Should I close all programs when I run virus scan?

[Clueless in Seattle]

I use the free version of AVG.

I've been in the habit of running an AVG scan and a spyware scan first
thing in the morning after I boot up my computer. I have three
spyware/adware programs and usually run a different one each day.

I've just assumed that I should disconnect from the internet and shut
down all programs before running the anti-virus and anti-spyware, but
don't know if I really need to do that.

AVG takes nearly 40 minutes to run its scan, and the anti-spyware
programs take between 20 and 40 minutes to run. So what I do is start
AVG and then go do something else for a while and come back and run
the anti-spyware program and then go do something else for a while.
This ends up taking nearly two hours each morning.

I'm wondering if I can just run the virus and spyware scans in the
background while I'm checking my email in the morning.

 

[Maximum Dog4]

Clueless in Seattle wrote:

<snipped>

LOL - you have the clueless part right.

I'm wondering if I can just run the virus and spyware scans in the
background while I'm checking my email in the morning.

Why not? You got a 1,000 email's you got to read each morning? You read
the email it might take a second or two to open, if that, while one of
the programs is doing a scan.

So, it takes 2 hrs and 20 seconds instead of 2 hrs for them to run,
because you were opening and reading some emails while they were running.

 

[Victek]

I use the free version of AVG.

I've been in the habit of running an AVG scan and a spyware scan first
thing in the morning after I boot up my computer. I have three
spyware/adware programs and usually run a different one each day.

I've just assumed that I should disconnect from the internet and shut
down all programs before running the anti-virus and anti-spyware, but
don't know if I really need to do that.

AVG takes nearly 40 minutes to run its scan, and the anti-spyware
programs take between 20 and 40 minutes to run. So what I do is start
AVG and then go do something else for a while and come back and run
the anti-spyware program and then go do something else for a while.
This ends up taking nearly two hours each morning.

I'm wondering if I can just run the virus and spyware scans in the
background while I'm checking my email in the morning.

If I had reason to believe the system was infected I would run these
applications exclusively, otherwise I would let them run in the background.
By the way, why do you feel the need to do two hours of scans every day? If
that's really necessary why not run the scans "unattended" overnight (or
whenever)?

 

[YoKenny]

Clueless in Seattle wrote:

<snipped>

LOL - you have the clueless part right.

 

[Maximum Dog5]

Oh, say it ain't so. You have hurt my feelings. I just love your pussy,
plonk/killfile and runner comment.

 

[Offbreed]

I've just assumed that I should disconnect from the internet and shut
down all programs before running the anti-virus and anti-spyware, but
don't know if I really need to do that.

I feel better doing that sort of thing that way, and stuff like Speed
Disk runs a lot faster when everything is closed.

The instructions would say to do it that way if it was really necessary.