All these different protection programs

[willythecat]

Hi peeps, it's that darn cat again!
Just messing around as per the norm and was getting a few strange things happening, also response times were going weird. Time for a check me thinks!
Cleared out unwanted files with CCleaner and then ran Avast AV, Spyware Doctor, Spybot, and MBAM and all were clear. Reading your forum, downloaded and ran SAS and lo and behold, 301 adware tracking cookies, and 2 trojan agents (albeit these 2 in the system restore files).
So, if l hadn't have downloaded SAS, l would have been none the wiser!
Not necessarily in this instance, but on past occasions, I haven't really understood why each different program throws up different results?
Do l keep them all as a "just in case" or should l get rid of certain ones?
Are they in fact all needed?
My Avast Free runs in realtime, and l like this as an AV protector as it's helped me in the past.
Spyware Doctor also runs in realtime, and l pay for this. It's a little bit chunky but it has saved my bacon a few times. Do l actually need this though (ie. as a realtime spyware protector)
MBAM, SAS, and Spybot are all freeware and are run on demand. SAS found errors, MBAM and Spybot didn't. Do l need them all?
Should l get rid of Spybot?
Oh dear, so many alternatives to think about!
No doubt someone will point me in the right direction.
Many thanks
WTC

PS - Oh and as an afterthought, should l need to use it in the future, can someone please give me a link as to how to use Hijackthis (an idiots guide).
I've read about it one of the old posts, but can't remember which one.

[JJ 3000]

PS - Oh and as an afterthought, should l need to use it in the future, can someone please give me a link as to how to use Hijackthis (an idiots guide).
I've read about it one of the old posts, but can't remember which one.

http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,81761.0.html

[SuperDave]

It is my humble opinion that there is no idiot's guide to Hijack This. I've been studying for almost a year and still not sure how to interpret the logs. As for protection, it's best to have a layered approach. One good AV that updates often and a combination of malware, anti-spyware programs. Don't forget a good third-party firewall.

[willythecat]

Thanks JJ and Super,
The link to Hijack this is what l wanted. I remembered reading that you downloaded it, changed the exe name etc. but couldn't remember the exact ins and outs, hence the link request.
Log interpretation? Whoa, l'll leave that to you guys!
Will keep all the other software as you suggest a variation is a good thing.
Thanks again for your help.

[evilfantasy]

Self help - Use the Computer Hope HijackThis process tool