Page 1 of Panda Virus Scan - Should I keep it

I`ve been using AVG, Adaware, Spywareblaster, Spyware blocker, Spybot and Zonealarm and run a periodic online Panda scan. Yesterday the Panda scan detected 2 spware and 1 `unwanted program` which it won`t clean with the free online version. I ran all of the other scans and also downloaded the AVG adaware prog (can`t remember the name) and although 1 other spyware was detected these 3 weren`t. In the end I downloaded the trial of Panda and cleaned the files. As part of the Panda installation I had to uninstall AVG to avoid conflicts. Now I know I`m being paranoid but

1) Is it normal to have to uninstall AVG?
2) Am I being too paranoid in thinking that Panda found these files in order that I would download the trial (I know, I know but I can`t believe the others didn`t find them)?
3) Is it worth keeping Panda after the trial or should I return to AVG with the Panda online scan?

I`m planning on running a Trend scan tonight to be doubly sure (dons tin hat and hides in basement).

Thanks for the help

I, like you regularly run a number of different Antispyware programmes, and as I have said before on these discussion boards, I have also installed BOTH AVG and Avast Antivirus, and they happily run together without conflict.

At the weekend I manually ran an Avast scan (AVG has a scheduled daily run) and it found a trojan that AVG had missed.

Personally I would not uninstall AVG or Avast for any other product unless there was very good reason, they have both served me well.

Regards,
Critters.:D


www.homepclinks.com

it`s normal for most anti-virus brand to ask you to uninstall any other similar programs, tbh, they can conflict, but as said above, avg runs just fine alongside panda, but personaly i would put avg back on & revert back to your previous methods, which from the sounds of it are exactly the methods i use :) ie

AVG permanently installed alongside ewido (the spyware version of avg)
weekly scans with both Panda & Trend.
spybot search & destroy
addaware personal edition

All free & all very good :D

It definitely is NOT advisable to use two different background virus scanners because deadlock can occur if both are trying to access the same resources. That is NOT to say that you can`t have more than one virus scanner installed but if there is more than one anti virus package installed then only one background scanner should be switched on but by all means perform a complete hard disc scan using each anti virus program installed.

You could have installed Panda without having to uninstall AVG by disabling AVG`s background service. Once installed then either enable Panda`s background scanner or AVG`s but not both.

A similar tenet applies to firewalls and antispyware programs.

Hadn`t seen Mike`s comments. Nothing useful to add.

This item was edited on Wednesday, 4th October 2006, 17:44

i used to have panda titanium (beta test version) & i had no issue`s at whilst running it alongside AVG, but tbh, what i was trying to say was that theres no point paying for panda, uninstall the trial & go back to AVG as the main 24/7 anti-virus & continue to do weekly scans with the free panda & trend scanners...

Thanks for all the advice.

The only thing that concerned me is that Panda detected the 3 threats but wouldn`t remove them with the online service (it only removes viruses). As none of the other programs I have were detecting it I downloaded the trial to get rid of them. I will go back to AVG now and hope that Panda doesn`t do the same again in the future.

Oh and Trend didn`t pick anything else up so I seem to be clear again :D

I have used AVG for years but thought I would give Avast a trial. It found a Trojan (W32:small somethingorother) that AVG must have let through and didn`t find on any scans.
A bit worried about the effectiveness of AVG now.

Batavia, I`ve been happy with AVG up to now as I don`t expect any virus scanner to identify all viruses/spyware etc. That`s why I use several on a periodic basis.

However I was bothered that the only scanner to find them, namely Panda, wouldn`t remove them with the online service unless they were viruses. So although you are notified that you have Spyware/Adaware etc it leaves them on your computer (it does give advice on how to manually remove them but that`s a pain in the proverbial).

But anyway, spyware gone, Panda gone, AVG back I`m happy :D

Avast, thankfully, got rid of the Trojan.