Whats the very lightest AV program out there?

[hatemf23]

I've googled and googled but all I could find is outdated or vague info. I'm on a old P4 desktop with only 3 GBs ram available, the PC is sluggish as it is so Im looking for the minimalist AV possible. I already have MBAM for malware detection, now I just need a AV for real-time protection.

 

[hatemf23]

This cant be such a hard question can it?

 

[TrustMe]

Microsoft security essentials is the lightest I've used. I've tried Norton, McAfee, AVG, and Avast. McAfee brought it down to a crawl. I also have a P4 with 3 GB of useable ram.

 

[RolandJS]

Is your MBAM a freebie or a pay-for? If your MBAM is a pay-for, ignore this post. If your MBAM is a freebie, you might consider going with the pay-for version of Emsisoft Anti-Malware which now includes anti-virus. It's real time shields really do work! And, according to Quietman7 in Bleepingcomputer.com, Emsisoft has a relatively small footprint with big protection.

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi:

Just to clarify a bit...

...despite the name, Emsisoft Anti-Malware is a fully flagged Anti-Virus + Anti-Malware application.

So, if you choose to go with it (or with Emsisoft Internet Security, which also includes a firewall), Emsisoft suggests that any other full, real-time Anti-Virus (either MSE or 3rd-party AV) be uninstalled.

AFAIK, some folks do run both EAM and MBAM Premium together. But I cannot confirm whether or not that may create conflicts between the real-time protection of MBAM Premium and the anti-malware component of EAM.

The products do enjoy a good reputation and support is said to be excellent. Both EAM and EIS are paid programs.

So, if you opt for EAM or EIS, consider it a full AV and be sure you UNINSTALL any other real AV, including MSE.

Cheers,
MM

 

[indianacarnie]

Panda is very light on your system. Look for a cloud based A/V for the "lightest" protection. Panda Cloud , Immunet and Comodo all have cloud based A/V's.

 

[RolandJS]

"...some folks do run both EAM and MBAM Premium together..." In the older days, no problem! Scuttlebutt elsewhere indicates running both program's real time shields may cause conflicts; a few even advise no longer having both AEM[V] and MBAM pay-fors installed together.

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi:

"...some folks do run both EAM and MBAM Premium together..."

In the older days, no problem! Scuttlebutt elsewhere indicates running both program's real time shields may cause conflicts; a few even advise no longer having both AEM[V] and MBAM pay-fors installed together.

Yes, we have plenty of folks who run MBAM2 with EAM or EIS over at Malwarebytes forum.
It may help to set mutual exclusions.
But compatibility has not been a major issue up until now.

EAM and MB3 will likely be an entirely different story.
It is too early to tell.
There are many reports of several true, 3rd-party AVs and even MSE experiencing severe problems with MB3.
EAM has not yet popped up on the forum, but it's still early. Time will tell.

MB3 is a different program entirely from MBAM2.

What works with MBAM2 may or may not work with MB3.
It's important to distinguish between them.
And if running two applications side-by-side works for a particular user, then it works.
(Sometimes, claims by AV vendors about incompatibility are rooted more in marketing than anything else.)

Now that MB3 is in full, public release, it will be important to be clear about whether one is referring to MBAM2 or MB3.

Cheers,
MM

 

[RolandJS]

Thanks MoxieMomma! You made it crystal clear

 

[MoxieMomma]

^^ You are most welcome. Thanks for reminding us about potential compatibility problems. ^^

Speaking of which:

Along with the great info mrtee provided I would like to add that on some Windows 7 64-bit machines, if MSE is installed it just locks up the system.

Adding the following files to MSE Excluded Processes works for most people.
C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes\Anti-Malware\MbamPt.exe
C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes\Anti-Malware\mbam.exe
C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes\Anti-Malware\assistant.exe
C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes\Anti-Malware\MBAMWsc.exe
C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes\Anti-Malware\mbamtray.exe
C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes\Anti-Malware\MBAMService.exe

On my Win 7 laptop, I found that turning off MSE Real Time Protection worked the best and since MSE has never found anything on my laptop, I have no qualms about turning it Off and even uninstalling it. I'll let Malwarebytes cover me.

Wow.
This seems to mirror ongoing issues between MBAM/MB3 and MS's Enterprise security products.
And it sure seems to eviscerate the claims that MB3 is/will be compatible with other traditional AVs:

For our users who do prefer to continue using a traditional antivirus alongside Malwarebytes, by all means please continue to do so. Malwarebytes will always maintain compatibility with all major security software on the market, both free and paid. In particular, Microsoft’s traditional antivirus Windows Defender is included by default and for free with Windows 8 and 10, and is a useful additional layer alongside Malwarebytes 3.0.

Sorry, but the "it's never found anything, so I will uninstall" argument really does not hold water, either.
I've never been infected.
Neither MBAM nor KIS nor MBAE has ever "found" anything", except a RARE malicious URL block from one or both, and a F/P or two.

Running security applications is like paying for auto or homeowner insurance -- just because your house has not burned down and you've never had a crash, should you give up the insurance?

Should I just uninstall KIS and MBAM and MBAE, since none of them has ever "found" anything?

I'm shocked and disappointed to see a Malwarebytes employee, barely 4 days after MB3 launch, essentially throwing in the towel on side-by-side compatibility with nothing fancier than MSE.

Wow.

<rant off>

MM

 

[MoxieMomma]

OOPS!

Mods, I lost track in the previous reply of where I was posting.

It may be best to please split off everything below the first sentence (about MSE compatibility problems) and to move the remainder to the working "Latest Version" thread?

<Your call>

Sorry about that.

Thank you,

MM

 

[AddRAM]

MSE

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/14210/security-essentials-download

 

[Layback Bear]

This is what security programs I run active and they have worked well together for years.

Microsoft Security Essentials.
Malwarebytes Anti Malware Premium.
Windows 7 built in Firewall.

I don't know exactly what footprint they all have together because I don't really care. They work and that is what counts.

Jack