Best antimalware that doesn't affect perfomance.

I upgraded my 2 year old gaming pc and am looking for a good, light antimalware program. Given that I don't store much sensitive data, I prioritize my pc's performance over security.

I use to have NOD32 around 2007, and it fitted my needs, but given the 3 year long gap, anything else I should consider?

 

returnil2008 or similar

 

Prevx with SafeOnline is very, very light!

TH

 

Immunet, One of if not the lightest AV on the market.

 

I don't believe Immunet is one of the fastest, I'd say it's about average in terms of resource usage. Considering it has to send infomation back and forwards is also a factor.

Avast, after running the pc for 4 hours ( about 2 of those was gaming, the rest was utorrent) only 4 seconds of cpu time. Now thats light

 

CPU-time isn't what's important. The thing that matters is the disk access techniques used by AVs, as it's the bottleneck of computers. CPU and RAM does not matter anymore (they did 5-10 years ago).

 

Shadow Defender...even though it is no longer supported...also VirusTotalUploader, KeyScrambler personal and LastPass. There's no need for anything else. This combo is very light on resources.

 

i'd say common sense is the lightest

 

I could suggest to use no AV and just do regularly on-demand scanning like with Hitman ( if you use win7 or Vista )

Then Microsoft Security Essentials could be an option(free) or an AV that you could set to scan only on execute...and why not have the possibility to exclude some folders..example...the folder of a game ( examples Avast, ZoneAlarm ). Specially the suite of Avast ( includes AV and firewall ) is really silent and offers a gaming mode.

 

ESET NOD32 is still light =)

 

Vipre is awesome..light as feather and effective on the other hand

 

Beside your firewall, the following 3 on-demand apps are all the security you need. The impact on real-time activities is ZERO!

Keriver 1-Click Restore -- On-demand Imager. Use it every week and just before making significant changes such as installing major software. $19.99

Tiny Watcher -- On-demand system monitor. Use "Deep Scan" once daily at first boot. Free

Avira-Free -- Use it on-demand only. Right click and scan each new install before you install it. Do a full scan at least weekly. Free

All of these applications are on-demand. Therefore the impact on real-time activities is ZERO. If Tiny Watcher or Avira-free spot an anomaly (real or potential malware), then simply use Keriver 1-Click to restore the latest clean image and you're good to go.

 

In those last two years ESET didn't become heavier. It still is one of the lightest available, especially on boot time (which is the first thing you notice so quite important for me). Next to that ESET only made some imcremental updates (3.0 to 4.0 wasn't really shocking, it added some new features you won't directly notice, and 4.2 were mostly performance improvements). So if you did like ESET back then, and you don't mind paying some money, I think it will be a good decision to just use NOD32 again.
Next to that the automatic gaming mode (when opening a full screen app: delaying updates etc.) might come in handy if you game a lot. You can personally set up which kind of notifications you want to receive while you are in mid-game.
It hardly requires user interaction anyway, you will only receive messages when the signatures are being updated (won't do that in game) and when it blocks a threat, or needs help with blocking a threat (won't happen in game).

If you don't want to pay all the three A's are light options.
AVG fullscreen mode is automatic, the other two I am not sure about.
Avira could give those annoying ads when playing a game though, (I don't like hacking them away). Avast is probably the most set and forget of those three. Especially since it checks more frequently for updates (you can set it up) than AVG (mostly only once a day, if you are lucky twice).

 

You may find this helpful: http://www.raymond.cc/antivirus/

Sandboxie and NOD32 are a good combination on my computer.

 

This is getting seriously old, ppl have been parotting that line for years but everytime someone says its like telling us Wilder's youve invented the wheel for us.

Common Sense does not prevent hackers, etc.

It simply prevents stupidity, thats all and we all slip up from time to time.

Now get ontopic and give a more sensible advice as in wich anti malware (basic insurrance alongside usin ones brain) would b most suitable for the poster's request.

Sorry for the rant,

Ges

 

But it's not available for all users

 

But not sorry enough to just not post the rant. With all respect, I believe you misread what kC said. He didn't say common sense is the best or only anti-malware (much less that he's "invented the wheel"), but rather that it is the lightest. Hard to argue with that. And I am sure you wouldn't say that common sense isn't pretty important in keeping a computer secure. And if it is just the repetition that bothers you, how many times has Avast or NOD32, etc been recommended on Wilders?

 

Aha! An excellent point you've made!
But might I ask, is it possible for someone with a heavy personality to have light common sense?
My vote, btw, would be for avast...
not because I have tested all AVs and come to this conclusion scientifically, but simply because it's running so well for me
and seems to have such very little impact.

 

how about a realtime hips and ondemand hitman pro..it will be hard for any malware to beat that IMO

 

How is HIPS related to an antimalware application which doesn't affect performance? It ruins it thanks to all the pop-ups! It slows the computer down A LOT!

The easiest way to maximize security without any system impact is when running in a virtualized mode. I can recommend Shadow Defender or Returnil for that.

 

You mean like a bull in a china shop? Yes, such things exist.

On reflection, I should retract my anti-rant rant. GES/POR was probably just fed up with the inanity of it all. If a person has common sense, they have it.
If they don't, telling them to go get some won't really do much to help.

 

I had high hopes for HIPS, but after trying a few, it was like fighting malware with more malware.

Virtualizing and a system image is a great choice.

 

HIPS have the capability to stop any malware from entering and changing critical system config even if our av / as dont have signature for it.. So it wont be entirely wrong to relate it as antimalware app as well IMO

 

anti rant rant lol

Well i suppose 1 could always learn but thats ofc as u might understand only 1 part of the equasation. The other part would be to use the force like Luke.

 

you want the best performance possible?

get rid of HIPS and real time AVs.

i also recommend light virtualization such as Shadow Defender.
Reboot and all the crap is gone.