Your computer should be running one, and only one, product in each of the following categories that provides
active protection:
- Firewall
- Anti-Virus
- Anti-Spyware
In addition, there are a number of security products that provide passive malware blocking functionality,
usually referred to as 'immunization' or 'hardening'. Because such programs do not run continuously, they can
be installed along with other passive & active security software. However, such programs usually require
manual updates, and should be consider for use in addition to active protection rather than as a replacement
for active protection. Recommended software providing passive protection:
- Spybot Search & Destroy
- SpywareBlaster
Recommended software is noted below with the icon
. All software marked as recommended can be installed together,
with the following considerations:
- Spybot Search & Destroy's TeaTimer functionality should be disabled
- Only 1 active firewall program should be installed at a time. This
includes the Windows Firewall, enabled by default in Windows XP Service Pack 2
or higher, sobe sure to turn it off before installing another software firewall.
- Only 1 active antivirus scanner should be installed at a time.