Gaming Anti-Virus for Windows 7

[!TIMMY!]

I was using Bullguard / Steel Series 8.7 Gamer's Anti-Virus & Firewall on Vista which was great as I could tell it to automatically switch to gaming mode when a exe was started. Unfortunately it doesn't work under Windows 7 64bit which I have just installed.

Can anyone recommend a Anti Virus & Firewall that will do the same thing and use low resources?

[GheeTsar]

I use Avast! as it doesn't use many resources myself. You may also like to try the Microsoft Security Essentials, but the detection rate is (AFAIK) not that great.

[kalniel]

I thought MSE is basically on par with other free ones these days?

I use it because it integrates very well and scan speed is very good, but Avast was better when it came to not getting in the way.

[Barrichello]

I use Avast! as it doesn't use many resources myself. You may also like to try the Microsoft Security Essentials, but the detection rate is (AFAIK) not that great.

+1 for Avast - Seems to work well with my Win7 (64bit) since RC

but does anyone know how to stop that annoying American voice quote "Definitions have been updated" each time it auto updates? maybe have to suffer it cause its the free version?

[kalniel]

Yes, just turn it off in options or settings or whatever it's called. I don't have Avast now to check but it only took seconds to find last time I had it.

[Grey M@a]

I thought MSE is basically on par with other free ones these days?

I use it because it integrates very well and scan speed is very good, but Avast was better when it came to not getting in the way.

That Microsoft Security Essentials recently came 4th in recent tests with AVG and Avast above it. Still these free AV clients all did better in scans that their pay to use alternatives. I will certainly reconsider using Nod32 next time around and check the detection rates on and the MS security essentials.

[matty-hodgson]

http://forums.hexus.net/operating-sy...rotection.html

http://forums.hexus.net/operating-sy...us-thread.html

[!TIMMY!]

cheers for the replies, i might just have to go with the AV that uses the least resources and not use a gamer mode. Just weighing up weather to get nod32, or the free avast or AVG.

[aidanjt]

WSE, you wont notice it.

[Singh400]

cheers for the replies, i might just have to go with the AV that uses the least resources and not use a gamer mode. Just weighing up weather to get nod32, or the free avast or AVG.

My vote has to go for MSE. Loving' it!

[Isira]

Another vote for Microsoft Security Essentials. It's quite an unobtrusive application.

[12GaugeShotty]

I use Avast! as it doesn't use many resources myself. You may also like to try the Microsoft Security Essentials, but the detection rate is (AFAIK) not that great.

From personal testing in a VM I found the detection rate to be quite good actually. It identified the same malware that NOD32 seemed to catch.

I use and recommend MSE to anyone considering a free AV alternative.

[Phage]

Ars appears to back up MrShotty.
http://arstechnica.com/security/news...av-compare.ars