What On-Demand AV lightweight and without resident services / processes?

Discussion in 'other anti-virus software' started by Dan_Aykroyd, May 11, 2009.

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  1. Dan_Aykroyd

    Dan_Aykroyd Registered Member

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    Hi!

    Since I don't think that the horsepower used by a real time scanner is worth it in my case, I'm only looking for an on demand antivirus that will allow my to right click some files and scan them.

    So far I've tried two that don't mess up when real time isn't running (for example, if you install NOD, Kaspersky, etc., they "complain in red" if you leave the real time off!), and they are BitDefender & Avira.

    For both I noticed that the have services running even if they don't have the real time protection enabled (BitDefender Free because it doesn't have it from the start and Avira because I chose not to install the Guard module). They have the service to auto update the antivirus and, in BD case, to scan plugged drives (USB, CDs, etc.)

    Now my optimum setup would be an AV that has ZERO running processes, that has a right-click scanning feature for files & folder and that let's me update either A) whenever I manually want B) prompting when right-clicked something and starting a scan.

    Is there such an app for me? What can you recommend me?

    An in another "philosophical" AV stuff... if I have a file that I upload to VirusTotal.com (a great service that runs every AV - like 50 of them, on the file and then reports back) and for those files, I get like 20, 30 AV that mark them as viruses / trojans, while the other 30 mark them as safe. What should I do with that file then? This is one of my main concern with AV is general; I can't even rely on them! Should I delete the file or should I keep it?

    And this is not that strange... I had a couple of files in my setup that BitDefender marked as viruses, while Avira passed them as OK. Then, them uploaded to VT.com would give me the same results... 50% virus / 50% safe. WTH!:mad:

    Thanks in advance guys!
     
  2. risl

    risl Registered Member

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    It is possible to get an AV with on-demand scan only and without any running processes that lets you manually update it. But I don't think it's possible to have a "right-click" scan feature in these.

    You could try Dr.Web CureIt from http://freedrweb.com .. but there's no right-click scan. Only complete scan/express scan or custom scan where you can specify the files to be scanned. You always have to start the program first and then select the file.

    .. But I do find it somewhat weird that you are concerned if your antivirus is reliable enough or that some av's detect this and some don't, .. but you are a "case" that don't need a real-time monitor at all?

    What I would do if I were you is to install some light-weight minimalistic AV and use it with the real-time monitor and stop worrying. There are antiviruses that basically use 0% CPU and only a few megabytes of memory. :)
     
  3. Baz_kasp

    Baz_kasp Registered Member

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    Not true with Kaspersky...... you need to do a custom install (choose the custom install option during setup) and uncheck all of the modules you do not need...for example, I do not run realtime file scanning so I removed all the realtime scanning components whilst still keeping the main scan engine for on demand scans....that way it won't complain.
     
  4. Dan_Aykroyd

    Dan_Aykroyd Registered Member

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    Hmmm... nice to know.

    Do you know also if Kaspersky keeps some services running even if the real time module isn't installed?

    @risl: Yes... I've tried doctorWeb and actually didn't like it. I also come from a NOD32 with real time enabled setup, but knowing that it generates (even if little) overhead in every file read operation, made me uninstall it and go for the on-demand scheme.
     
  5. Zetelo

    Zetelo Registered Member

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    I highly recommend you the program Twister Antivirus. You can reach their site here: http://www.filseclab.com/eng/

    At first glance, you might think that this is just another wanna-be AV, but this is not the case. Twister provides decent on-demand protection and is the lightest AV I've ever used. You can download a trial for 90 days, that's enough time to make a decision. Also they currently offer a lifetime license, which is a huge bargain if you ask me.
    You can also disable it easily in the menu (No Start At System Start). Only one process will be activated , which you can easily disable or terminate using Taskmanager.

    Wilders has a long thread about this app, just search for it.

    There is also a User forum located at this site: www.twistee.org

    GL ,)
     
  6. Joeythedude

    Joeythedude Registered Member

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    ii think i saw a post similar to this a while back.
    maybe try a2 and stop its service. i think it doesn't affect it.
    and i think it has a right click scan.
    I can right-click and scan with MBAM , but i don't think thats what your looking for.

    For the 50/50 , take the other things you know about the file into account.
    a sandbox type app , or virtual pc is useful here too.
     
  7. lodore

    lodore Registered Member

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    with kaspersky do a custom install without the realtime protection modules.
    once its installed reboot as requested.
    now go to settings,protection,untick launch kaspersky (kis or kav) at computer startup)
    then just start it manually when you wish to use it.
     
  8. 12fw

    12fw Registered Member

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    Avira free will allow for a custom install - no full time scanner or explorer shell scan are possible.
    But I suspect there will be some service or updater file still running in the background.
    But it will be leaner than a full time scanner.
     
  9. Dan_Aykroyd

    Dan_Aykroyd Registered Member

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    Yes... as my first post; Avira leaves some services running. It is lighter than real time scanning, but I'm looking forward to a zero-overhead on demand AV.

    If that's not possible... do you think BitDefender Free is any good? Better than Avira?

    I think there should be an AV that has what I'm looking for. After all... there are like a zillion of them! :argh:


    Thanks!
     
  10. a320ca

    a320ca Registered Member

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    Check out Hitman Pro 3. :thumb:
     
  11. 12fw

    12fw Registered Member

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    As to say whether the bitdefender free is better than Avira, probably not, since it does probably have more resources being used for scans and maybe even more services or files active just for the full time updaters.
    I have little experience with the latest bitdefender free so I can not really say one way or the other.

    You could consider dr web cureit for doing the antiviral scannings?
    It is free and probably effective enough for most situations.
     
  12. Waterfox

    Waterfox Registered Member

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    Well, if you still have a valid license for NOD32 you can use it without real-time file system protection enabled (and no red icon).
    Go to Advanced setup -> Real-time file system protection and uncheck "start real-time protection automatically".
    This way when you restart the computer you'll still have the ability to right-click on a file and scan it but without NOD32 monitoring the entire system.
    This works in v.4.0, for older versions I'm not sure.
     
  13. Dan_Aykroyd

    Dan_Aykroyd Registered Member

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    Yes, I do have a license but I think that it will be an overkill to have an AV with real time installed but disabled; that's why I isntalled BitDefender Free, which doesn't have the real time module from the start. Also, ESET keeps services running all the time too...

    What I was wishing to use (maybe) was something along the lines as the old F-Prot for DOS, with a right click scan what would pass it over to command line or something. And the update... well... I don't know how it would go about that.

    Do you know if ClamAV may be what I'm looking for? I haven't installed it yet but I've seen it in a couple of Boot CDs and mini-XPs, so I'm guessing that it could be run well as a standalone, on demand app. Anyone using it?

    Thanksss!
     
  14. 12fw

    12fw Registered Member

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    I did the same as you did Dan_Aykroyd some time ago and stopped using a full time antivirus.
    I did consider both avira and bitdefender free as on demand scanners, but settled on the a-squared free instead.
    One service running and uses about 7,200 k mem in the background.

    As to whether or not the a-squared is a good choice for on demand scanning still remains to be seen. May still still consider trying bitdefender free or avira again (just on demand only).

    I did consider clam also, but declined that thought when I considered the low detection rates and slow scan times.

    Often if the file is suspicious, uploading it to jottis or virus total gives me the final word on to open or delete.
     
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