Windows Defender and Avast at same time?

I’m now running Avast on my Vista 64 bit desktop system. I noticed that Windows Defender spyware has resident protection on. Should I turn the resident/real time protection of Defender off so it is an on-demand only scanner to avoid it conflicting with Avast’s resident spyware protection? If yes, how do I turn it off?

WD is anti-spyware and doesn’t conflict with AVAST which is AV. For resident protection I prefer the one given by Spyware Terminator (FREE) http://www.spywareterminator.com :slight_smile:
You can also download the excellent Malwarebyte (for resident protection you have to pay)http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php :wink:
WD has it’s supporters but I’d rather take it off my pc. I doubt it will ever find anything and it is huge in ressources. You can use it “ON DEMAND” but you will have to manually update your definitions which is not an easy task. You can just try uninstalling WD (I haven’t tried yet and don’t know if it is possible) but be sure to download WINPATROL FREE http:/www.winpatrol.com which could easily compensate for some features of WD. Also, download SPYWAREBLASTER and SPYBOT SEARCH & DESTROY.

No need to disable the resident of windows defender as they don’t clash. When we mention not having two resident applications it is by type anti-virus 1 of, anti-spyware 1 of. If you had other antivirus/spyware applications they should be on-demand only.

could you post up the resources used by WD?
are you on W2k, Xp or Vista?
I do not know what changes MS has made to the original Giant Anti Spyware to make Microsoft Anti-Spyware and now called Windows Defender.
AT the time of its release Giant made all of the other AS vendors improve their products because it was comparatively very good. Many years later who knows
Since then WE have had EWIDO introduced which is now part of AVG and now MBAM
all improvements
of course the malware writers are still pushing the envelope
Anyone see any tests?

Pulling the thread together I’d like to see a comparison on resources used by WD and Spyware terminator for their real time components
if you do decide to try ST do not install the Clam AV or the toolbar

for on demand
spybot, MBAM, SuperAntispy- lots of good choices
I like Spybot Immunize and SD-Helper plus the tools

Shortly, no.

Opened new thread please delete. Thank you

robertino
start a new thread please

Texas
NO
either have windows defender or ST or some real time Antispyware running if you have the resources
they will NOT conflict with avast- they well act as a team

Thanks for your posts
they are helpful

uh - what is it about NO do you not understand?
Is there another question lurking here?
Do NOT turn off Windows Defender unless you have a really good reason to do so.
At least you know it has been Tested extensively with 64 bit Vista
It may not be the best scanner yet many scanners released for 64 bit are new
I know of no comparison tests for real time protection - so no reason to jump ship
any problems with WD?
anyway could you post up how much memory it uses?
do you see it eating up a lot of cycles?

32 bits. I turned OFF resident protection on WD to keep SpySweeper’s resident protection. Am I wrong?

You are not wrong
you only want one Antispyware resident protection
Spysweeper paid will give you at boot real time protection as would Windows Defender
could you post up the resources used by Spysweeper and WD??
you did say you were 32 bit Vista version- right
AND
you can have ONE Antivirus

thanks for helping fill in some of the blanks
I see nothing wrong with keeping WD around as an on demand scanner

On my Vista Home Premium Edition 32bits I have AVAST v.4.8.1229 with RP ON and SPYSWEEPER WITH RP ON. WD is on demand and was purposely started. Her are some results:
SpySweeperUI.exe 2144K memory
MSACUI,exe (WD) 2860K memory
cfp.exe COMODO3FW 2732K memory
WinPatrol.exe 1616K memory
ashDisp.exe AVAST 524k
I previously had ST RP but feel SpySweeper RP lets me surf faster and slows less my pc, so I did the switch! ;D

Thanks everyone for the help and advice. I’ll keep running Defender and Avast’s anti spyware component, both in resident mode. I also have Spy Bot installed and use that for on demand scanning on a preset schedule of 2x per week. I assume I should be covered with this scenario under Vista 64bit.

Deep in the heart of…
Spybot is updated every wednasday, reimmunize and run you scan Wed or shortly thereafter, once a week should be ok
if you like two scans per week make the other one WD, MBAM, etc