Manual scans bring up virus detection...
 

I have Malware and Microsoft Essentials. Ocassionally I detect a virus....mostly thru MW but I run them concurrently. The scans can take a few hours and slow down my machine.

Is there a way to track what site is infecting my machine?

Those porn sites are notorious for that from what I have read.

Haven't been hitting any porn sites.

I DID email the virus people and they sent me to there website with a link. They call them "PUP.Optional.conduit.a" alerts.

They are add ons that are loaded w/o permissions. Minor irritants but they suggest removing them.

Mostly from Google searches.

Google..........
 

Google is notorious for planting spyware that allows them to determine your shopping preferences, etc. I try to not use Google unless absolutely necessary.

Essentials is NOT an anti-virus program, please get a real one

If you are running them at the same time, no wonder it takes hours! One at a time.

Got any recommendations? I don't hear a bunch of good things about Norton but I am open to suggestions.

Cheers
JB

Running them seperately makes no difference except that it ties up processing power twice as long as running them concurrently.

As to the pay for anti virus programs? I am convinced they are behind 95% of the viruses out there.

MSE and Malware have been protectiing me for over a year.

Works for me. Thanks Joe Bob
Cheers
JB

Use the free version of AVG (get it from grisoft.com). I've been using it for years, and have never had an issue with any of my computers. They do offer a paid-for version, but the free one works just fine. Need to do a little digging to find the download on their site, since obviously they'd prefer if you BUY the product...

As far as tying up processing power--simply run your virus checks at a specified point in time when you're not using the computer. Mine runs at 3am.

This. AVG is free, and works very well. I believe you can download it from cnet.com as well.

I am uncertain if Malwarebytes offers real-time virus protection - I thought it was active only when running the scans. This is why you also need a true anti-virus program such as AVG, McAfree, Norton...etc.
-Z