Free & On-Demand Only

[optigrab]

Hi All,

Hoping for a recommendation w/ discussion. Have McAfee v4.5.1 on a work laptop. Not permitted to change it, but no objections to installing a backup AV.

Would like to know which free AV's can reliably be set up for on-demand service only, as a back-up to McAfee. By "reliably", I mean the configuation as "on-demand ony" should be somewhat straightforward and not run significant risk of conflicting with McAfee. Obviously BiDefender free seems to fit the bill as it is on-demand only, but are there better options (Avast, AVG, Etrust, etc.)? I use F-prot DOS at home for backup, but this laptop is NTFS.

Thanks & regards
Optigrab

[StevieV]

Kaspersky Personal and Personal Pro can be set up as on-demand only. Just select the 'custom' option during install and untick the real time monitor option. HTH

[StevieV]

Just noticed you asked for 'free' backup av. Bitdefender is the only one I can think of too, not sure if AVG or Avast can be installed as on-demand only. Perhaps someone else can advise!

[minacross]

Some times I use avast4 - it is a very good AV - as a backup AV, you just need to uncheck these 2 files in the System Config. Util. >> Startup:
Resident scanner: 'C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe'
Mail scanner: 'C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\AVAST4\ashmaisv.exe'
Kindly note that I installed only the resident scanner and the mail scanner..
so if you installed any other components (P2P scanner , the IM scanner or Outlook scanner, you have to uncheck thier keys -if any- as well ..
I hope this could help.. ::)

[optigrab]

Thanks Minacross and StevieV. Sounds like Avast can be configured as "on-demand only" after the install is complete. I guess there's not much potential for harm... I can always use Total Uninstall to purge it if it doesn't work out.

So currently Bitdefender and Avast are possibilities. Would anyone else care to share their thoughts?

Regards,
Optigrab

[ellison64]

Avg 6 FREE also has an option to diable the resident shield (real time scanning) , but i have heard (though havent actually seen any proof via grisoft) , that the free is to discontinue early in the new year.
ellison

[Comp01]

AVG can be configured so its on demand, by disabling the resident shield, also, I never heard the plans to get rid of the free version, its been around forever, also, AntiVirPE can be used as a good backup...

[bellgamin]

When you install AntiVir PE {it's free} it gives you the option either to activate or inactivate its real-time monitor.

AVPE is my on-demand scanner. Updates 5X per week. Very active improvements to the scan engine, as well.

I like it a lot. It's strong, very easy on system resources, superb {but unnecessary} help file, & has a good support forum.

Program DL...
http://www.free-av.com/

Support forum...
http://www.free-av.de/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi

Grace & peace to you all.......bellgamin

[optigrab]

Further thanks to Ellison64, Comp01, and Bellgamin. :D

AntiVir sounds interesting, particularly since I know very little about it (along with Bitdefender). Could be a sign that this exercise is more about curiosity than necessity. ::)

Many thanks again and DITTO Bellgamin's sentiment:
{QUOTE-> quoting: bellgamin link=board=24;threadid=18033;start=0#msg111947 date=1071904554]
Grace & peace to you all.......bellgamin <-QUOTE}

[JayK]

In your original list, the only one nobody chimed in on is Etrust. Let me confirm that too can be added too as on demand too.

That completes your list :)

[sig]

I think Escan's free version may be an on demand scanner. Uses KAV's engine, I think I recall. Some people have reported good results with it and I believe there are some previous posts/threads about it here also. You might want to add that as another product to look into.