Hi Ken:
I'm glad we can disagree and still be respectful of each other's points
of view.
As the threats facing users become more and more complex, which they
unfortunately are, security software has to sink deeper hooks into a
system. Also, malware is becoming more of a blended threat, so the
distinctions between viruses and spyware, for example, are beginning to
blur.
Consequently: Whereas in the past it might have been fine to have two AV
applications installed if only one was active, that is fast becoming no
longer true. And whereas in the past it was not only fine, but
recommended practice to have several 'anti-spyware' applications running
at the same time, that advice is also starting to fall by the wayside.
Nowadays, many AV and/or AS apps won't even install if they detect the
presence of similar apps, whether running or not. And the newest version
of Zone Alarm Security Suite is not the only application that will crash
under different circumstances in the presence of other AV's and AS's.
(In my particular case, on-demand disk scans crashed vsmon until I
uninstalled Spy Sweeper, even though it wasn't active at the time.
Interestingly enough, there are other anti-spyware applications that
cause no trouble for ZASS.)
It's still possible to combine security software from different vendors,
but you have to keep on top of what is still compatible with what. I
have not read any recent advice saying that it's still OK to have to AVs
on the same computer.
For better or worse, suite solutions are gaining traction over a
best-of-breed approach, even where a suite combines products from two
vendors (SS w/AV and ZASS are examples). It comes down to compatibility.
Earl Grey
