been using this configuration on all those operating systems for around a year now and have upgraded to the latest versions of MSE (2.x) and MBAM (1.50.1) and both still work together just fine. My systems boot fast and I have no issues when something is detected, the key reason being that, while MSE (like pretty much all antivirus software) scans files on-access, meaning they get checked as they're downloaded to disk. Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware on the other hand only scans files on execution, meaning they must first enter memory to be detected by MBAM, so if a file is downloaded or attempts to run, MSE checks the file first, so if MSE blocks/removes the file, MBAM never even sees it, therefore the only items MBAM will detect in realtime will be items that went completely undetected by MSE, thus avoiding any lockups/conflicts due to simultaneous detection (the most common cause of conflicts between security software)."http://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=72822&hl=As you can see from the comment above by the Malwarebytes staff, it is, as I previously mentioned, dependent on how the software is designed to scan and run. Again, as I said, most all spyware scanners with real-time protection are designed to operate in this manner to avoid conflicts.Regards,JoelI don't vote for myself I'm not here for the points. If this post helps you, vote. Visit my forum @ http://repairbotsonline.com/