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What Antivirus Program Uses The Least Resources?

52131 Views 50 Replies 20 Participants Last post by new tech guy, Jan 9, 2007

person

Discussion Starter · Dec 24, 2006

I'm looking to install one of the big name companies trial antivirus product but want to know the one that uses the least or low resources.

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21 - 40 of 51 Posts

You were probably using Norton Internet Security, I've used and have found its firewall to be very annoying but then that was the 2004 versions, it might have improved by now. I prefer to use separate programs for different things rather than bundles as I think they're more affective. I don't actually use Norton but I use Symantec Antivirus Corporate Edition(full version) but it's a few years out of date. It doesn't seem to use many resources but then again Norton products seem to. Because it's so old automatic updates only work after almost a week in between each update but I can get daily ones online.

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MMJ

· #22 · Dec 30, 2006

AVG anti virus free (not anti spyware) does have realtime scanning.

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person

Discussion Starter · #23 · Dec 30, 2006

TOGG said:
Check the ratings of the various products here; http://www.av-comparatives.org/ (the 2006 summary).

I use NOD32 because it is light on resources (essential when you have a 450Mhz CPU and 128 MB of Ram!) and routinely achieves ADVANCED+ in the various tests.

The site doesn't seem to have any information of the amount of resources each program uses.

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RootbeaR

· #24 · Dec 30, 2006

MMJ said:
AVG anti virus free (not anti spyware) does have realtime scanning.

I will admit that two of the people I recommended it to have had no problems. Safe browsing habits have to help. AVG was originally suggested to me by a friend who is an expert and says that myself and anyone else who pays for security needs to have their head examined with all the free stuff available. lol. F-Secure is free for me supplied by my ISP.

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RootbeaR

· #25 · Dec 30, 2006

person said:
You were probably using Norton Internet Security, I've used and have found its firewall to be very annoying but then that was the 2004 versions, it might have improved by now. I prefer to use separate programs for different things rather than bundles as I think they're more affective. I don't actually use Norton but I use Symantec Antivirus Corporate Edition(full version) but it's a few years out of date. It doesn't seem to use many resources but then again Norton products seem to. Because it's so old automatic updates only work after almost a week in between each update but I can get daily ones online.

Mine was 2005.

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ferrija1

· #26 · Dec 30, 2006

I would use AVG Free.

Frank4d said:
I guess while we are bashing McAfee and Norton, we should say what is wrong with them. The main problem is that they do a very good job at what they are supposed to do... protect against viruses and spyware. So well, they tend to hook themselves into every nook and cranny of the Windows OS, choking the system. Norton also has a nasty habit of reporting that it has found a virus or trojan but cannot delete it (what use is that?).

What's wrong is that many *less-techy* computer users don't know about different AVs and they just go with a big name brand like Norton or McAfee. Lot's of people use Norton or McAfee so when hackers want to gain control of a system (or whatever) they target and comprise those two AVs because most people are using them. And there's an added bonus for the bad guys: Since most people using Norton and McAfee *less techy* they may not know or care that they have viruses.

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MMJ

· #27 · Dec 30, 2006

Yeah, in my less techy I thought Norton was the only true antivirus program.

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pedum

· #28 · Dec 30, 2006

I've used AlarmZone, which worked okay, but I wanted to "downsize", so I switched to AVG Anti Virus free. A few weeks after I upgraded to v 7.5 it began to crash at times. So now I am using PC Tools Antivirus program. I also use their Registry Mechanic and Spyware Doctor programs, and have been pleased with them too.

pedum

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MMJ

· #29 · Dec 30, 2006

Alarm Zone??? You got a link?

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ferrija1

· #30 · Dec 30, 2006

pedum said:
I've used AlarmZone, which worked okay, but I wanted to "downsize", so I switched to AVG Anti Virus free. A few weeks after I upgraded to v 7.5 it began to crash at times. So now I am using PC Tools Antivirus program. I also use their Registry Mechanic and Spyware Doctor programs, and have been pleased with them too.

pedum

Did you mean ZoneAlarm?

