Should I use Windows Defender with Panda Free AV & Malwarebytes?

Hi:

Windows Defender (WD) under Win7 is only a weak anti-malware application.
It does not offer much protection. And you still need at least a robust, real-time AV (either free or paid to supplement it.

Most 3rd-party AVs will at least partially or fully disable WD. I do not know whether that's the case for Panda.

As far as MBAM, you did not mention if it is Free or Premium.
Free will not conflict with WD or any other, real-time security application, as it is only a manual, on-demand scanner. MBAM Free provides no real-time protection.
Premium ought to be fine with both Panda and WD, but MBAM is without question much more robust than WD. IOW, I don't think you'll have any problem with WD + MBAM Premium, but MBAM will provide more protection.

HTH,
MM

Hi:

AVG was recently purchased by Avast.
So, the AVG brand will likely go away eventually.
I would look for other choices.

Superantispyware has lost the support of many folks in the security community.
The Free version is good for picking up non-malware tracking cookies on a manual scan.
Other than that, I've not found it useful in recent years.

There are many fine choices for anti-virus (AV), both free and paid.
No one AV is perfect.
No one AV will best suit all users and computers and budgets.
You will get at least 101 passionate opinions from 100 persons that you ask.

Aside from MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials), many of the "free" AVs come with popups/ads, toolbars, reduced features, and/or reduced support. That can be a "hidden" cost.
The nominal cost for robust paid AV works out to pennies a day and is much cheaper than the cost of recovering from data loss, identity theft or other disasters.

Additional layers of security, with anti-malware, anti-exploit and other strategies, is a common recommendation for many home users.

No security program or combination thereof, however, can protect 100% of computers from 100% of malware 100% of the time.
The most important security component is the one between the chair and keyboard.
That is the first and last line of computer defense.

>>Getting back to your original question, no, you do not need Windows Defender on Win7 if you have a good AV + Malwarebytes Premium (or a similar anti-malware).

Cheers,
MM

Hi:

Thanks for the information.
Well, if Panda is running OK with WD enabled, then I wouldn't worry about it.
WD is not an AV under Windows 7, so it ought not to conflict with Panda or any other real AV.
It's probably better than nothing as an anti-malware, but there are better choices (MBAM, Emsisoft Anti-Malware, etc.)

As far as MBAM Free, as mentioned, it provides NO real-time protection. It can only REMOVE infections that already made it past your AV onto the system.
If you would like real-time anti-malware protection alongside your AV to help PREVENT infection by certain types of malware often missed by an AV, then you need to upgrade to MBAM Premium.

The basic concept for home computer users is layers of complementary protection:
One real-time AV (free or paid) + one real-time anti-malware + one real-time anti-exploit, plus additional strategies. There are many comprehensive tutorials and articles about this at several reputable computer help sites.

Whether you stick with Panda Free or change to a different AV, I suggest adding those other layers to your real-time protection.

Others will have different suggestions, I'm sure.

No matter what, however, safe computing practices are first and last line of defense, not software.
But nothing is guaranteed these days, given the current threat landscape, social engineering, and the "arms race" between the security software vendors and the bad guys.

Cheers,
MM

Hi,
Yes you should disable defender if using any third party antivirus.

ThrashZone said:

Hi,
Yes you should disable defender if using any third party antivirus.

Under Win 8.1/10, of course, where WD is a true AV.
But I don't know that it's entirely necessary under Win7?
WD is a bit of a PITB under Win7 (updating definitions, trying to run background scans, etc.)
But, as a weak anti-malware, at best, it really ought not to cause serious problems with 3rd-party AVs.

Having said that, it probably doesn't lose much to disable it, as there are several, far better options for real-time anti-malware and anti-exploit protection.

But if it's all working OK for the OP with WD enabled (especially if there is no other anti-malware protection), then it's probably a coin toss.

Just my two cents and worth less,

MM

Hi,
I've seen messages from MS that state running 2 antiviruses will slow a machine down not to mention make a system less safe not more safe via conflicting with each other
Yes defender in any os is poor to say the least and slow at every stage of scanning which I doubt defender even "if" it found anything would not be able to remove it :)

Only thing that is important is if in action center/ security it shows Panda or what ever is listed as On.