Antivirus that runs when I want it to. Ondamand no background service.

Other than the good advice already given by other members here are my thoughts:

It's obviously best to install an AV with real time protection then beef up security using other methods.

Other than that if you make regular system image backups so that you've got a clean backup to fall back on in the event of problems you could try Crystal Security

It doesn't require installation and runs on demand.

I only use it on rare occasions as an on demand scanner but it does offer real time protection that can be enabled/ disabled with a couple of clicks.

Here's a good online scanner I use at times as another layer of protection. It will install itself and download updates on the first use, do not check uninstall when doesn't. It has nothing at all active until you call it up again from the same site.

Free Virus Scan | Online Virus Scanner from ESET

Another is this one which can be run from as a portable application.

Downloading Emsisoft Emergency Kit

I like Britton30 use this often. It's part of my layered protection plan.
Free Virus Scan | Online Virus Scanner from ESET

I use Avast but take your pick.

Thanks it seems good and recommended over panda. I don't even think panda works without internet.

New FS said:

...I don't even think panda works with internet.

Hunh? Panda is an internet based AV.

Lady Fitzgerald said:

New FS said:

...I don't even think panda works with internet.

Hunh? Panda is an internet based AV.

typo meant to say without my bad.

Just looking around avast with my current set up should be fine. Some recommend 3rd party firewall but I think that overkill and windows firewall is fine.

Panda is primarily a cloud AV, it depends on the internet to upload new files it has not come across before, but it does use an offline cache repository of bad files. (kinda like signatures.) Avast is primarily a signature based AV. It depends on definitions. Avast also uses cloud analyzing as well for heuristic purposes.

For what you are looking for, I would go with avast. You can disable all active shields and use it as purely an on demand av. Having said that, when avast is running it uses more resources than panda.


More information you may or may not be interested in:

Here is a decent writeup of cloud antivirus programs and how they work:

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/cl...-antivirus.htm

Panda defense blog against the use of cloud avs and the common myths:
http://www.pandasecurity.com/mediace...sed-antivirus/

How avast works:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0opPjjX7UZE

https://blog.avast.com/2012/11/16/wh...-does-it-work/

As for firewalls, if you are behind a router with the router firewall on, windows firewall should be enough.

2 way firewalls are always a debate. Some ironically do not protect as well as windows firewall. For firewalls that detect programs connecting to the net that should not be (threats for example) the argument is to not have the malware on the pc in the first place, thus a 2 way firewall is unnecessary as it is better to have more second opinion scanners then firewalls. If the malware is on your system, it already is to late. A firewall will not save you. Also, for average users they end up allowing everything anyway thus making it useless. Which is why windows firewall has a silent approach.

The other argument is a 2 way firewall helps protect your privacy, and can keep certain programs that you do not want to connect to the internet ever to be locked down while still keeping the program. You can also lock down certain processes and other items.

andrew129260 said:

Panda is primarily a cloud AV, it depends on the internet to upload new files it has not come across before, but it does use an offline cache repository of bad files. (kinda like signatures.) Avast is primarily a signature based AV. It depends on definitions. Avast also uses cloud analyzing as well for heuristic purposes.

For what you are looking for, I would go with avast. You can disable all active shields and use it as purely an on demand av. Having said that, when avast is running it uses more resources than panda.


More information you may or may not be interested in:

Here is a decent writeup of cloud antivirus programs and how they work:

HowStuffWorks "How a Cloud Antivirus Works"

Panda defense blog against the use of cloud avs and the common myths:
Arguments against cloud-based antivirus | MediaCenter Panda Security

How avast works:

avast! CommunityIQ - How we find new computer viruses - YouTube

https://blog.avast.com/2012/11/16/wh...-does-it-work/

Thanks I will definitely take a look at those links alittle later. For now i just decied to install Avast and just to see how everything would react to the real time protection if left it on. Everything seems pretty much fine just as speedy as before. First reboot did take alittle longer but rebooting after that it seems fine and only seems to be using 36Mb in totally for Ram and Cpu seems tame. So I just decided to keep the real time protection on for now. Thankful quickscan found nothing but I will do a full scan later. So for now advast free is installed on the windows partition but i will take another look at panda since you guys are recommending so much.