A question about security software.?

Currently, I have both Microsoft's Security Essentials & McAfee running on my Windows 7 laptop. Occasionally I get a pop-up message from McAfee that a conflict may develop because both are running with real-time scanning. So far I haven't noticed any issues related to this supposedly possible conflict.

What I'm wondering: is there a need for both of them? The Microsoft package is free & the McAfee software has about another year left before I'd have to pay for it. Anyone have an answer or any thoughts on this?

?2011-01-05T21:02:52Z

Favorite Answer

I hate to say it but even spending money on it ... Mcafee is really not worth it at all .. the worst detection of mostly all of the AV's

I would totally remove Mcafee and stick with MSE and maybe add (download i mean) Malwarebytes ( a great freeware for Malware/Spyware)

-Xmetalfanx

?2011-01-05T22:12:15Z

Running two anti virus software at the same time can cause conflict.
Even if you have one with real time protection disabled, as long as it is running an on demand scan, they will still conflict, because Anti virus software locks a file before scanning, and only allow access when there is no virus found, if more than one anti virus are running at the same time, they may lock each other up when they scan each other, you need to get rid of one, and keep the other.

Boba Fett2011-01-05T20:57:26Z

you only need one anti virus because if you have more than one they will conflict with each other, my advice stick with security essentials it works and it's free and it's not a memory hog like McAfee, plus McAfee is full of bugs, if you think u need more protection download Malware bytes( Malware bytes is a malware remover, were MSE is an anti virus,spyware remover and also malware remover the differences between the 2 is that MSE has real time protection were Malware bytes is not the free edition anyway but malware bytes it's better at detecting malware than MSE ) it's also free and it works well with security essentials, you can have both and both are free and they don't conflict with each other. let me know how it went.

Anonymous2011-01-06T07:09:01Z

By all means, dump the McA. It "hooks" the kernel and Windows doesn't perform well with that arrangement.

MSE does provide moderately good defense, but keep in mind, no single item (or suite) furnishes the "layered" shield Windows needs for Internet activity.

That is accomplished with lightweight dedicated utilities; user diligence; updated OS & 3rd party programs; and most important, locking down the principle 'gateway' into the computer: the browser.
Don't use IE. It's the Undisputed World Heavyweight Champ at passing malware.
Get Firefox, and even that must be bolstered with configurations and add-on's.
FIREFOX: Tools> Options> Privacy> top drop menu set to "Firefox will use custom settings..."> Check 'Accept Cookies from sites'
►& Un-Check 'Accept 3rd Party cookies'

My own choices (Official Mozilla) to bolster Firefox is here:
https://addons.mozilla.org/collections/dunbar-pappy/dunbarpappy/
►► (At minimum, get the #1 item for malware prevention: NoScript.
Another ringing endorsement: http://www.pcworld.com/article/201309/security_secrets_the_bad_guys_dont_want_you_to_know.html
Disable ALL Microsoft hacks in "Tools> 'Add-on's'> "Extensions" & "Plug-in's" boxes, and uninstall/disable .NET framework, Windows Presentation Foundation, Shockwave, Silverlight, Java stuff, or other active scripting rubbish.

If you don't have time or skill for 'updating', have a look @ "Secunia": checks all your 3rd party versions for updates.
Freeware.
http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/

Use a "Limited User" account and "Sandboxie": http://www.sandboxie.com/
for even better protection.

?2011-01-06T04:17:22Z

You have not need to both have them softwares. Only just install microsoft security essentials software. It is better than mcafee.

Show more answers (1)