Question..Is AVG free protechtion, something to keep?

[Stuart G]

I have Microsoft Securities essentials, and Spybot already. Recently installed AVG free summer update..Should I keep it or uninstall it..
Thanks for any help on this...

[steve2470]

1. You really should not run two antivirus applications at the same time

AVG and MSE are both anti-virus/anti-malware. It's ok to disable one and run the other, but not both at the same time. Make sure they are not both running at the same time. It can cause instability, crash your computer, slow performance and waste system resources.

[Denzil_DC]

2. Yeah, what he said.

Some of us may have two or more antivirus/antimalware apps installed, but usually one of them will be set to scan only on demand, rather than running in background all the time. Running two continually in background may well lead to conflicts.

If you want to go belt-and-braces and have a second antivirus app to run for occasional or regular double-check scans, I'd suggest Malwarebytes, which may detect infections that your main antivirus software doesn't. There's a free version available here: http://www.malwarebytes.org/

[steve2470]

4. Malwarebytes is very good, yes nt

[JayhawkSD]

3. Agree with steve

Spybot is not an antivirus, it's a tool to run when you think you might have something that got past your antivirus. It searces for malware on your computer and deals with it, and it's a useful tool. Be sure to update it before you run it each time, though.

Use either Microsoft Essentials OR AVG but not both. I would not disable one or the other I would uninstall one of them.

I have no experience with either that you use, but both seem to be reputable. It appears that AVG has both a free version and a "premium" version that you pay for. Most anti-virus programs do that.

I have used Avast for several years, the free version, and it has served me well. They make me renew the license annually and each time give me a little sermon on the advantages of the "premium" version, but it remains free and my computer remains free of viruses.

Edit: Malwarebytes is a good tool tool. I have been known to run both Spybot and Malwarebytes on a friend's computer that is acting up.

[Pharaoh]

5. I use the free version of Avast

I highly recommend it. It seems to catch everything.

[Stuart G]

6. I have uninstalled AVG right after the first answer appeared.

I will consider all of the other responses here. Perhaps switch to Avast
Thank you very much for the info.