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Basic question

17 years ago

Is it better to run programs like Anti-Malware, SpywareBlaster and SuperAnti-Spyware with all other programs closed or is it safe to run these programs during the course of normal computer use, surfing and forums and the like.

Some of them take so long to do a complete scan that I am wondering how some of you handle that. Do you start the scan and let it run when you're closing down for the evening or run it during your daily use and when you are at the computer.

The only scan I can schedule to scan automatically in the middle of the night is AVG 8. The other programs I have are the free downloads and they will not let you set an automatic schedule unless you get the paid up-grade.

Another question......would you share your schedule of when you scan what. Like I do AVG every night at 2am, but the rest of them (including ccleaner) I'm not sure how often to run them.

As always thanks for your knowledge sharing.

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Comments (4)

ravencajun Zone 8b TX
17 years ago
I personally run my scans when I am not using the pc, I am up pretty late and never turn off my machines, I turn on a scan before I go to bed and let it run, I run them on different nights not all the same night, I usually do mine on the weekends, just makes it easy for me to remember to do it.
I do weekly scans. I use AVAST for AV and have it set up to do the screensaver scan so anytime my pc is idle long enough for the screensaver to come on it starts doing an AV scan while the screen saver is going if I come back it stops, then at the next idle time it begins again from where it left off. I don't have to schedule scans.

Now with spywareblaster there is no scan all you have to do there is hit the update button allow it to get the updates and then hit the enable all protection button and it is done just sits there in the back ground doing its wonderful job, I do that about once a week, I also am often on many of the support forums which have sections on them that daily give the lists of everything that has an update each day, if you would like to be able to check a very good one is the Calendar of updates
Calendar of Updates
Just put a link to it on your bookmarks bar and hit it daily to see what has updates. Excellent forums there also.

but to answer one of your questions you can run them while using the pc but it will usually take longer, that is why usually it is suggested to run the scans alone.
owbist
17 years ago
My AVG runs in the wee hours of the mornings too.

I never use my computer when I am doing a malware scan. I never do a quick scan either. Once a full scan is started I leave for a meal, shopping or even go to deb and find the result in the morning.

Computer safety is critical and we face bigger challenges every day, I do everything to ensure my scans are doing the job intended.
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stargazzer
17 years ago
i scanned yesterday and everything came up clean except ccleaner, it always finds something. i used to find quite a bit of stuff to delete, must be spyware blaster doing it's job.
lotodig
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for the answers, that is what I was wanting to know. I pay attention to what you guys and gals say about these things and adhere to it as much as possible. I always ck. for updates before starting any scan.

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