Electronics

[Toppers]

Thanks for the advice, Glb. I will try it out. I didn't think about the programs on start-up.

[steiny3844]

Thanks again for helping out. I'll just stick with avast for now. I have been getting popups from them to run scans and that helps someone like me a lot. Have a great day!

[apple1964]

On 1/16/2015 Caffeina said:

I use the free Windows Defender that's included with Windows 8.1.

windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/using-defender#1TC=windows-8

I thought with windows essentials the window defender is obsolete?

[apple1964]

I have Norton antivirus and I have had no problems with it. Works well with 8.1. And I get it free with Comcast.

[Sunshine Kate]

On 1/17/2015 glb613 said:

Windows 8.1 comes with Windows Defender which is an antivirus program. If you install a different program, you will need to disable Windows Defender.

I've never heard of Avast not being compatible with other programs. Perhaps nothernlights didn't disable Windows Defender and that is what's causing the problem. You can install and run multiple anti-malware programs but, you can only have one antivirus program running at a time.

My new laptop with Windows 8.1 came with McAfee (for an annual fee of course). You mean I can disable McAfee and use Windows Defender for free?

Does it work just as good?

[Trix]

I always thought that anti-virus programs would not function at all if you tried to have more than one open for operation at the same time. I disabled Windows Defender. For the past couple of years I have used Trend Micro on my desktop and been extremely satisfied. I have previously used McAfee and Norton and have no complaints, but I find that Trend seems to be more helpful to me with questioning the safety of unknown sites and items before I click these things open.

I use Norton which is included with my Comcast account on my notebook.

[glb613]

On 1/21/2015 Sunshine Kate said:

On 1/17/2015 glb613 said:

Windows 8.1 comes with Windows Defender which is an antivirus program. If you install a different program, you will need to disable Windows Defender.

I've never heard of Avast not being compatible with other programs. Perhaps nothernlights didn't disable Windows Defender and that is what's causing the problem. You can install and run multiple anti-malware programs but, you can only have one antivirus program running at a time.

My new laptop with Windows 8.1 came with McAfee (for an annual fee of course). You mean I can disable McAfee and use Windows Defender for free?

Does it work just as good?

Usually when a different anti-virus program is installed, it will disable the other antivirus program. That's not 100% so you need to check. You should only have one antivirus program running at a time.

[Nuttmeg]

On 1/21/2015 Sunshine Kate said:

On 1/17/2015 glb613 said:

Windows 8.1 comes with Windows Defender which is an antivirus program. If you install a different program, you will need to disable Windows Defender.

I've never heard of Avast not being compatible with other programs. Perhaps nothernlights didn't disable Windows Defender and that is what's causing the problem. You can install and run multiple anti-malware programs but, you can only have one antivirus program running at a time.

My new laptop with Windows 8.1 came with McAfee (for an annual fee of course). You mean I can disable McAfee and use Windows Defender for free?

Does it work just as good?

Here is proper uninstall from McAfee https://community.mcafee.com/message/362375#362375

[smoky22]

On 1/16/2015 Nightowlz said:

Download Malwarebytes & CCleaner. We have the paid version of Malwarebytes so it runs itself. If you download the free version you will have to run it yourself. Don't use Avast so I'm not sure how it works. We use Microsoft Security Essentials.

I have Malwarebytes Pro, Microsoft Security Essentials and CCleaner. Malwarebytes runs by itself (every day). I have to run Microsoft Security Essentials manually, even though it says it's set to run every Sunday. It doesn't. I'm afraid to run CCleaner because I'm not very computer savvy and so much is automatically checked. What can I uncheck that doesn't have to be cleaned and what should I absolutely keep checked to be cleaned? I hope this question makes sense.

[Nuttmeg]

On 1/21/2015 smokymtngal said:

On 1/16/2015 Nightowlz said:

Download Malwarebytes & CCleaner. We have the paid version of Malwarebytes so it runs itself. If you download the free version you will have to run it yourself. Don't use Avast so I'm not sure how it works. We use Microsoft Security Essentials.

I have Malwarebytes Pro, Microsoft Security Essentials and CCleaner. Malwarebytes runs by itself (every day). I have to run Microsoft Security Essentials manually, even though it says it's set to run every Sunday. It doesn't. I'm afraid to run CCleaner because I'm not very computer savvy and so much is automatically checked. What can I uncheck that doesn't have to be cleaned and what should I absolutely keep checked to be cleaned? I hope this question makes sense.

I am running three computers, and use three different security brands. I use Avast's free Anti-virus version on my Window 7 machine. It is a small program that scans emails, has auto updates, and checks my computer for old software.

Malwarebytes and Avast run fine together. I also use CCleaner.