Anti virus that does not slow down your system.

[stoofa]

Is the resident anti-virus turned off? if thats the word for the system checker that scans everything all the time as this may be slowing things down, is there any need to scan every file as you use it? I doubt it, just run a scan on newly downloaded items and a general scan every month/week/few days/day/hour depending on how paranoid you are.

And then people wonder why they get viruses on their machines.
Either leave real-time scanning switched on or don't bother with AV software.
AV software is a prevention not a cure - once you're infected a lot of your files will never be clean again.

Stop worrying about the 1-3fps you might lose in your latest version of 3DMark that you play and allow the AV software to do what it needs to do.
If you're not going to let it do what it needs/wants to do then honestly there is no point having it installed.

 

[Dano]

And then people wonder why they get viruses on their machines.
Either leave real-time scanning switched on or don't bother with AV software.

No, I don't think so.

AV software is a prevention not a cure - once you're infected a lot of your files will never be clean again.

It can be used as both, but safe web useage and sensible use of anti virus software should leave you in a position to never have to use it as a cure, and if your files are still infected once you have had a virus then you need to look at changing your anti virus software.

Stop worrying about the 1-3fps you might lose in your latest version of 3DMark that you play and allow the AV software to do what it needs to do.

No thanks, I don't much like it when anti virus software attempts to download an update when I'm trying to frag someone.

If you're not going to let it do what it needs/wants to do then honestly there is no point having it installed.

There's plenty of point to it if it's used properly.

 

[stoofa]

No, I don't think so.

It can be used as both, but safe web useage and sensible use of anti virus software should leave you in a position to never have to use it as a cure, and if your files are still infected once you have had a virus then you need to look at changing your anti virus software.



No thanks, I don't much like it when anti virus software attempts to download an update when I'm trying to frag someone.



There's plenty of point to it if it's used properly.

At least weekly somebody will post on these very forums about a virus infected machine.
When asked nine times out of ten they will eventually say that they did have AV software installed however real-time scanning was switched off due to some "advice" from some muppet on the forums.

Look at all of the common viruses out there at the moment.
If any get onto your machine the majority will immediately start replicating themselves and sending themselves out automatically.
In this situation non functioning AV software is going to be of no use to you at all.
Those viruses that infect Word, Excel or picture files will usually do so to the point where the AV software cannot clean the file - all it can do is place it in a safe location and deny access to it.
You will not that often be able to clean the files.
AV software is more of a prevention than a cure.

When was the last time you actually noticed your AV software update itself?
I run NOD32.
I'm on the end of an 8mb ADSL connection and I've told NOD to never notify me when it updates either itself or it's virus signatures.
I know that I'm running all the latest versions yet I couldn't tell you when they were last updated.
Why?
Because you do't notice - I'm sorry but when you're about to "Frag" somebody you're whole system won't suddenly slow down because the AV software is updating itself, you simply will not see it happen.

What use is AV software when all it is going to tell you is AFTER your machine is infected?
The payload has already been delivered, you've either lost data, been hacked or your machine has sent files oujt to other people.
Not really much point at that time running your AV software to be told what your machine has just finished doing!

I've been around PC's long enough to know that AV that doesn't "watch" your system is just a complete waste of time - you are no better off than having no AV installed.
Because after the event, after you're infected there are plenty of online scanners out there that will tell you what has happened to your machine.

 

[Dano]

At least weekly somebody will post on these very forums about a virus infected machine.
When asked nine times out of ten they will eventually say that they did have AV software installed however real-time scanning was switched off due to some "advice" from some muppet on the forums.

Which is why I said if used 'Properly'

Look at all of the common viruses out there at the moment.
If any get onto your machine the majority will immediately start replicating themselves and sending themselves out automatically.
In this situation non functioning AV software is going to be of no use to you at all.
Those viruses that infect Word, Excel or picture files will usually do so to the point where the AV software cannot clean the file - all it can do is place it in a safe location and deny access to it.
You will not that often be able to clean the files.
AV software is more of a prevention than a cure.

Again, it's both. If you haven't backed up your data to a safe location then that is your lookout isn't it. Smart computer use is a far better prevention than resident AV will ever be.

When was the last time you actually noticed your AV software update itself?
I run NOD32.
I'm on the end of an 8mb ADSL connection and I've told NOD to never notify me when it updates either itself or it's virus signatures.
I know that I'm running all the latest versions yet I couldn't tell you when they were last updated.
Why?
Because you do't notice - I'm sorry but when you're about to "Frag" somebody you're whole system won't suddenly slow down because the AV software is updating itself, you simply will not see it happen.

