AV With the Smallest Footprint

[DarkDavil]

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 ^^

 

[whs]

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

 

[Night Hawk]

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. http://www.sevenforums.com/system-security/45783-ms-security-essentials-vs-avg-9-0-a.html

 

[ignatzatsonic]

This is MSE:

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Results and comments - www.matousec.com

Think link might help you choose

Hope this helps,
Captain

 

[Night Hawk]

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.

 

[electrotune1200]

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

 

[Night Hawk]

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.

 

[DarkDavil]

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

Thx

-DD

 

[ignatzatsonic]

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.

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

MSE is a good choice. As far as i know Spyware Blaster is not much recommend on Vista as well as Windows 7 there is the reason is in this thread SpywareBlaster and Windows Vista :: freedomlist.com it good with XP. Instead of that go for WinPatrol or SUPERAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes is good recommendation.

Hope this helps,
Captain

 

[noobvious]

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

Thx

-DD

I'm running MSE and ThreatFire, and I fire up Malwarebytes once a week.

 

[whs]

SAS ( SUPERAntiSpyware.com | Remove Malware | Remove Spyware - AntiMalware, AntiSpyware, AntiAdware! ) is a pretty good scanner too. But the safest way on the net is a sandbox ( http://www.sevenforums.com/software/53030-safe-surfing-sandboxie-very-very-easy.html ).

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Captain Jack:

Thanks for those links.

As an experiment, I have uninstalled Spyware Blaster and installed a supposedly better-maintained and more up to date host file from MVPS.org.

I guess host files are pretty useless unless updated---how often do you guys manually update them??

Any other suggested host files that are useful?? I only found one other than MVPS and can't really see myself making manual additions.

What is the degree of overlap between these tools:

Malwarebytes free version
Superantispyware free version

As of right now, here is what I am using:

Windows Firewall at defaults
MSE
Malware bytes, manual scans 2 or 3 times a month
Upgraded host file as described above

Wondering how many layers a not completely obsessive person needs?

 

[Dinesh]

AV With the Smallest Footprint:

 

[Night Hawk]

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

Thx

-DD

Up until now one or two programs people are unaware of it seems are Spyware Terminator, Free spyware removal and spyware protection - Spyware Terminator

and another called System Protect found at File and Folder Protection ? Free System Protect

The ST program places an active guard much like a firewall around the system registry as well as scanning for bugs and was found to be more effective then Malwarebytes. When installing a new program with the latest version every little thing will see teh allow/deny prompt!

The second SP program guards system files in particular as well as others there and remains unnoticable besides a delayed screen seen when first arriving at the desktop. That goes away in about a half minute unless you click on the close button. It acts more like a file guard without any scanner you have to schedule or run manually.

 

[SlackerITGuy]

Avira Antivir Personal:

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Captain Jack:

Thanks for those links.

As an experiment, I have uninstalled Spyware Blaster and installed a supposedly better-maintained and more up to date host file from MVPS.org.

I guess host files are pretty useless unless updated---how often do you guys manually update them??

Any other suggested host files that are useful?? I only found one other than MVPS and can't really see myself making manual additions.

What is the degree of overlap between these tools:

Malwarebytes free version
Superantispyware free version

As of right now, here is what I am using:

Windows Firewall at defaults
MSE
Malware bytes, manual scans 2 or 3 times a month
Upgraded host file as described above

Wondering how many layers a not completely obsessive person needs?

ignatzatsonic you could check with Corrine he should be able to answer that better that me on this one

 

[whs]

Shyam, I think Corrine is a "she" - LOL

 

[Corrine]

MSE is a good choice. As far as i know Spyware Blaster is not much recommend on Vista as well as Windows 7 there is the reason is in this thread SpywareBlaster and Windows Vista :: freedomlist.com it good with XP. Instead of that go for WinPatrol or SUPERAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes is good recommendation.

Hope this helps,
Captain

To accompanying the Captain's information regarding the Spyware Blaster link at Freedomlist (BTW, Freedomlist is my original home stomping ground and we'll soon be celebrating our 10th birthday! ), Mike Burgess has provided the following information for updating the MVPS Hosts File in Windows 7: How To: Update the HOSTS file in Windows Win7

I would suggest WinPatrol AND Malwarebytes or SUPERAntiSpyware. The reason is that, although WinPatrol has removal capabilities, it is first a system monitor and it is not an anti-malware software.

With regard to MVPS Hosts file, it is carefully maintained -- not only with additions but appropriate removals as well.