This is a good question. I was thinking the same myself. If you look in the start up folder there is nothing there and the same if it is viewed in process explorer, nothing there. The only way to see it is to launch from the desktop and it confirms protection and updates available. So where does it reside in Windows and how does it manage to run and not show it is running?

thumbscrew, Always used it and crap will still come through depending on how you use the net and your security apps. McAfee's free site advisor is also an invaluable help at times. Much better than WOT I believe.

Snrub, as for Host Files blocking you'll get none better than Spybot S&D.

All in my humble opinion of course.

As a matter of interest I run Spyware Blaster real time, Host Files, McAfee real time protection and Iobit Malware Fighter Pro real time protection. I don't know if this is overkill and breaks the rules about having multiple protection but all seem compatible. Iobit seems the most proactive and has found the most problems and rectified them, identifying the problem in detail. It found problems not shown using Malwarebytes and Superantispyware.