Running 2 Anti-Virus Programs.

I have a friend ( really it's not me ) that had her computer filled with virus's and adware,malware,the works. I tried to help her but she took it in to get fix,I suggested a complete format. Well they just cleaned it up,once,twice, three times,and I talked to her yesterday and her systems running slow now ( she should have formatted it ). But my Question is and I think I'm right. The people where she took it too installed Avast,she already has Nortons 2004 loaded. She's running two different Anti-Virus Programs now,will she have conflicts between the two programs. I do know she has a newer Gateway and is running Windows ME with 256 ram,that's all I know about here system.

 

I'm interested in hearing the replys to this too as i was under the impression that 2 antivirus programes would cause conflict...yet i have been advised to use my Zone Alarm as well as the AntiVir software that i got from here.....yet the Zone Alarm says that it also contains antivurus stuff ?

Calv.

 

Two antivirus programs will conflict. Run one or the other, though if her Norton subscription has run out, she should go with Avast. There are 4 versions of ZoneAlarm: ZA free (a basic firewall), ZA Pro(firewall with extra features and functions), ZA with Antivirus, and ZA Security Suite (firewall, antivirus,website filters, IM protection, and more). If you are using ZA with antivirus, you shouldn't run another antivirus program on top. If you are still in the trial period, let it run out and go to the ZA free and AntiVir and save the money for something else.

 

Your friend may also want to defrag the HD. That might make it run faster.

 

For the friend who is plagued by attacks (so who's using the machine and picking up all of the evildoers, hmmm?), two anti-v progs may not be overkill at all. For years, I've used two on some of my machines, on the theory that what one misses, the other might catch. Here's the trick:

Install the first anti-v prog and set it to run in real time. That means that it launches when you boot, and runs in the background full-time to stop virus activation on your machine. Then install the second (with the first turned OFF completely, disabled, killed, not running) and set the second NOT to run in real time and NOT to launch at boot.

Then restart the first program (by rebooting or whatever it needs to restart and put its icon in the tray to tell you it's running). The first program is then your first line of defense. But once every few days or so, you right-click the first program's icon and Exit/Disable/Whatever to stop it, and then run the On-Demand scanner of the second program while the first program is dead. When the scan finishes, close the second program and re-start the first program.

Takes a LOT longer to type this out than to actually DO it. It's easy. OFF 1; ON 2; scan; OFF 2; ON 1. Done.

 

Her Nortons is good till sometime next year,I have not talked to her in a couple of days but I hope to talk to her today. I will let you know what's up,thanks for all the help,I also read that there will be conflicts with two virus programs on the same machine. Hmmmmmmmm I have not heard from her in my emails,maybe that computers of hers is down,but I'll be calling her this evening. She's lives out of state so we email,instance message and phone.

 

Get rid of Avast then to avoid conflicts. I bet the comp needs to just given a maintenance or like you said, a full reformat. I would recommend the format if possible.