Anti virus software

[23.21.159]

I use AVG on 5 PCs at home. On two of them, it seems to be the cause of CPU levels which just about kill the machine. Done some research on the net and found it is its "Resident Shield" which is doing this. From what I read it scans every single file as it is referenced one way or another. Isn't this a bit of overkill? Isn't it enough to scan files as they go in and possibly out of the PC?

What I have read on the net says it is necessary and if you disable the resident shield, you might as well not use the product. Well, I've decided to not use the product.

Any recommendations? Top two criteria are 1 it must be free and 2 it must not kill the machine with excessive cpu consumption!!!

 

[Tigerhart04]

I use AVG on 5 PCs at home. On two of them, it seems to be the cause of CPU levels which just about kill the machine. Done some research on the net and found it is its "Resident Shield" which is doing this. From what I read it scans every single file as it is referenced one way or another. Isn't this a bit of overkill? Isn't it enough to scan files as they go in and possibly out of the PC?

What I have read on the net says it is necessary and if you disable the resident shield, you might as well not use the product. Well, I've decided to not use the product.

Any recommendations? Top two criteria are 1 it must be free and 2 it must not kill the machine with excessive cpu consumption!!!

G'day IP

Firstly why does it have to be free, the old adage does apply "you get what you pay for". But having said that I use and have done for quite a while www.avast.com. They have both a free and paid option amongst others and I have found it to be brilliant. I have installed server and professional versions for some of my small business clients and install the FREE option for my home and family customers. They're all very happy. Well if they're not they haven't let me know anyway ;D

Avast is the go IMO, but when it comes to software and IT, you talk to 100 people and you'll probably get 100 different replies.

Good luck

 

[Rosy]

Firstly why does it have to be free, the old adage does apply "you get what you pay for".

How does that apply in the case of Free AVG Tigerhart? As far as I'm aware it's only in regard to the level of support provided, and a couple of fancy options, rather than their actual virus protection performance. I use the free version and haven't really had any problems at all. I've got a slow computer and don't find it slows things when scanning)

I've used paid anti-virus programs like McCaffee and Norton and had some real virus hassles. One of them told me it's because the hackers (or whatever the lowlifes who spread viruses are called) target the bigger fish in the sea.

I don't use free AVG to save money, I use it because it works well for me and it's all I need. If there was a donate option I'd contribute.

(Sorry that I didn't help in regard to the original request)

 

[23.21.159]

Thanks for the advice. I have a suspicion that the cpu hit is due to large files being accessed. If a program opens a large file, AVG has to scan it and that takes alot of resources. If you don't have alot of large files you won't get it. And also you'd have to be doing something cpu intensive (like gaming) to notice there was a problem in the first place.

Also my ID is not an IP address ... it's a rather famous scoreline.

 

[Jezza81]

Just while we're on the topic, can anyone suggest a program for Mac's? I noticed there isn't much around, while I know they generally don't have as much problem but i do a lot of d/loading so I'm a little worried about it.

 

[Panthera tigris FC]

I have used Avast! in the past but now use Microsoft Security Essentials.

Both have good reviews and the price is right on both of them ;D.

 

[Streak]

I use AVG on 5 PCs at home. On two of them, it seems to be the cause of CPU levels which just about kill the machine. Done some research on the net and found it is its "Resident Shield" which is doing this. From what I read it scans every single file as it is referenced one way or another. Isn't this a bit of overkill? Isn't it enough to scan files as they go in and possibly out of the PC?

What I have read on the net says it is necessary and if you disable the resident shield, you might as well not use the product. Well, I've decided to not use the product.

Any recommendations? Top two criteria are 1 it must be free and 2 it must not kill the machine with excessive cpu consumption!!!

Have noticed the same thing wqith AVG regarding system resources. Very disappointed. I purchased AVG 2 years ago and have found it really good. But made the mistake of upgrading it recently, and the new version kills my computer.

