Computer newbies forum: It is safe to run multiple Anti Virus

"They may play nice together", but you are forgetting one important fact, when it comes to DETECTION, not just running, two AV's can cause issues when working at the same time and in fact not detect what they should, cancel each other out or cause crashes when scanning at the same time ultimately lowering your defense.

I agree about AVG and Norton both, I also agree Avast is great but I tend to find Avira uses much less resources and is quicker at the draw when it comes to detection. Also free I may add.

Personally, I find there is no need to run two AV's and will not do any better than one good one and MBAM, except hog up more resources.

I hear what everyone is saying. But they have no proof. Just their word or 5 year old examples or just the programs refuse to get along.

I only run Avast. I have active scan Disabled on MSE normally.

Way to win the argument by not arguing. Other than the stigma that developed which keeps me from running MSE and Avast active scan together constantly.
What and why do multiple anti viruses not work. This seems a common question. You would think you smart guys would have a solid way to answer other than because I said so by now.

I guess I still have a more basic question, why would anyone want to run more than one at a time, I mean if you just get a good package in the first place there is no need to run a second active AV program.

As one of the mods pointed out, having scanners you can run manually for a second opinion is not a bad idea, just not two or more active at once is not. Not sure what kind of proof you are looking for, but I have not only cleaned up ungodly messes of multiple AV and other junk running on many systems only to have the own think I put in a caster CPU...

I have personally seen issues with multi-AV programs, some folks thinking if one is good two must be better then their performance goes to lunch and I get in and find the two AV fighting with each other.

If you are happy with your config, great, however you posted it to the forum as a question and now folks are answering it.

A great program to have. For regular home use, it is in the top 3 of all time. I would however like to see mor ethings on MSE like an automatic update schedle, but all in all, you should go with MSE when using just for home pc's.

I totally agree that only 1 Anti-virus/spyware program ahould be running at one time. I would also however not have extra scanners on my system. I would use online scanners for "second opinons" than offline scanners as then your computer will have more resources available to use on other things.

Almost all anti-virus programs won't work together if they are both active at the same time. Having multiple scanners scanning will crash your system because it is an overload of input. The system cannot process two anti-viruses at once or store both programs in memory at once which is why there is great potential for the system to crash and/or BSOD.

I tested this theory by planting a virus on the system tht both MSE and Avast had signatures for. when i ran them both. The programs not only didn't pickup the virus, but also corrupted each other.

As I said, if you use only MSE, you will have more-than excellent scanning and real-time protection. Maybe use malwarebytes too as it is a malware program, not virus/spyware.

I don't run MSE but I do run MS Defender and that is where my MsMpEng.exe is sourced to.

One question I have had from the start of this is, why is it you want to run more than one anti-virus package?

Thanks for they why you want more than one, because you can was not what I was expecting, but OK, guess that explains exploring if it is an issue or not.

As for WinPatrol, I used to run it all the time and think it is up there with Malwarebytes in quality and effectiveness. I just had very little activity from it so stopped, I may go back.

That would be a worthy augmentation to your AV software in my opinion.

Actually, MSE does update its definitions automatically and this doesn't even have to be scheduled. Updating is done as soon as new definitions become available. This is done through Windows Update if it is enabled. I have Windows 7 though, if that matters.

I also have the full version of MBAM and it doesn't conflict with MSE.