badb0y Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Hey guys, Is there any Antivirus/ Internet Security which is lighter than Windows Defender in terms of system resources usage/ system load? thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raa Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 If you want to pay, i'd highly recommend ESET's NOD32 antivirus. (Y) Marshall, Ambroos, goretsky and 1 other 4 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badb0y Posted October 15, 2013 Author Share Posted October 15, 2013 Is it lighter than Win Defender? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrynalyne Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Clam AV :p nabz0r 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshall Veteran Posted October 16, 2013 Veteran Share Posted October 16, 2013 Windows Defender is not considered an anitvirus, it's anti-spyware and other unwanted software. This is considered a secondary defense when it comes to any threats. In terms of resources used, you can't beat Webroot as it's a cloud-based antivirus. My experience with it proved to me that it's detection rates are substandard though. According to a lot of websites, Avast has a small footprint and good detection rates, although I've never used it so I can't offer any advice beyond doing some research. Personally, I've used Eset for years and it has never failed me. It also is not a memory hog and has good detection rates. goretsky, The Evil Overlord and Charisma 3 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnoopZ Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 Windows defender is the new name for Microsoft's antivirus on windows 8. primexx, xendrome, goretsky and 1 other 4 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juguard Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 how much does windows defender use? I use Kaspersky Internet security, and have been using Kaspersky since 1998, and never has it slowed me down. I play some of the highest demanding games, and use Photoshop, rendering, and never have to turn it off. Right now, it uses 85,808k system resources. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrakeN2k Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 Some hate for this, but Norton is a very light client now. They have changed there ways after all the hate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anibal P Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 Some hate for this, but Norton is a very light client now. They have changed there ways after all the hate. Norton is still worse than just getting a virus, AND freaking annoying as hell He's Dead Jim, Lord Method Man, Charisma and 1 other 4 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badb0y Posted October 16, 2013 Author Share Posted October 16, 2013 Right now I have Windows Defender + Malwarebytes. If I install Kaspersky Internet Security can it replace both? The Evil Overlord 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luc2k Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 Norton is still worse than just getting a virus, AND freaking annoying as hell I'll give you the fact that it takes a lot of space on the HDD, but it's very light when it comes to resource usage. Elaborate on the annoying part? Right now I have Windows Defender + Malwarebytes. If I install Kaspersky Internet Security can it replace both? If you want the lightest, you should go with Webroot and keep the free version of Malwarebytes and do a scan every month or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cropcircles Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 You can go on and on with this discussion with allot of various opinions. My advice is to just try some different ones and see how it integrates into your system. There are a few good free ones such as Windows Security Essentials, AVG, AVAST, COMODO and then you have the paid versions such as Kaspersky and the top of the line IMO Symantec-Norton. From the feedback I"ve read here at Neowin I've seen Windows Security Essentials being the most preferred. I've tried them all over the years and I'd go with Norton Internet Security or Norton 360 if you want the best paid version. I'm currently using AVG Internet Security 2014 and I'm pretty impressed with it. A bit aggressive at times but workable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Warwagon MVC Posted October 16, 2013 MVC Share Posted October 16, 2013 Windows Defender is about as worthless as they come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerowen Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 Been installing BitDefender Free on computers lately and it seems to be very light on resources, and it's won several recent comparison tests. monkeylove 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis W. Veteran Posted October 16, 2013 Veteran Share Posted October 16, 2013 Avast. The background service averages ~3 MB of RAM, the UI app itself also 3 MB of RAM, and doesn't impact I/O operations that harshly (MSE/Windows Defender is noticeably bad here). NOD32 as a close second though. Charisma, The Evil Overlord and goretsky 3 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeylove Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 This might help: http://www.raymond.cc/blog/which-free-antivirus-is-the-lightest-on-system-memory-usage/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charisma Veteran Posted October 16, 2013 Veteran Share Posted October 16, 2013 Avast has gotten a little bigger over the years, but I still swear by it. I just turn off all the skins and popups and such. Denis W. 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LimeMaster Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 AVG Antivirus Free doesn't seem to use too much resources and the notifications only popup if it has detected a issue that needs your attention. You might want to give it a try. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ambroos Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 I'm very happy with NOD32, the first antivirus that I feel actually protects me from things others didn't protect me from (mostly evil Javascript and unwanted behaviour from software, not actual viruses). If I install a PC for someone else and it needs to be free I tend to go with Avast. Security Essentials can really slow down systems that aren't too fast already. goretsky 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Warwagon MVC Posted October 16, 2013 MVC Share Posted October 16, 2013 http://www.raymond.cc/blog/which-free-antivirus-is-the-lightest-on-system-memory-usage/2/ Mcafee and AVG .. :rofl: This is why i'll never understand why my competitor always has computers in his window for sale with a spec sheet that says they have 512 megs of ram and he installs AVG on all of them. I'm always thinking WHY GOD WHY! Knife Party 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironman273 Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 Just saw this article which is relevant: http://lifehacker.com/avast-2014-features-a-new-simpler-interface-built-in-a-1445993334 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
francescob Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 Avast has the lowest RAM usage among popular antiviruses however it's not the fastest. Also common sense >> antiviruses: disable all the browser plugins you don't need, set every update to automatic (including Reader and Flash) and check the digital signatures of files you download (if they don't have one make sure they come from a trusted website) and it'd be much harder to ever get infected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafter109 Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 NOD32 + MalwareBytes. Very light on resources, barely notice that they are running. The combination also has an unbelievable detection rate with almost 0 false positives. Edit: Avast may be lighter on resource utilization than NOD32 but it also has an abysmal track record detecting and removing viruses with both its on-access and on-demand scanners. goretsky 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Bruscato Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 OK, a few baseline things to make sure we are all on the same page: 1) Windows Defender - Microsoft has and supports 2 completely different Windows Defender versions. Windows Defender can run on Vista\7 and in that capacity will only function as an anti-spyware product. Microsoft Security Essentials has to be installed alongside this version to have complete AV protection; or as complete as MSE provides which Microsoft describes as 'baseline.' Then there is the Windows Defender client built into Windows 8 and 8.1 which features full AV protection; and uses the exact same scanning engine that MSE uses based on Forefront; and enhanced with community detection. You can't really call this client 'light' on resources, it isn't. 2) Definition of 'light' on resources - this creates an issue for people to reply to you. Memory Usage is not an indication of performance unless there is a memory leak. Real World performance is determined by too many variables and will affect the performance of the product in kind. For instance, a product may use little to no memory; but as a result of that will take a lot longer to scan an outgoing e-mail causing your e-mail flow to back up. It could also make installations take longer, or even take longer for the install to launch. Could you perhaps describe a little better whether you have a low memory system, or are looking for the best performance\impact ratio of the product? To be clear, no, you aren't going to find any product 'lighter' than MSE - without switching to a Cloud-Based AV. Cloud-Based AV's like Panda, Trend Micro Titanium, and Bitdefender provide very little impact on the system because they are just matching signatures to entries in the cloud. These products tend not to have the advanced Heuristic Protection you would find in a product like Kaspersky or ESET. You will find a lot of opinions about what the best AV is; because it depends upon the environment and application mix as to what results you will get. monkeylove, goretsky and Zinomian 3 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knife Party Posted October 16, 2013 Share Posted October 16, 2013 no antivirus is better and lighter than using one. If you insist for weird reasons, I would guess Avast's new release might be something that is good :pc: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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