does 2 antispyware software conflicts with each other?

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I read that 2 antivirus software cannot be installed together because they
will have conflicts with each other, but will having 2 different antispyware
installed together software cause conflicts with each other?
 
They could, but often they don't, it really depends on the mix, and is more
likely if your running real time protection on with two at the same time.
Having multiple Anti-Virus and Firewalls often do conflict in real time,
however, and is usually not recommended. I've been using two real time AS
programs together for quite a while, with about 3 others used as on-demand
only. You really just have to either ask or try it and keep an eye out for
conflicts/problems.
 
I have AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5 installed in my computer, but since the trial
period is over, i can't use the resident shield anymore. Does that mean if i
install Windows Defender, the 2 software would not causes conflicts cause
only the Windows Defender is using Real Time Protection and the AVG is not?

Off topic: Does the Real Time Protection last permenently or is it unusable
after a trial period like AVG?
 
Good questions, I used the AVG AS trial along with Defender and real time
protection activated on both at the same time with no apparent problem.
Mine expired as well and I still use it (since I liked it generally) as an
On-Demand scanner. Occasionally updating manually needs several attempts
before it's completed but otherwise no problem. I'd encourage you to try
that also, and think you'll be pleased with the result... it's a 2nd
opinion which never hurts. There have been only a few false positives
while using Defender (AVG also), and it's great to be able to run AVG right
behind it or just occasionally to make sure that nothing is lulling me into
a false sense of security. Look for some posts by Robinb detailing what
should be done when the AVG trial expires (guard.exe needs some attention,
I don't remember all the details).

Generally speaking, the way AS products try to get your business after the
trial is to disable RTP and automatic updates... I don't think anyone finds
fault with making some profit from their software development and
continuing signature research, but if you're satisfied with your existing
RTP then using a freeware version is completely workable... they wouldn't
offer it that way if they didn't agree. Defender is an exception to that
standard. It will remain free, with automatic updates, and have RTP
available all without expiration... Consider it a part of the cost of
buying your Windows Operating System, and a desire to keep the Windows user
community safe, with maybe some good PR thrown in.
 
first you can turn the avg antispyware into a free program if you do not
want to purchase it.
I have the pro version and it runs along side WD with no problems.
To turn it into a free version you need to right click the icon on the
taskbar (in the right hand corner)
uncheck Residential Shield and Start with Windows.

then go into control panel/administrator tools/services
you need to disable the AVG Antispyware Guard.exe
Once this is done reboot the computer.
Now it will act like "ad-aware" free- in which you will need to do manual
updates and manual scans.

I suggest if it is running fine to pay for the pro version. It actually is a
good problem
robin
 
Shaun13 said:
will having 2 different antispyware
installed together software cause conflicts with each other?
Click to expand...

Just to give you another take on this in addition to Dave and Robin's
comments - I've been running Defender and AVG AS, bothwith real time
protection, for some months now. There's a bit of a hit on performance
through having them both running RTP, but otherwise I can't say I've noticed
any problems at all. (If you leave Task Manager open, you can observe them
apparently tracking each other warily!) There have been a few more false
positives with the AVG than I'd like, but that's a different issue.

(My AVG antispyware is integrated into the AVG security suite, but it's
essentially the same creature.)
 
I have several antispyware: Spyblaster, SpySweeper, SpyBot, SpyDoctor,
SuperAntispyware, Adaware, and WD. Right now, Spybot with TeaTimer,
SuperAntispyware, SpySweeper, and WD are active. My CPU usage is 85-100%,
but WD is scanning now, stalls and starts again. Well, WD has finished
scanning, and my CPU usage is now 55% (I have it minimized in SysTray, or
what used to be called SysTray. I think it has another name now. Better
safe than sorry.
 
....ummm, I think you might have a textbook case of conflict going on there.
How can you get anything done?

The prime candidates, if I were to guess, would be the Real-Time Protection
of SpySweeper at version 5.0+ and then TeaTimer. Have you considered
backing either off to see if your system settles down a little? I'm
supposing your doing massive trials, but that might not be such a good idea
all at the same time if that's what your doing. Just my opinion, but many
of those programs are somewhat redundant in that the majority are signature
based.
 
Right now my CPU is 33%. Just shot up to 91%. Do you recommend then that I
shut down SpySweeper and TeaTimer?
 
I'd shut down one at a time to see what happens and if your CPU settles
down (SpySweeper the first to go) until your system stabilizes. No system
should run that high all the time. SpySweeper has been notorious lately
for conflicting with other security applications, which is why I'd go there
first. It's shields are usually the problem when that occurs. You should
be able to just take it out of startup and perhaps services as well in
MSCONFIG then reboot for a quick check.
 
OK. I took it out of startup and services, but I got a warning about that
from SpySweeper, so I put it back in. I guess it's OK to let it start up,
but just close it after it starts. My CPU is now 10%.
 
OK... Typically, if I'm not doing anything the system is 0%-3% which just
represents operating system overhead. There will be occasional spikes of
automated activity but nothing like you were seeing... System Idle (excess
capacity) should normally be over 90% just sitting there and usually at
99%. That's with my AV and at least two real-time Anti-Spywares running.
Let us know how you wind up.
 
every residential shield program when loading on startup will give you a
warning telling you are on unsafe if you shut the icon down. Just ignore it
from spysweeper for now.
When i chk disk and defrag my computer, i exist out of AVG and AVG spyware
and it yells and screams at me but that doesn't mean the program is going to
blow up.
I also unplug from the internet when i do these scans so i know i am
protected.
You are not existing out of an AVG just an antispyware program and since you
do have 2 others running you should be fine.

In fact to really check- you should go into spysweeper and in properties
find the check that is put in to load on startup and uncheck it if you can.
This way it will not load up on startup at all and give you no warning.
This way you can test if this is the culpurt.
I have found in the past teatimer was my culpurt and on alot of client
computers so I uninstall spybot, reinstalled it without tea timer and cpu
usage went back to normal
robin
 
Now taskmanager is 1% (I have it minimized so I can check the CPU), teatimer
is 2%, and system idle is 97%. Occasionally, something called "csrss.exe"
chimes in with a couple of percent. What is csrss? With teatimer taking up
only 2%, I see no reason to remove spybot and reinstall it without teatimer.
Does it make any difference if the CPU usage is only 3% or up to, say even,
50%? My AV and other anti-spyware are not taking up any CPU. They do take
up RAM and I guess that's normally what they use, and not CPU.
 
After exiting SpySweeper, my CPU has been between 3 and 12%, except when I
load IE, when it spikes up temporarily. However, I have the other
anti-spywares on and SpyBot with TeaTimer. (I typed this message before the
other one, but this one was sent later.)
 
Sorry, I had to leave for a while. What Robin said. Sounds like your back
to a pretty normal state. Yes, they take up ram, but one of the more common
side effects of contention is a big bump in CPU because their fighting each
other for control. Short spikes during scans or otherwise is nothing to be
alarmed about. It's when they're abnormally long lasting CPU hogs even
while not scanning that you need to be concerned. Usually it's best to try
these security programs out one at a time so you're familiar with what the
system is like normally and then add that single new security tool so you
can recognize any problems if they do show up. Putting them all up at once
will just serve to confuse the situation.

CSRSS.exe:
http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/csrss/
 
Thanks, Fellas. I used PC Forrest Startman to disable SpySweeper at
start-up, and it did not complain when I did it this way. I still have the
others, but those don't appear to be a problem. My CPU is ranging from 8%
to 52%, but AVG is doing its scan now. It's nice to be able to work on the
computer without much interruption. On the other hand, I got a lot of
reading done the other way. :)
 
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