 

[Tigerhart04]

How does that apply in the case of Free AVG Tigerhart? As far as I'm aware it's only in regard to the level of support provided, and a couple of fancy options, rather than their actual virus protection performance. I use the free version and haven't really had any problems at all. I've got a slow computer and don't find it slows things when scanning)

That's my point Rosy, if you have a problem, you may well get less support with a FREE version but it's just MO. As my last sentence implied 100 different responses from 100 different people :hihi.

Also my ID is not an IP address ... it's a rather famous scoreline.

Duh! Sorry mate, I'll look closer next time :-[

I have used Avast! in the past but now use Microsoft Security Essentials.

Both have good reviews and the price is right on both of them ;D.

You want to trust Microsoft when they release a program called Internet Explorer that requires constant security updates? :-X This needs a

 

[Baloo]

Moving to Windows 7 I trialled most of the major AV products out there. In the end there was a clear winner for me in terms of price, performance and load on the CPU. ESET NOD is the product I purchased.

Anti Virus/Security is one of the few bits of software I use where I prefer to pay for the product.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Moving to Windows 7 I trialled most of the major AV products out there. In the end there was a clear winner for me in terms of price, performance and load on the CPU. ESET NOD is the product I purchased.

Anti Virus/Security is one of the few bits of software I use where I prefer to pay for the product.

NOD is excellent software.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

The PC security market is very hotly contested. Go to any site allowing customers to post their reviews and you'll see some very pointed commentary along the lines of "x is sh!t" or "y is by far the best package". I suspect many of the more vitriolic "reviewers" are aligned with rival software companies, and that some favourable reviews are contrived. Whatever the case, there is a lot of bogus and confusing/conflicting information out there.

I can't comment on free packages as I've never used them. As a rule, I tend to be wary of freeware/shareware, but that's just my personal philosophy. The packages I've used are Norton, and Symantec (which owns Norton).

Common internet wisdom is that "Norton is a resource hog", but for years I used Norton Internet Security 2003 without complaint as a) it worked, and b) it was the last version of NIS that didn't require a yearly subscription.

I purchased Norton 360 a few years ago on the strength of a number of good reviews, and hereby state unequivocally that it is the worst software I've ever paid for. Novice users may appreciate it if they have no qualms about ceding total control of their machines to software, but its lack of configurable options drove me nuts. Uninstalled it after 6 months and gave it away with a warning that it was "absolute crap", and ended up reinstalling NIS 2003.

For the past 12 months I've had Symantec Endpoint Security installed. It's a corporate package, designed to run on business machines and therefore consume minimum resources. It's a throwback to NIS - unobtrusive, yet highly configurable for those who wish to have ultimate control over their security software. It also contains a very effective firewall as well as anti-virus. Most importantly, it works. Obtained my copy through work and am not sure of its commercial availability, but I recommend it with confidence.

 

[Baloo]

Common internet wisdom is that "Norton is a resource hog", but for years I used Norton Internet Security 2003 without complaint as a) it worked, and b) it was the last version of NIS that didn't require a yearly subscription.

In was a Norton fan for a few years and also disagreed that it was a resource hog.

During my move to Windows 7 I was able to run tests on the same PC with Norton, Mcaffee, AVG, Kasperky and ESET NOD. Norton *is* a resource hog compared to the others, but you don't really notice it if you've been used to that performance for a long time. I know I was blinded.

Trying timing how long it takes your PC to startup with and without Norton installed, you'll be surprised.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

Trying timing how long it takes your PC to startup with and without Norton installed, you'll be surprised.

My PC is powered on maybe 98% of the time so I live with it, but yes I have noticed while doing installations from scratch that Norton results in a substantial increase in boot time. Would be very annoying if I was constantly switching the PC on and off.

Another bugbear is that it embeds itself very deeply in Windows and it's difficult to remove all traces of it if you want to get rid of it.

 

[powerful and brave 12]

if anyone is intrested microsoft security essentials is free.
it used to cost money to use but microsoft now offer it free of charge .
i have been using it for 6 months and it's working well

 

[mld]

I use both Avast and Avira, and Spywareblaster to block spyware, with good results.

