Scanning hard drive multiple times, Is it a good thing?

[joel2007]

I heard some people like to scan for virus multiple times.
For example: 1 main real time AV, 1 on demand AV, 1 antispyware, another antispyware.
Is there a benefit for doing that? Let say, the computer is virus free. He just wants to scan for virus multiple times.

 

[Yami]

Yes, there is an advantage in using multiple virus scanners. But not the same scanner twice.

Two options:
Spybot Search & Destroy
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

 

[KSoD]

It can be good and it can be bad. Let me explain.

The good:

No single product out there can catch every single infection. No matter how good or bad any product rates, it is never 100% effective. So using Microsoft Security Essentials combined with Spybot or Malwarebytes is a freat idea to make sure that 1 of the programs didnt miss something. Maybe MBAM (Malwarebytes) has something listed as an infection which is not in the definition updates for MSE just yet. So having that backup is good. The 1 running all the time and the 1 to run on demand.

Now the bad:

This puts extra strain on the system. It causes your CPU to be in constant use during times of scans and it puts strain on your hard drive. As it is constantly being accessed during the scan to check the files. Now with mechanical hard drives this could effectively shorten the life span due to the increased activity. With Solid State Drives you are causing more read/write cycles and also can cause the hard drives life span to be shortened. Which may not seem like a big deal now, but when the drive starts to fail after jsut a few years of use instead of the average 10 or more years then it will show.