Windows 7: AV With the Smallest Footprint

I'm really just trying to find out which one is great!
If someone can include some screens of there current av and its memory usage(if possible) + if it decreases start-up/program openings or anything.

Thanks

-DD

P.S. I dont care if the item is a "premium" av requiring pay - as i used to use ESET SS(which required pay) i still have a budget. And preferrbly something good - i download...ALOT ^^

MSE is the only way to go - and it is free. No need to spend money. http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

There's no such thing as one that is great right from the start! Some are rated better then others while none are always 100% at finding things!

For the "lightest footprint" what most are finding now is the Microsoft Security Essentials or MSE as being not even noticed while running primarily in the background. Various opinions on different antivirus programs are also brought up in the MSE vs AVG 9.0 thread. MS Security Essentials Vs. AVG 9.0

This is MSE:

Results and comments - www.matousec.com

Think link might help you choose

Hope this helps,
Captain

I'm presently seeing 61,144K on the 64bit 7 Ultimate here for the MSE in the taskmanager processes. When starting up AVG 9.0 the total between 3 items is about 12,000K for that.

Regardless of what the majority may think based on past experiences, I'll have to recommend Norton 360. It's an all in one suite with many useful tools, and very light on system resources. When my subscription runs out I'd like to try Microsoft Security Essentials, but until then I'm sticking with Norton 360

I would! Norton has always had the rep of being a bloated software by Symantec. Norton Ghost on the other hand was and still is a popular program there however but for a totally different application.

The MSE is still a lightweight and goes on without hampering other programs unlike your typical av you end up disabling at times while running some other programs due to conflicts. The thing you can add along with that is some form of internet screener however since MSE won't block things getting on but finds them afterwards being it's main drawback.

Decided: MSE is now my final AV...lol Well-done MS!! Any advice for malware/spyware scanners(if needed)?

Thx

-DD

The typical recommendation here is Malwarebytes from malwarebytes.org, but there are others.

Some people are using only MSE and the Windows Firewall, successfully as far as I know. But I think most have at least one other app, though it may not provide realtime protection.

I am still using Spyware Blaster as well as Malwarebytes. Gave up on everything else.