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TOGG

· #31 · Dec 30, 2006

person,

I didn't mean to suggest that AV-comparatives.org provided resource use figures (I'm not sure how anybody could, given that it all depends on the individual computer?).

My point was that NOD32 (and some others) get consistently high ratings at detecting malware (much better than some others mentioned here). It is a matter for each individual as to how much notice they take of 'tests' such as these, but I'm very happy with NOD.

My computer is ancient and has limited resources because I'm running Zone Alarm Pro and the free version of System Security Monitor with NOD (and there are a couple of other things watching the Registry - well I did say I was paranoid!).

I have no doubt that, if I attempted to run one of the 'big name' AV's, my computer would grind to a halt. Although I consider myself to be a safe surfer, I will not entrust my online safety to a free AV. Lots of people do and are, apparently, happy to do so, and that's fine by me.

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pedum

· #32 · Dec 30, 2006

ferrija1 said:
Did you mean ZoneAlarm?

Yep. ZoneAlarm.

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person

Discussion Starter · #33 · Dec 30, 2006

TOGG said:
person,

I didn't mean to suggest that AV-comparatives.org provided resource use figures (I'm not sure how anybody could, given that it all depends on the individual computer?).

My point was that NOD32 (and some others) get consistently high ratings at detecting malware (much better than some others mentioned here). It is a matter for each individual as to how much notice they take of 'tests' such as these, but I'm very happy with NOD.

My computer is ancient and has limited resources because I'm running Zone Alarm Pro and the free version of System Security Monitor with NOD (and there are a couple of other things watching the Registry - well I did say I was paranoid!).

I have no doubt that, if I attempted to run one of the 'big name' AV's, my computer would grind to a halt. Although I consider myself to be a safe surfer, I will not entrust my online safety to a free AV. Lots of people do and are, apparently, happy to do so, and that's fine by me.

I was under the impression that the system resources used by programs was around about the same for any system except for different OS versions.

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RootbeaR

· #34 · Dec 31, 2006

What about connection speed? I am sure most AV programs can handle 28Kb/s, but what about broadband? That is another reason I like mine as it is my ISP supplying and my connection is usually very close to max. I was thinking that was one reason NOrtON was so much slower than this as maybe it couldn't handle the speed. Does this apply?

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ferrija1

· #35 · Dec 31, 2006

XPSP2 said:
What about connection speed? I am sure most AV programs can handle 28Kb/s, but what about broadband? That is another reason I like mine as it is my ISP supplying and my connection is usually very close to max. I was thinking that was one reason NOrtON was so much slower than this as maybe it couldn't handle the speed. Does this apply?

Besides when you update your AV, your download speed does not matter at all.......

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PainInThe...

· #36 · Dec 31, 2006

Have tried looking at Kaspersky.......................:up:

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RootbeaR

· #37 · Jan 2, 2007

ferrija1 said:
Besides when you update your AV, your download speed does not matter at all.......

I wasn't talking about updates and don't know where that came from.
I meant for real time scanning of everything coming to computer. Does not everything go through the anti-virus program first? I am sure it does on my computer as I have had my anti-virus program come up and tell me a file is infected, do I want to continue with the download or delete? This is why I will not open documents from College at home anymore. I think the A drive is still spinning on my old computer.
So I guess I am to assume all AV programs can process information at the same speed?
There is no difference whether it is coming at approx. 28 000 b/s or 10 000 000 b/s?
I am a beginner so an explanation would be very welcome!

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MMJ

· #38 · Jan 2, 2007

It depends on the overall specs of the computer.

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ferrija1

· #39 · Jan 2, 2007

All traffic out of your computer to the internet is checked by a firewall and when you download things, it may be checked by your AV.

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Jazza

· #40 · Jan 2, 2007

I suggest AVG!!!!

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