What's the best anti=virus program that isn't a system/resource hog?

Hey guys.

So i ordered my Dell XPS 1530 and it's gonna get here sometime in the next week.
EXCITED!

Its coming with like 15 months of protection from McAfee but i've heard its lyk a mega system/resource hog.

I've also got AVG 7 or 7.5 or sumthin on disc which i can install but readin on the net people say AVG ain't tht great. I'm just wondering what the best anti-virus program I can get is, one that will give me secure protection but not be a total system/resoruce hog.

Cheers guys.

Oh, and price isn't really an issue
*cough* PIRACY *cough*

 

Uninstall McAfee...It is a resource hog, for sure, and, in my opinion, not terribly effective.

I like NOD32 by Eset. They offer a 30-day free trial. Simple, effective, low on resources....runs quietly yet aggressively in the background. Not a lot of bells and whistles. Very effective.

I have also read good things about Kaspersky.

 

I personally use Eset Smart Security which covers av, spyware/malware, rootkits, emails, spam, ads, websites, etc etc its also my firewall. Not sure if its the same as NOD32 but its built off the engine so Im guessing it is.

I hear Kaspersky is also good.

 

Is price isn't really an issue, I would suggest you try / check out NIS '09.

 

Give Avast! a try.. one of the least resource hungry AVs and performs pretty well too...

 

cheers guys, I think I'll give Nod32 a try.

If that fails for whatever reason I'll go for Kaspersky. I would go for that one first but i hear it can be a bit of system hog.

 

Avira for free, NOD32 for paid. I find Avira to be even lighter on resources than NOD, which is saying a LOT.

 

Agree Dook. I see this question a thousand times. AntiVir has 2 services and one start up file running for Vista. When checked under XP it had a low memory foot print, I have not checked under vista. Not perfect but good enough for the last 3 years.

 

You've heard wrong.

But Nod32 is a good choice. Look around for deals though. A few weeks ago I scooped up more KIS (3 user licenses per box) copies for $20/pop at my LCS. I'll be set for renewals for a while.


Personally, I believe in that old adage 'you get what you pay for'. I don't follow the free AV crowd as I have been burned in the past with them.

 

I second the suggestion for NIS 2009.

 

Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition

 

^ lol, I uninstalled it cause it raped my computer during scans.

 

As for AVG being a resource hog, to be honest I didn't have any big issues when I used just AVG AntiVirus but OTOH my experience with AVG Internet Security has been a complete resource hog nightmare. The problem for me was that it never manifested directly on any of the AVG processes, rather it made the "NT Kernel & System" process use up 80%-100% of the CPU on a regular basis so I was completely clueless as to what it could be and was tempted to reinstall Vista from scratch. It took me a week of troubleshooting to realize that the various AVG components were behind this behaviour. Now I use Kaspersky Internet Security and so far no problems whatsoever, it's very lightweight in terms of system resources used and problem-free. In fact, it's the best security suite I've used so far...

 

I used to use AVG up until the most recent versions, it was free, decent on resources and regularly updated. However, the latest version is a bit of a mess resource usage wise and the link scanner might cause you some serious problems (you can turn if off though).

I switched to Avast! instead, uses alot less resources, still free and seems to update alot more regularly. The only annoying thing about it so far is that you have to register it after the 'trial'; it's still free bit a hassle nonetheless. Hopefully subsequent versions will stay light weight.

 

I don't know if its been mentioned in here:

I use Kaspersky Internet Security 7, they've updated their product snce to 2009.

Now I'm happy with it, and as far as I'm aware they improved a lot. It doesn't use a lot f resources, unless you doing something - but even then it depends. I had to reinstal my OS - before it ran reall smooth, little resource use, now its using more... possibly heavily fragmented...

But I would recommend Kaspersk anytime.

 

Ok.

Only problem, we don't know how this data was collected
(Just remembering something from the introduction tothe statistics module)

Anyway - different sites place the same ANtivirus/Internet Security in different positions. Kaspersky isn't bad - other programmes may be just as good.


I had a positive experience with Kaspersky - so I would recommen it anytime.

(Well - CA did a good job for me too -but, too many processes, and frequenlty ranked low...)

 

I'm serious when I say this... NIS 2009.

Just google it and read some reviews; see what you think.

 

1.) Symantec Corp edition - best AV ever.
2.) Avast home - 2nd best and free to boot.

I have yet to update to Symantec that is compatible with vista, but then again my work domain is XP/2003 so no need yet.

 

We do know that the data comes from the number 1 in the graphic; Sunbelt's Vipre Enterprise
What a coincidence!
(It's from this page).
Cheers.

Edit; Only just now I read Budwise's other thread on Vipre.

 

NIS as in Norton Internet Security 2009? Never. Friends dont let friends use Norton products.

Ive used alot of different AV programs in an IT managed services firm and I can vouch for NOD32 and Vipre being the top 2 for low resource high effectiveness. AVG used to be good. I would never consider a Symantec product for AV.

 

Agreed 100% on anything minus corp edition. My brother got a new PC a few years ago and it had a full norton suite updated and everything. Took two hours of normal use for the PC to be so badly infected it wouldn't start windows.

Now I have used Symantec corp edition since 2004 and have yet to have a true infection (a virus that makes it past resident protection). Same goes for avast, but if we are talking resources only avast is a lot lighter on resources when compared to Symantec corp edition. But Symantec is a more in depth customizable AV app.

