What's the best and the most lightweight...?

[SlackerITGuy]

Antivirus around?

How about Firewall?

Thanks!

 

[StormTrooper]

avast i think

 

[Criminal Fetus]

I'm sure you'll hear many different results here, but I LOVE my Avast. It seems to update multiple times a day most of the time and when its not doin that i don't even realize im running a AV lol.
I used to use ZoneAlarm Firewall but that was in my early Vista days it seemed to work most excellent without probs. I would only get annoying initially with new progs since it makes sure nothing goes by that you don't want to. Not sure if its 7 supported yet.

 

[A320]

After having used AVG, Avast, Avira, and a few others I vote for ESET's NOD32, the lightest, quickest and most effective I have used to date hands down.

 

[TheIgster]

Vipre...totally lighter than any other, including Nod32.

 

[Criminal Fetus]

But do any of these give you that extra sense of security by sayin, hey you're ok buddy don't mind me im just doin a little update for ya. k, bye! lol That's my made up scenario for what i see when my Avast comes up and says, "Virus Database has been updated."

 

[A320]

They all do that don't they? Hey Igster, never heard of Vipre before.

 

[neoasr]

yeah vipre is d lightest one.. den eset den avira

 

[A320]

Just reading through their website now. I like the fact that it's just one option for the program and not bundled into a security suite or other crap like other companies.

 

[Dinesh]

They all do that don't they? Hey Igster, never heard of Vipre before.

That's their problem. Due to lack of proper marketing and advertisement, many ppl dont even know about Vipre. But try it to believe it.

 

[A320]

I'd like to try it but have recently purchased NOD32. I'll have to wait.

 

[TheIgster]

I'd like to try it but have recently purchased NOD32. I'll have to wait.

I have a 2 year 2 user license for ESET Smart Security. I still tried Vipre and I still bought Vipre over it.

 

[A320]

oh man I'm a sucker for anything that's better than the last, even slightly!

 

[TheIgster]

Yeah, me too, and for those that like ESET, I'm not saying don't use it, it is a good product. But I'm saying that I like Vipre better. That is all.

 

[gamepro127]

Antivirus around?

How about Firewall?

Thanks!

ESET NOD32.

Ive also heard great things about Vipre!
I recommend trying BOTH eset nod32 and Vipre before buying an AntiVirus, that is, if you are going to buy one! The bottom of my post has links to what is my favorite free AntiVirus and Firewall, both work great with Windows 7.

MANY people say avast, but heres why I think avast is over-rated:
1. It has a lot of shields, okay. But every shield it has makes a new process.
2. The "Web shield" was hardcore on my other laptop, I remember it using 20% CPU while watching a youtube video. (Btw my other laptop had windows xp and an Intel Celeron 1.6ghz) while ESET NOD32 only took 4% of CPU. Not to mention it using over 60mb of RAM at one time, ESET uses even less RAM doing a scan than the web shield in avast alone!
3. It slowed down my aunt's computer. We had to disable it to even use the computer.
4. It missed a lot of viruses on my aunt's computer. Including the conflicker. We even did a update, then quickly a boot scan. Malwarebytes was able to find over 500 items avast! missed (No lie)
5. NO HEURISTICS. PERIOD.

For Firewall, windows firewall is good enough but pc tools firewall plus (free) is amazing, beating COMODO. Very easy on resources, and user-friendly.
PC Tools Firewall Plus - Free Firewall Download

Best Free AntiVirus?
Free antivirus - Avira AntiVir

 

[Dinesh]

What i dont like about ESET is it uses CPU like anything during scans. Run a smart scan and open task manager and check it yourself.

 

[gamepro127]

What i dont like about ESET is it uses CPU like anything during scans. Run a smart scan and open task manager and check it yourself.

Like this?
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/6200/esetresourcehog.png


Btw, Im downloading/Installing World of Warcraft and all the expansions atm which is why my RAM usage was at 74% (installer.exe is WoW)

Heres a little something about ESET NOD32: When you are running out of free RAM, ESET starts shrinking its RAM usage. As you can see in my picture, ESET was using 24MB of RAM, thats when I have World of warcraft installing and using lots of RAM. Now, after a fresh re-boot with nothing running, its around 40MB.
I installing ESET on a computer from 1998 running Windows XP. It actually used less than 5Mb of RAM at one point

But note, the less RAM it uses, the slower it can scan. Althought it doesnt really affect CPU usage.

 

[Dinesh]

Althought it doesnt really affect CPU usage.

yes it does.

 

[gamepro127]

Althought it doesnt really affect CPU usage.

yes it does.

Well, if your on a computer with a 533mhz Celeron its probably going to try and keep the CPU usage down...But right now ekrn.exe is using 2% of my CPU, and something bouncing to 3% and going back really fast (guess its the "Web Access protection" Scanning all 3 world of warcraft downloaders). But if a worm were to just come in from the world of warcraft downloader, Im sure ESET would imminently terminate the connection

 

[whs]

In the reviews, the security programs that you have to buy usually show better results than the free ones like AVG; Avast, etc. free versions. That being said, I always try to get a deal on the expensive ones. I managed to get a free license (good for 3 systems) for Norton IS09 and the same for Kaspersky IS09. I got both from the big electronics chains with a coupon refunding the complete price. I just paid the sales tax and had a bit of paperwork. If you watch the Sunday ads (in the US), you may find the same in your area.
Both products work very well - on different PCs, of course.