light AV?

Discussion in 'other anti-virus software' started by boberang, Aug 22, 2006.

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  1. boberang

    boberang Registered Member

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    What is a light (system resources, memory mostly) antivirus program that is good?

    Nod32? Something else? Assume Norton is a hog.
     
  2. lodore

    lodore Registered Member

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    kaspersky 6.0 has been reported to be lighter than nod32 and it is a good av.
    Dr web
    avira antivir
     
  3. Alphalutra1

    Alphalutra1 Registered Member

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    Not the kaspersky I have seen. Sure it uses very little ram, but its cpu usage is atrocious on the three computers I have installed and used it on. It is incredibly slow to scan files, which is demostrated through the use of windows explorer and really slow reaction times when navigating between folders. Even with the scan new and changed files only option it is slow.

    To answer for a light av, go with nod32, f-prot, antivir, and maybe dr. web

    Cheers

    Alphalutra1
     
  4. lodore

    lodore Registered Member

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    im surprised you didnt reccemend antivir thats ment to be light as well
     
  5. boberang

    boberang Registered Member

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    Actually maybe it would also help if I said why I want it so light:

    will be on a tablet PC with only 512mb memory

    only use webmail, so no need to scan outlook, eudora or anything

    don't really need spyware/etc. protection, safe surfer here that can run spysweeper and adware periodically.

    Probably going to put processguard and Lock n Stop firewall on.
     
  6. A1SteakSauce

    A1SteakSauce Registered Member

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    He did.:D I would recommend AntiVir, NOD32, AVG Free, or Avast!. If you want the best security then use NOD32. AVG Free IMO is the lightest. Avast! has a tacky interface and higher detection rates, but is a little heavier than AVG, IMO. AntiVir has the best detection rates and is pretty light. This is all in my opinion. Please don't accuse any of ths as false as it is IMO!
     
  7. NAMOR

    NAMOR Registered Member

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    For me the lightest (ram/cpu usage) AV's would be... NOD32, Antivir, KAV6, Dr.Web, and F-Prot. This small list in not in any type of order btw.
     
  8. Mongol

    Mongol Registered Member

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    I'll second the vote for F-Prot and DrWEB. I would add ETrust EZAV as another very light AV...:D
     
  9. tilkov

    tilkov Registered Member

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    AVG, then Avira. Both have free versions.
    You have to choose between not-so-good detection rate and Avira's nag screen, slow update servers (when a program update is released) and occasional false positives.

    Recently, i have found AOL AVS to be pretty light too.
     
  10. dah145

    dah145 Registered Member

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    My votes go for KAV 6 and Antivir. :thumb:
     
  11. JerryM

    JerryM Registered Member

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    KAV6 does not scan slowly on my system, unless one thinks that 6 minutes for a complete system scan is slow.
    Of course that is a mode that does not scan files that are not new or changed.

    Kav6 uses less memory than any other AV I have tried, including NOD 32. I realize that all do not have the same experience.

    If you want to know what is the lightest on your system, then trial NOD32 and KAV6 at least, and then make a decision.
    Both are superb AVs.

    Best,
    Jerry
     
  12. Alphalutra1

    Alphalutra1 Registered Member

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    KAV doesn't actually scan the whole system in those six minutes ;) . Try unchecking that option and then scan, call me tomorrow lol

    Alphalutra1
     
  13. mercurie

    mercurie A Friendly Creature

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    AntiVir as my sig. below says seems to be a good balance between light, and good detection. Nag screen can be closed with ease, slow up date on a broadband connection has never been an issue for me.

    AVG would be my next choice. Both I have used and both were free versions.

    If paid AV is what you want I would go with NOD32.
     
  14. JerryM

    JerryM Registered Member

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    I understand that, and without the check it takes about 40 minutes as opposed to slightly over 30 for NOD. However, I see no reason to check the same files unless there has been a change. I realize that you will disagree, but that is the way I see it.
    The extra 10 minutes, even if I were to choose the "long route" is of no consequence to me.

    I trialed both and concluded that NOD is a superb AV, but after trialing KAV6 I chose that one.

    Again to each his own, but I do not see that I am less secure to check only new or changed files. I know someone could conjure up a scenario that would result in infection, but I do not believe they are real world.

    Regards,
    Jerry
     
  15. lodore

    lodore Registered Member

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    Hi

    following up on jerry's post, yesterday i changed f-secure to scan all files in real time instead of defined files. and my pc almost went to a stand still but on defined files it went fine. so if you use kaspersky on scan all files and untick scan new and changed files only it will be slow. but it you tick it and use something like the defined option in f-secure it will run fast
    lodore
     
  16. mgaidia

    mgaidia Registered Member

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    when i tested kav it slowed down my pc a lot!!
    r u sure its light??
     
  17. WSFuser

    WSFuser Registered Member

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    its light on memory but its not so forgiving on your CPU.

    id try antivir or nod32. theyre very light AV and they can scan your computer quickly, even on max settings.
     
  18. fosius

    fosius Registered Member

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    I have a question and please correct me. I check KAV's option to scan only new and changed files. I have a malware in my PC which is not recognised by KAV when full scan is performed. Maybe in next update particular signature for before unknown malware is added to virus database but KAV won't scan that infected file because it hasnt been changed?? (sorry for bad english)
     
  19. Arin

    Arin Registered Member

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    KAV rarely misses an infection. If I send them a cat hair and tell them the
    cat as sick then they'll probably release the signature of that bug too. Lol,
    jokes apart, KAV is quite serious when it comes to adding signatures.
     
  20. Don Pelotas

    Don Pelotas Registered Member

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    No, it doesn't work like that, it's not like it will never get scanned again.:)
     
  21. btman

    btman Registered Member

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    Kaspersky works great on my computer ! Much improved from version 5
     
  22. JerryM

    JerryM Registered Member

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    There 'aint no substitute for trialing.
    Jerry
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2006
  23. Richdog

    Richdog Registered Member

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    Pandas new Antivirus 2007 (without firewall) is very light.
     
  24. mgaidia

    mgaidia Registered Member

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    its result arent good enough
    http://www.av-comparatives.org/
     
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