A program is telling me to uninstall its competitor; should I?

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I use both Ad-Aware and Spybot and have not seen this message before. Although, I have seen it prior to downloading other anti-virus apps. I agree with Leo's assessment that the key here is 'real-time'. I use free version of both of these products and use them 'on demand'. By doing so, it has yet to cause a conflict.

I believe the "error" message mentioned includes a prompt that will direct you to more information on www.safer-networking.org - the page states that Ad-Aware may mistakenly identify some of Spybot Search and Destroy's files as malware.

I have have two real time spyware running with no problem or slow down, spyware terminator and windows defender and 1 on demand scanner

I have had this same 'pop-up' screen; many times. I use different op systems and now a new hard drive and I know my utility programs. So while downloading updates I download my utility programs. Just make sure the asked program is not running and go ahead. I've been using both of the above mentioned programs for years and have no programs with them..separately. I consider it a non-issue and move on!!!!!

I too have used both utilities (free versions) and have seen the message that SBSD provides. Can't recall, but there may have been a "don't show this message again" choice on the popup. I have had no problems with using both programs. Both are passive protection.

While it is not advisable to run 2 real-time anti-virus programs at the same time (they HAVE components that one can almost identify as a "virus", to "recognise" a virus), it is normally NOT a problem to run 2 or more anti-spyware real-time programs! NOTE: Spybot uses the "Tea-timer", which also acts as a "firewall" against spyware. It is imperative, to disable this accessory from Spybot. And, along the lines of firewalls, if one uses a decent firewall, then you should also disable the WINDOWS Firewall! I personally use Jetico for my firewall, Avast! Anti-virus Professional, PC Tools Spyware Doctor AND SUPERAntiSpyware, in real-time configuration!
Also, you should check which version of Spybot you are using, as there was also a version out that had a number of bugs, and unless one is above the average user, NOT the "beta" version!
Using 2 similar programs, although NOT in identical modes, is a good idea! One always "checks" the other one!

Question similar what this person went through. I installed Spybot and did my best to delete/uninstall it. I think it messed up MY registry and iexplorer program (tools options locked, often can't print and can't hear some of flashplayer sound when I run moviesl) Its driving me crazy...I've tried all the usual remedies I've read about, but no good! Can you help?

Linda

I use both Ad Aware and Spybot, both are the free versions and each time I run Spybot I get the message about the program conflict and I ignore the message. as these are passive programs and only check for errors when you issue a scan command. I have found that in the past Spybot will find items Ad aware dose not find and Ad Aware finds items Spybot has missed.

I used to run both AdAaware and Spybot, both occasionally finding different items. However I had to get my local shop to reinstall Windows XP for me when I crashed in the summer and his recommendation was to use (only) Windows Defender for spyware. He put on Avast 4.8 but the reviews seem marginally to favou AVG 8.0

To expand on the comment that AC2 made:
The reason that Spybot recommends not using another antispyware is that spybot replaces some adware files with similar files without a payload aka "dummies". Let's say that a certain adware package is required to use another product on your computer that you still want to use. Spybot will replace the file that serves the ads and violates your privacy and replace it with another file that makes the product still think you are viewing ads, and so it still works. Essentially, uninstalling certain ad software will make the programs that rely on it not work, so Spybot tricks those programs. Hope that wasn't too confusing.

Bearing all that in mind, another antispyware product might think the dummies are the original malware and try to remove them, rendering the programs relying on it inoperable. So, if you do run another program (I run several antispyware and antivirus one after the other) just remember which files Spybot replaced (look atthe logs).

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