Ok, this is gonna be long so stay with me.
Yesterday, I scanned my computer with Spyware Terminator and it detected 18 critical objects. While it was scanning, I had all programs closed and everythign was running super SLOW. I tried to remove them but Spyware Terminator told me I had to stop the System process, which I couldn't so I tried in Safe Mode and that wouldn't work. So I gave up. Now today, I turned on my computer, login screen was fine until my computer started going super slow. McAfee Privacy Service took a solid 7 minutes to pop up. Now, this is either due to Spyware/Virus or I have too many Anti Viruses on my computer (hrhr). By the way, McAfee, AVG and Avast! didn't detect what Spyware Terminator did. So if it is due to too many Anti Viruses, help me choose which to keep out of these:
-McAfee
-Avast!
-AVG
-Spyware Terminator (has virus scanner in it)
I also have a whole lot of AntiSpyware. I cleaned my comp with HiJack this and CCleaner the other day also...
2006-11-12 17:04:20 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
Ive never heard of spyware terminator, so I don't know how safe it is. But the others are safe and work fine. Now, here are a couple things. Don't have multiple virus protections on at once. They can interfere with each other causing slow downs and other problems.
Programs I use.
SUPERantispy
Spybot search and destroy, (NOT seek and destroy, thats a rogue program)
Adaware is a good program
Yahoo antispy is good
Also, you need a firewall. I use Zonealarm Security Suite 2006. It cost $69, but theres an aggressive firewall, virus/antspyware, spysite blocking...etc. You can use it for 30days free.
But you can get the free one, its only the firewall, it doesnt have virus/spyware searching.
I personally don't like Mcafee because it liked to embed itself in the registry and it slowed my computer down. Ontop of them asking ever 3 months for money even though I had a year subscription.
Do other things too. Try defraging, scandisk, and diskcleaner. Check running processors in the task manager. Go to Start>Run>type MSCONFIG>go to startup tab. Turn off all the things you don't want running. If you see explorer, don't turn it off. If you have XP it won't show up. Don't turn off the firewall if you have one. But all the other stuff can go off.
Hope this helps.
2006-11-12 17:16:42 · answer #1 · answered by Mashu 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless you have a Gaming computer you do not have enough ram for duplicate firewalls. An Antivirus Firewall is a huge ram hog.
1 Antivirus
1 Antihack
1 Antispam
No more.
But, this having been said, if loosing the superflous software does not return your speed you likely have virus.
Make sure your computer is Updated regularly. Do not think that because you checked download updates automatically that this will happen while you sleep, If the compter isn't booted when the update is scheduled to run, it Doesn't run.
If it aint broke, don't fix it. Spyware is a big problem, but hacks are not that common, and antivirus software does a good job of keeping up if you configure it correctly.
Web paranoia mucks up a lot of perfectly healthy computers.
2006-11-12 17:20:09 · answer #2 · answered by Norton N 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having more than one anti virus program can cause conflicts between the software and take up computer resources especially if they are constantly running. However, it is a good idea to have a couple anti-spyware programs for the best protection. I would tell you to stick with AVG - it is free and does not hog your system resources. I think Windows Defender is a great program, and use Ad-Aware as an extra scanner. Also, doing a defragmentation of your hard drive could help. A fast free program for defragging is AusLogics Disk Defrag. Hope this helps!
2006-11-12 17:15:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a bad a idea to have more than one virus scanner. They can detect each other and tell you that one of the other programs is a virus. The critical objects you found might be viruses stored in the other anti-virus's quarantine file.
2006-11-12 17:13:24 · answer #4 · answered by mwat07 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, definitely u have too many! didn u noe that if u got more than one.. all the damn programs would fight each other and miss out fightin the threats instead!
also, 1stly, havin one anti virus program already slows the bootin up time as each poop up consecutively...
but for the spyware, as long it works when u open it, u can keep it.. but for those tat works auto protect.. u have a problem... keep to a minimum....
2006-11-12 17:19:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just keep up to one antivirus and one antispyware and that's enough. Theres other optional-ever heard of anti-phishing? I think this is a couple or 3 of the tools you need, and please keep one brand for each. If you have more than one type, there might be a problem to your pc as your pc may confuse which one to do. Each antivirus or antispyware program has an almost similar technique to remove the virus.
2006-11-12 17:32:32 · answer #6 · answered by m_Fariz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Assuming you have Windows:-
Time to rebuild your software installation. It will take about 2 hours but that is less than you will waste with virus scans, especially when they achieve nothing.
Backup your setup files for programs you installed without instalation disks. Also backup database and WP software to save your records.
Boot your computer with the operating system disk.
Select install the operating system and delete previous installation. If you have XP select either FAT or NTFS.
Your CD will now format your drive.
Run the installation, have your key number ready for when you are asked.
Answer prompts as they appear for Regional settings and Internet. I think it is best to skip the internet and do it manually after the installation.
When you have windows installed run your driver installation disks for display, keyboard, mouse, LAN driver, external CD, backup hardware etc.
Restore your setup files and re-install your software.
Set up your internet connection if you didn't already.
Done
2006-11-12 17:23:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mcafee really makes ur pc so slow or even dead !! get rid of it and use AVG free edition ,they are great but my pc was once infected with TROJAN HORSE virus and AVG traced it but couldnt get rid of it ,so AVG didnt help me healing this mean virus , other than that it did great job .
2006-11-12 17:24:28 · answer #8 · answered by sally o 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
due follow my instructions ..
frst get a new antivirus....go to eset.com...get nod 32...its hardly 10 MB...run it...delete all infected files...
den i hope u have c and d or more drives.... copy all ur data on d drive or the only on wich the OS is not installed....now enter a windows installation disc...and boot from it in ms dos mode...now run the setup and format ur c: drive only and install windows again...." dont frgt to copy the drivers to d"...after instll install all drivers...reinstall nod 32...and update it regularly ...u wud hv no probs...
2006-11-12 17:19:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would get rid of Macafee, its a resource hog and will slow down your PC.I had mcafee and got rid of of it and went with AVG.
2006-11-12 17:08:11 · answer #10 · answered by G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