How Many Anti Malware Suites Do I Need?

[HoggyDog 1]

Just a general question: McAfee Live [something] was preinstalled on my new HP Spectre X2 tablet hybrid with Win10. Since I have no idea what it did, and because it incessantly spammed me with nag screens in the middle of whatever I was trying to do, I uninstalled it, and as it was leaving it popped up a warning that my computer was now unprotected against malware and <insert name of calamity here> and that I should re-install McAfee Live [something] immediately.

I thought my Emsisoft Internet Security was all the security I needed. Was I mistaken? Should I reinstall McAfee-whatever and run both AV suites side by side? Does McAfee Live do something that EIS dioesn't do? Do I need a dedicated firewall?

[Ken1943 3]

#1 get rid of McAfee.

#2 Emsisoft Internet Security is what I have and happy with it.

#3 I use Malwarebytes Premium on two desktops and  Zemana Antimalware in addition to EIS on this laptop.

#3 1/2 Malwarebytes is NOT an antivirus program or replacement for one no matter what you may hear or read.

#4 When it comes to security additional programs are a good idea because no one program is perfect.

#5 Never have two antivirus programs active at the same time. You can have EIS active and another for on demand scanning.

[GT500 861]

18 hours ago, HoggyDog said:

I thought my Emsisoft Internet Security was all the security I needed. Was I mistaken?

No, you were not mistaken. McAfee is just telling you that to get you to reinstall their product.

 

18 hours ago, HoggyDog said:

fee-whatever and run both AV suites side by side?

We don't normally recommend that. While it might be possible, we don't really test it.

 

18 hours ago, HoggyDog said:

Does McAfee Live do something that EIS dioesn't do?

I highly doubt it does anything important that EIS doesn't do. There may be some extra gimmick features to make it seem like a good deal, but when it comes to real protection EIS is almost always better.

 

18 hours ago, HoggyDog said:

Do I need a dedicated firewall?

No, EIS has its own firewall, and another firewall will not be compatible with it.

[Peter2150 45]

Arthur is telling it straight.  I do a lot of my own malware testing (in VM) and I always have to turn off EIS or I would never get anything further.   EIS is great.