How many protection programs are you running?

[Executioner]

I currently have only 1: NO32, but I do use these:
SpyWareBlaster
Malwarebytes
SuperAntiSpyWare

With all the crap this is now hitting the net, is it worthwhile to have more than one running in the background like Malwarebytes?

What are you guys running live in the background for protection?

[eGoCeNTRoNiX]

Honestly? I don't use anything.. I have Avira and Malwarebytes installed, but I only use them on demand. But I'm very careful/picky about what I download and peruse.. If it's "that" questionable, I use a VMware to browse..

eGo

[GuardianAsher]

Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes. I had SuperAntiSpyware on here too, but I didn't like the overhead. (Yes, I didn't like 10MB of RAM usage and a tray icon)

Actually, I'm in the same boat as eGo. I really don't browse any questionable sites on the net. And if there's something I want to tweak around with or something that just sets off a buzzer in my brain, I have a little P3 craptop with XP to do my dirty bidding.

[Nitemare]

Microsoft Security and AVG.

[GuardianAsher]

Microsoft Security and AVG.

Just a side note, as a general good rule of thumb, you are really only supposed to have one anti-virus software on your computer at a time. More than one can (and usually does) cause problems, in my experience. I would get rid of AVG and use MSE only, on top of some type of anti-spyware program.

[EvilHorace]

I've been using Avast (free) for AV on all of my PCs (3) but being that it didn't stop the virus from attacking my older laptop recently, obviously it's not doing the job well enough. I had Superantispyware and Malwarebytes (free) to use on demand too but those also couldn't cure it.
That laptop never goes to suspicious sites, no pron, and I never open anything in my emails unless sent from people I know BUT I do use that laptop mostly for emails so perhaps I picked it up from something sent to me by someone I know that seemed OK? Just a guess.
After following FPs spyware removal instruction page, now I have all sorts of new weapons to use. Still working on that one but I think I'm gaining (hopefully). There's some very nasty stuff out there, no doubt.
I do think I need a better AV program, suggestions?

[Key Keeper]

Symantec Corp Anti virus......If the machine has a lotta guts, then Symantec Endpoint Protection Corp.

[FlyingPenguin]

Multiple AV apps will cause problems as they are fighting for the same system hooks and sometimes may detect each other as rootkits since an AV app IS essentially a rootkit. You should never use multiple AV apps.

If you want multiple layer protection then run an AV app along with an anti malware app like Malwarebytes (paid version - the free version doesn't do background scanning) or Spysweeper, but be prepared for a major performance hit.

All I use is Microsoft Security Essentials and I manually scan monthly (or sooner if I suspect a problem) with Malwarebytes, Trojan Remover and Hitman Pro.

Keep in mind that relying on your AV software alone is a recipe for disaster. Your AV is like a surge protector. A surge protector is insurance, and may protect you against small surges. However it will do nothing for you if you take a direct lighting strike.

AV is the same. I see no reason to pay for AV anymore, just use a good free one. But more important is common sense and safe practices. Most AV won't even protect you from gray-area fakeware. If it's a "legal" product (no matter how bogus a scam it may actually be) and you voluntarily agree to install it, your AV isn't going to do anything for you. Modern high-end crimeware trojans just blow through most AV apps. They are only detected by your AV - if at all - once they hook into the OS kernel and give themselves away due to suspicious activity. By that time it's too late.

Most important thing is to install Windows updates IMMEDIATELY. There's a boat load of them released yesterday and several patch major security flaws. Don't dally and wait to see if there's issues with the updates. Image your drive (which is what I do in case an update messes me up) and install the updates ASAP.

Next most important thing is keep Java, Flash & Adobe Reader up to date. Do not dally when prompted to install updates for these. Exploits in these are the most common vectors now - especially Adobe products.

If you're fully patched, and updated then the only way they can get you is by fooling you into installing malware. Social engineering is probably the single most common way to get infected now. I hate to break your hearts but there are NO safe email attachments. PERIOD. If you download files from P2P, then scan them with multiple scanners and be aware that virus payloads may still not be detectable until an app is installed. Beware of links in messages on social networking sites. It's amazing how a person with common sense will know not to click a link on an unsolicited email, but will blithely click on a link sent from a "friend" on Facebook.

[normalicy]

Avira for AV & a manual scan with Malwarebytes every week or so. Was using Norton which IMO was very nice, but paying for AV seemed pointless when my experiences with free was good.

Ditto FP on the rest.

[GuardianAsher]

Oh, the stories I could tell. I've only been working at the computer store I'm at now for about 6 months, but I could write a book.

But of course, that's for another thread in another day. Perhaps I'll collect a bit more and write a rant.

Other than, I'll once again echo everything FP says.

[Nitemare]

Okay, so based on your suggestions, AVG is gone.

MSE is all I am using now.

[tunis5000]

MSE and a firewall

[d_b]

avast running, malwarebytes when I need it.