Windows Defender & Avast

[Divergent Species]

I have been running Avast as my AV program and recently upgraded Windows 7 to SP1. I now find I am running Windows Defender anti-spyware and Avast at the same time. Usually running 2 programs is a no-no and can cause problems, so I was wondering if these are compatible or should I disable 1 of them. I have been satisfied with Avast and if the recommendation is to disable Windows Defender versus Avast, how do I do it?

Thanks

[Train]

Windows Defender detects and removes spyware

It is not a antivirus program

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...r/default.mspx

I am using it with my antivirus and have had no problems. But I do run Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware now and then. Better Safe than sorry being my thought.

[Divergent Species]

Thanks Train.

[Train]

You are Welcome!

[HAN]

IMO, Defender is not worth the CPU cycles it consumes. The real-time scanner has some value but free WinPatrol is better for Windows system changes, IMO. The manual scanner in Defender is worthless. MalwareBytes is far, far superior.

In my case and for all PCs I work on for friends and family, I turn off Windows Defender (I DON'T uninstall it.)

[Welshjim]

Divergent Species--A competing antispyware program often turns Windows Defender off. See the message when you open Control Panel|Windows Defender.

[Broni]

Defender is not worth the CPU cycles it consumes

+1 - worthless

[Divergent Species]

Thanks for the advice all. I did turn Defender off and will look into WinPatrol.