Virus protection programs

[DKean]

Is there any problem with running two virus protection programs ?

I have Norton's that I bought and Malware bytes free version. Today we found some unsolicited e-mail. It was an R rated nature. We have never visited these sites.
Before we bought Norton's we only had windows defender. That seemed to work until 12-14-17. That's the day I clicked on a news link on my Verizon home page and got an alarm and a flashing screen saying that my computer was infected. So I called Verizon and they did a screen sharing session and it seemed to correct the problem until today. When we got these e mail's I checked Norton's and it showed no reports. Then I checked Malware Bytes and it showed 36 infected files (I don't know if that is the correct term.) So is Malware Bytes that much better then Norton's or did I cause the problem by running two antivirus programs?:? We have win 10 on a dell computer. Mozilla fire fox browser.

[Acampingwewillg]

On the subject of this.....what's the take on "PC Matic" the one you see advertised on TV all the time. If you believe the ad and some review's, it sounds pretty good, of course that's coming from me, not knowing much of anything computer related!!!

[GordonThree]

Used to be run two was a sure fire way to kill your computer. The two scanners would bog the disk down with so much activity the computer would become non responsive.

Virus is often incorrectly used as a synonym for malware, adware, etc.

I would stick to ZERO programs running all the time and maybe one or two you run as needed.

[fj12ryder]

Here's a take on the difference between an anti-virus(Norton), and an anti-malware(Malwarebytes): Anti-malware or anti-virus?.

[2oldman]

There's no problem running zero av programs.

[wa8yxm]

Back in the days when I lead a very dangerous life.. HEX wise. (Moderator of some forums and IRC Chat Rooms) THe advice we had was to have at least THREE Different AV programs.

ONE TSR (Terminate and stay resident) This is a type of program (NORTON is an example) that runs in the backround, the user interface can be closed (Terminated) But the program continues to run (stay Resident) in the background.

Others that do this consist of just about every A/V program made so the list is too long to post.

The other two were "ON DEMAND"

As Moderator I would download a new upload. then scan it with at least 3 different programs (The TSR and the two on demand. and it's been long enough that the programs I used are no more, I use different ones now) then if it passed I'd run the program and if it passed MY tests (Not copyrighted, not already in the library) I'd make it live or download by others.

So yes it is ok to have multiple AV programs but I would suggest only one live (NOTE This does not count "Windows Defender" or whatever Microsoft is calling it now days. Since I have the next version of Win-10 (Yes the next update is already on this machine, I a subscribed to the beta list). I have two programs (Windows native A/V and my optional program)_ both running.. ( also use a 3rd Party Firewall (it is none of the above).. I tend to avoid All in one solutions preferring to maximize my protection by using multiple protectors.

And I do not post the names of the 3rd party software for security reasons.

One last comment: When the first Anti Virus programs came out (Norton and McAffee) I ask a question: Are they "Seeding the market" by releasing Virus programs to the net?

Well I have since run into an expert who assures me Peter Norton would not do such a thing... He also told me where the author of the "Do nothing but annoy" virus programs McAffee hired lived and worked.

So I would avoid McAffee.

[downtheroad]

Not sure any anti-virus program will "block" unsolicited emails. The problem with emails is not getting them, but opening attachments in them or responding to them.

A real good combination for me has been Avast anti-virus ( running full time) as our primary and Malwarebytes occasionally as needed.