Running More than One Anti-virus Application?
Many Windows users assume that running more than one anti-virus application on their computer provides better protection against new virus strains.
Using different anti-virus programs (or multiple versions of the same program) at the same time is likely to cause problems:
- You will use additional resources on your computer. This may slow down your machine and affect its performance.
- You may receive false virus alerts. Anti-virus software is much like a vaccine: it uses an actual virus to detect one on your computer. As a result, each program will interpret the activity of the other as a virus.
OIT recommends that you install only one anti-virus program on your computer. You can either:
-
Install McAfee VirusScan and uninstall other anti-virus
programs. The latest versions of McAfee VirusScan are available at
no charge to members of the UMass Amherst community from the Supported
Software & Downloads for Windows page.
Note: The version of VirusScan that you obtain from OIT is already configured for automatic updates and is up-to-date with the latest DAT files.
-or-
- Use an anti-virus program that you are familiar with (such as Norton AV, Sophos, PC-cillin). If you use an anti-virus program other than McAfee VirusScan, it is your responsibility to obtain the latest version and keep virus definitions updated. OIT only supports McAfee VirusScan, and as a result, will only provide new versions of this software.