Nope, You're wrong or maybe NOD32 is just better than any of the ones I've used, as soon as your anti virus updates and starts using the hard drive your fps is going through the floor, or worse yet your game will drop to the taskbar as the AV takes focus.

What use is AV software when all it is going to tell you is AFTER your machine is infected?
The payload has already been delivered, you've either lost data, been hacked or your machine has sent files oujt to other people.
Not really much point at that time running your AV software to be told what your machine has just finished doing!

It's good for cleaning it, if you are the least bit smart you wont get infected in the first place. Not to mention the fact that who says your AV will spot it anyway?

I've been around PC's long enough to know that AV that doesn't "watch" your system is just a complete waste of time - you are no better off than having no AV installed.
Because after the event, after you're infected there are plenty of online scanners out there that will tell you what has happened to your machine.

I've been around PC's long enough to know that AV that does watch your system is nothing but a PITA, and online scanners are a last resort.

For the Joe Bloggs of the pc world resident AV is a godsend and should definitely be installed, but for someone who is aware of how viri infect, replicate and transmit it's nothing but wasted resources.

 

[z0mbi3]

sorry Dano but if you're clinging to the resources a resident AV would use (excluding norton and the like) then you're well over due an upgrade.

My AV updates itself when it pleases and never throws me out of a game. I don't notice it slowing down my system at all and I'm happy with the thought that I've got something looking out for me just incase.

as soon as your anti virus updates and starts using the hard drive your fps is going through the floor, or worse yet your game will drop to the taskbar as the AV takes focus.

I just don't see that happening on anything other than a rubbish pc, crap av, or a combination of the both.

 

[pitchfork]

NOD32 seems to have had no effect on either of my pcs.
norton is a pig however.

 

[Dano]

sorry Dano but if you're clinging to the resources a resident AV would use (excluding norton and the like) then you're well over due an upgrade.

I'm not clinging to anything, I made a statement and have seen it to hold true on numerous occasions on various machines, you exclude Norton and the like, why? is it because they will do just what I said? I did already point out that I cannot comment on NOD32.

My AV updates itself when it pleases and never throws me out of a game. I don't notice it slowing down my system at all and I'm happy with the thought that I've got something looking out for me just incase.

I just don't see that happening on anything other than a rubbish pc, crap av, or a combination of the both.

Good for you, maybe you need a system upgrade before the stutter caused by AV using the drive becomes defined from the rest of the stutter you experience during page file thrashing. Or maybe you need a better AV program that actually updates a little more often? Should I stop making assumptions now? Possibly they're all wrong.

Now before you take that the wrong way, I'm being tongue in cheek, you may very well be able to run resident AV without issues, but there are people who cannot and so long as they are smart about their habits there is nothing wrong with not having resident AV.

We can go round in circles all week if you like but you will not change my opinion on this, I've seen it happen far too often that resident AV causes more issues than it solves and it is far better to have AV installed but not resident so long as the end user is properly aware of the situation.

 

[Curiousalien]

OK as I started this argument (sorry) i must just say something again, (this is where I become more of an idiot than i already was and why nobody should listen to me.)

I just checked and my Avast has its resident scanner switched on, which is strange as I was sure I turned it off, the fact that I did not notice must say something? either of me or of the antivirus as it does not seemed to have had an effect I shall leave it on for now, however I would say that if it was slowing my computer down i would turn it off first to see if it helped.

I am sorry I recommended switching it off without knowing the full effects myself, again though I think that if you are sensible with what you do and scan every few days (or every day) then I don't really see a MAJOR problem...

Until it takes down your computer.

 

[z0mbi3]

Dano, just out of interest what AVs have you used?

 

[t31os]

Have to agree with Dano to a degree, My system doesnt suck, but i have noticed when NOD32 updates, it does drop my FPS ingame.

With NOD32 though, generally you won't notice, but that's not to say it doesnt annoy you when you're in an intense game and it decides it's time to update.

NOD32 however is the fastest and least system intensive AV i have used, and with previous AV apps i usually turned it off during a game.

Kaspersky is getting another Trial within the next month, and if it drags the system more then NOD32 does ingame (which is only 2-3 seconds at most) then they won't receive my subscription.

Dano is right though to a degree, though without experience using some of latest AV such as NOD32 his argument is a little biased.

Would the people who think it's likely you have an older slower system if you need to have the AV off during gaming - advise me to upgrade if i noticed frame drops in games?.... because that's just a joke... luckily as said NOD32 doesnt give me a huge problem in games, but YES i do notice.... so i can appreciate what Dano was saying.