Action Center - Installed spyware protection programs

[toterly]

I was looking through the action center and noticed the installed spyware programs are kaspersky internet security and windows defender.

 

Two question came to mind after seeing this:

1) why is my malwarebytes pro not listed?

2) should only one spyware protection program be running?

 

 

[daledoc1]

Hi, toterly:

 

1) Staff will need to confirm this or correct me if I am wrong, but I am not sure if MBAM reports to the Windows Action Center?

 

2) As for KIS and Windows Defender, yes, ideally one should completely disable Windows Defender from the Control Panel.

I always do that manually, so that Windows Defender won't bother to phone home for updates even when the protection is "off".

(It used to be more of a big deal, with older KIS versions, in order to avoid conflicts and compatibility problems. It seems to be less of an issue with the last versions...)

 

It used to be the case that one needed to manually disable Windows Firewall from the Control Panel and services.msc, as well.

But I don't think that is necessary with the current version KIS2014.

 

For more info about KIS configuration, here is the link to the KIS2014 KB, and here is their English user forum.

Although not strictly needed, you might want to set mutual exclusions between KIS and MBAM.

Here is the KL tutorial: How to configure application rules and other resources protection in Kaspersky Internet Security 2014

 

Hope this helps.

Please post back if you need more help,

 

 

daledoc1

[John L. Galt]

1. Correct.  Even the current 2.00 CP Beta still does not integrate with the Windows Action Center, and said integration is a feature request for MBAM 2.xx
2. When you say installed are you looking directly in Action Center, or clicking on the link under Spyware and unwanted software protection that says 

    

   View installed antispyware programs

    

   And if it is the latter, then are both of them reporting as being on?

In my setup, I show Defender as off....

[daledoc1]

Hi:

 

1. Thanks for confirming that.

 

2. I think it depends on the particular AV -- some of them "automatically" at least partially disable Windows Defender during installation, others not? 

Historically, with KIS/KAV it was important to be sure WD was fully disabled, in order to avoid conflicts/compatibility problems. 

More recent versions have made it a bit more "automatic" and easier on the user.

(KL products have a long history of being finicky about other security applications.)

It's been a while since I've done a de novo install of KIS on a new platform, but I'm pretty sure one does need to go into WD from the Control Panel to **fully** disable it, including checking for updates. 

In any event, as John points out, seeing WD *installed* is fine, so long as it is disabled.

 

And mutual exclusions between MBAM and KIS can't hurt, although they may not be strictly necessary these days.

 

Cheers,

 

daledoc1

 

 

[toterly]

Dale - I have no problem disabling the Windows Defender service. I am not sure I would be able to turn off KIS2014 under 'Spyware and unwanted software protection'. Mutual exclusions between KIS2014 and MBAM might be more involved than would be practical for me. In other words - I have not found the slider or button in KIS2014 that say 'Let MBAM handle Spyware and unwanted software protection'.

John - I used 'installed' after seeing that word in the Action Center.

I havent noticed a seriously negative impact of running 3 'Spyware and unwanted software protection' programs yet. Those 3 programs being: KAS2014, WD and MBAM. I was interested in seeing only my MBAM pro 'on' under 'Spyware and unwanted software protection' in the Action Center because I like seeing those MBAM messages pop up saying a Skype connection was blocked.

 

 

[daledoc1]

Dale <snip> I am not sure I would be able to turn off KIS2014 under 'Spyware and unwanted software protection'.

OOPS!

No, you would NOT want to turn off KIS2014.

That is your main antivirus protection.

It was suggested that WD be disabled from the Windows Control Panel, NOT KIS.

 

Mutual exclusions between KIS2014 and MBAM might be more involved than would be practical for me.

It's not difficult, if you use the nice illustrated tutorial in the KIS KB for which I provided a link in my earlier reply

To exclude KIS in MBAM takes about 3 or 4 mouse clicks - we can provide the steps to help with that, if you need it.

 

In other words - I have not found the slider or button in KIS2014 that say 'Let MBAM handle Spyware and unwanted software protection'.

It is not a button or slider. There are several ways to do it - the easiest way is using the steps described in the illustrated tutorial for Application Control included in the link in my earlier reply

 

I havent noticed a seriously negative impact of running 3 'Spyware and unwanted software protection' programs yet. Those 3 programs being: KAS2014, WD and MBAM.

In any event, it's certainly up to you.

KIS + MBAM PRO should be fine together.

If your system seems to be running OK without mutual exclusions, then you might be fine.

However, KL does NOT recommend running WD active with KIS or KAV.

It could cause crashes, slowdowns or other conflicts.

That's why I suggested disabling WD.

IOW, no one suggested disabling or uninstalling either KIS or MBAM.

Rather, it was only suggested to DISABLE WD, and (if desired) to set mutual exclusions between KIS and MBAM.

 

I was interested in seeing only my MBAM pro 'on' under 'Spyware and unwanted software protection' in the Action Center because I like seeing those MBAM messages pop up saying a Skype connection was blocked.

Again, MBAM PRO does NOT currently report to the Windows Action Center.

The IP blocks you see while using Skype have nothing to do with MBAM reporting to the Windows Action Center, or not.

If MBAM PRO IP blocking module is working properly, you will probably see notifications of those blocks while using Skype.

Here is info about the IP blocks using Skype: Why does Malwarebytes Anti-Malware block Skype?

If you want to test to be sure the MBAM IP blocking module is working properly, here are the instructions: How can I verify that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is working?

 

If you are having any problems or issues with the system, please let us know.

We'll have you run a couple of basic scanning tools to provide the staff/experts with a bit of info to assist with trouble-shooting.

 

Cheers,

 

daledoc1