 

[Hayfever]

if anyone is intrested microsoft security essentials is free.
it used to cost money to use but microsoft now offer it free of charge .
i have been using it for 6 months and it's working well

Thanks for the tip. I'm using MSE now and have dumped a few others I was unhappy with. It's better than anything Microsoft have dished up previously.

I use Mozilla Firefox and had no problem finding and downloading MSE. My daughter was only using Internet Explorer and there were a few traps trying to get to MSE. Like a lot of these free software programs it seems to attract a few bodgie operators trying to sidetrack you to do tests and buy their product. "Security Essentials 2010" is one of them....see last paragraph on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Security_Essentials

Steer clear of them by directly accessing MSE using http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

 

[Scribblar]

Was with ZoneAlarm years ago.

Then went to Norton's 360.
Worst thing ever I ever did. Software dictated everything I did. It scanned when it wanted to and slowed my computer down.

Went back to ZoneAlarm and appreciate it even more now.

ZoneAlarm passes all industry strength hacking attempts.

Test you software here: https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?rh1dkyd2

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

This is a good one.

12 months ago I purchased Norton Internet Security 2010 from the Symantec online store. I used it for a month, then uninstalled in favour of Symantec Endpoint Security.

Today I received an email thanking me for * automatically * renewing my subscription to NIS2010, and informing me that my credit card had been billed for AU$79.99.

Immediately dug out the email I received after purchase 12 months ago and found the following segment:

Service de renouvellement automatique Norton (Norton Automatic Renewal Service)

• Norton AntiVirus 2010 - Abonnement 1 an - VF

Aujourd'hui, à l'occasion de votre achat, vous avez souscrit un abonnement auprès du service de renouvellement automatique Norton pour les produits listés ci-dessus. Grâce au service de renouvellement automatique, votre ordinateur reste protégé en permanence contre les menaces et les derniers risques Internet. En effet, les abonnements de vos produits sont automatiquement renouvelés. En vous inscrivant au service de renouvellement automatique Norton, vous autorisez Symantec à débiter automatiquement les frais de renouvellement de l'abonnement (plus les taxes applicables) sur votre carte bancaire avant l'expiration de l'abonnement de vos produits. Vous recevrez une notification de préfacturation par courrier électronique quelques jours avant l'expiration de votre abonnement et avant le prélèvement du montant facturé pour vous informer que votre abonnement va être automatiquement renouvelé.

Vous autorisez également Digital River (revendeur en ligne agréé par Symantec) à transférer à Symantec à cet effet les coordonnées et informations de facturation fournies lors de votre achat.

Vous pouvez annuler votre inscription à tout moment soit en allant sur le site www.myNortonAccount.com, soit en vous adressant directement au service de support client. Mais alors, soyez vigilant et guettez le message de rappel de renouvellement de votre produit car si vous oubliez de renouveler manuellement votre abonnement à votre produit, votre ordinateur risque de se retrouver sans protection.

FAQ sur la protection en continu « Norton Ongoing Protection » ?

Ignorant of the French language, but familiar with past versions of the software, I naturally enough ignored this section which I now realise was intended () to inform me that my subscription will be automatically renewed after 12 months. Since I did not explicitly give permission for Symantec to debit my credit card other than for the original purchase, logic and a sense of fairness tells me they should be compelled to refund the 80 bucks at my request. My gut feeling's telling me something else, however.

Until such time as this is resolved, I advise exercising extreme caution in dealing with Symantec since they appear to be engaging in unethical practices.

Have been on hold with their customer service for the last half hour but if all else fails I will go to their St.Kilda Rd premises in person tomorrow. If you're reading this, Symantec - prepare yourselves for Cyclone LTRTR.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

^^^
Fortunately got through to a call centre in the Phillipines which promptly and professionally agreed to refund my money. Cyclone LTRTR averted. hew