 

How can an antivirus manufacturer deliver 100% accurate data?

Also:
Is therea universal, normed !! test for antivirus software?

(Else: Thanks for the link!)

 

Eset Smart Security (NOD32)
Wins hands down.

 

I monitored memory usage while using NOD32, then with Vipre. Vipre did in fact use about 15-20MB less memory.

 

There is nothing like NOD 32. Its never let me down in my life and it uses very little resources and catch's virus like nothing. Plus its very cheap.

 

X64 Nod 32 Ftw!!!

 

I'm using KIS 2009 and normally its really light but when it updates it laggs my computer like crazy, but then again I only have 512mb of RAM =/

 

Can you upgrade?
RAM is getting cheaper by the day...
If your hardware supports it, upgade to 1GB (maybe 2?)

Also, have you scanned your whole system one?
Kaspersky speeds up once it has done that, so it seems.

 

At the Norton haters:

Have you even used 2009?

 

The new Norton Antivirus 2009.

 

Avira free doe's very well. As well as Avast free.

It's up too you decide which suits you best. Try them both out (Not at the same time).

 

How processor/memory intensive is it when updating or doing a full scan? I'm a switcher from Norton Corporate to NOD32 and I know when using NOD32 for a custom system scan, I can't even tell its busy. Is Norton the same way?

Plus I uninstalled Norton when it couldn't detect the obvious virus when I even told it what folder it was in and did 3-4 complete system scans . I hope they've improved.

 

symantic antivirus corporate edition.

 

Nod gets my vote, for sure.

 

Norton Internet Security 2009


On scans in has "background scan" which can slow the scan, but doesnt impact proformace. While doing a regular scan, it impacts proformace slightly. But not much.

A regular scan takes anywhere from 2%-22% (Average= 10) of my CPU.
Background scan takes from 1% to 11% (Average= 4) of the CPU.

It also scans very fast... 20-350 files a second on mine (specs in sig) /// it was 10-150 on a 5400rpm C2D T5250.

 

eset smart security FTW best proctection no memory or resource hog at all

 

One of worst protection ever. Period.

I had trial version in my desktop several months ago, and it was terrible experience.

Firewall is childish and almost on level on Vista integrated. There is no option like in other firewalls.
Antispyware component is practically nonexistent. It never blocked any spyware!
AV component is just average (poor trojans' detection).

I thought my desktop is protected but after I installed Avira AntiVir and SuperAntiSpyware I was shocked what both found. There were trojans all over place and a lot of various spyware.

 

Is there a difference between eset smart security and NOD32?

 

ESET Smart Security is full internet security ie. firewall, antispam, and the antivirus and antispyware protection. NOD32 is off course AV part of ESET Smart Security.

 

Even if Norton 2009 does finally address the appalling CPU loading of previous versions, having had occasion to try and use Symantec's support in the past, I'd never go back to them. They will tell you nothing for free, but immediately direct you instead to fee charging numbers, even for really simple questions that aren't answered on the website, or else are virtually impossible to find. It's taken them years to fix problems like the CPU hogging and System Restore locking, despite all the complaints, and they deserve to be punished with poor sales for the contempt they've shown towards their customers. Here's the relevant part of the CNET review:-

"The bad: Despite its free telephone support, Norton Internet Security 2009 lacks adequate online technical support and, either intentionally or not, drives users to its paid technical support services."

I don't think there can be the least doubt that it's intentional! "Free" telephone support? LOL!

From another site:-

"About your Norton Security Products (and how to remove them): the blunt facts are:-

a) America's 'number 1 security solution' completely forgot their manners. They have created a support system that is unwieldy, nearly to the point of being unusable. You cannot find the answers, and neither can we.

b) Norton products are hugely complicated pieces of software (some call it "bloated"), that integrate with many different functions of your system. I cringe when I advise someone to uninstall it, as that is an often frustrating, and not entirely successful, event.

c) This board is continually flooded with folks asking how to make their Norton product work. We must continually reply that we do not know, because we have no better sources for information than you. If Symantec wanted our help, there would be some place for us to go with our questions. I cannot think of another software vendor that provides no resources for techs in the field; most have forums where we can get tough questions answered."

I'm staying with NOD32!

 

So with ESET Smart Security, there's no reason to subscribe for NOD32?

 

NOD32 is integrated in ESET Smart Security as AV component.

 

So when you say ESET sucks, that means NOD32 sucks...

 

Lol, NOD32 sucks? It is good.

 

@Mark v1.9.66

Compared to most reviews, that is good. The only bad thing on the review is the ssupport, which is much much better than anything being bad about the security itself. Would you rather the support be excelent and viruses to get thru and have a slowed PC? Its the best thing to have bad w/Antivirus software if you think about it...

Anyway, Thats what we have NBR for...

 

ESET Smart Security is terrible and I explained why. NOD32 is just average AV - competition is a way better this year (Avira, Norton, Kaspersky).

NOD32 is just a famous name like were Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D for antispyware, but this year situation is a lot of different. If you were the best in the past that doesn't mean you are the best in the present time.

Software is not a stone in time .

 

I have Symantec Anti Virus Corp Edition on one of my PCs and it seems to run quietly in the background without slowing down my PC at all. I have heard great things about NIS2009 which I'm going to try out soon.

 

I have NIS 2009 and it has been problem free so far. I wouldn't hesitate to use it.

 

Why don't you try Kaspersky, I think this is a great anti virus, or you can also use Avira anti virus.