An antivirus/spyware/malware software that won't drain all my computer resources?

[kalniel]

Oh right you buy them on a usb like that. I thought there were certain antivirus progs you could just run off a usb stick.

There are (most of them have stand alone binaries) - but that wouldn't free up any computer resources.

[SixFeet]

avast, MSE, hitman pro. all solid free options. don't forget malwarebytes aswell.

[h4150h4150]

Comodo Internet Security Premium. It's free, have been using it for years, very pleased with it.

[ZaO]

Comodo Internet Security Premium. It's free, have been using it for years, very pleased with it.

Yeh Comodo is great. I always use it for the firewall and Defense+.

[pctech2012]

The most lightweight one I've found is Prevx which basically runs from their servers as it uses heuristics and queries anything its suspicious of.

Only snag is the full version with realtime protection (which I use) is £25 a year

[iMike]

The most lightweight one I've found is Prevx which basically runs from their servers as it uses heuristics and queries anything its suspicious of.

Only snag is the full version with realtime protection (which I use) is £25 a year

A 3 year license isn't bad, it costs £52.40.

[pctech2012]

I use it as I also do my banking on my home PC so security is important.

It doesn't rely on virus definitions.

[stothy]

Avast is winning every free award going at the moment, so have just switched from AVG, great job!

[Larkspeed]

Best setup in my opinion is a router with a hardware firewall and common sense.

My router gives me a full stealth firewall so I do not need one on my PC

And I do not run an antivirus, I use a web based email and only download attachments from known sources, I also do not frequent the types of websites that like to sneak things in without your knowledge.

I have been doing it like this for nearly 3 years now and so far I have never once had a virus on my machine.

IMO all this PC security stuff is heavily overhyped, using peoples own paranoia against them to make money

[tigertop1]

No need to spend good money on paid security software

A combination of either free AVG or Microsoft Security Essentials with Malwarebytes. the latest Spybot RC2, and of course Trusteer Rapport will keep you safe without a penny being spent.

If you must have a paid one for whatever reason AVG is pretty good. Norton 360, 2013 gets launched in October I think but having tried it in beta format I think it is too demanding on hardware and too complicated for everyday use

[Lee H]

I'm currently using Norton Internet Security 2012.

I know all the uproar about their applications being bloated is still fresh in peoples minds, but norton said this is much better after going back to the drawing board and I just had to investigate their claims.

After 6 months usage I can say that the footprint of the program is a lot smaller and when doing a full system scan, the CPU usage graphs on my keyboard don't go past 3% with it spiking to 5% on occasions.

[Colquhoun]

I use Comodo Internet Security (AV, firewall and HIPS all in one package, free and very effective).
Takes some configuation to really suit your needs, I have mine set up to be as aggressive as possible.
Supplemented by Malwarebytes, manual system scans every week.

Used to use Avast!, decent AV but I find Comodo more aggressive.

Ones to avoid IMO would be...

AVG (recent definitions update caused BSODs, and I always see people with AVG toolbar interfering with or redirecting their web searches which I consider to be malicious behaviour.)
McAfee (poor detection rates, recent definitions update prevented any traffic through system NICs effectively taking people offline unless they booted into safe mode w/ networking or uninstalled McAfee)

[Larkspeed]

Ones to avoid IMO would be...

AVG (recent definitions update caused BSODs, and I always see people with AVG toolbar interfering with or redirecting their web searches which I consider to be malicious behaviour.)

How is it malicious behaviour?

That's what the toolbar is supposed to do and you are given the option to not install it when you install AVG. if you install it by mistake you can always uninstall it without removing AVG.

Sorry but before I realized I was wasting resources even running an anti virus it was AVG that I used and I never once had an issue with it.

[Colquhoun]

How is it malicious behaviour?

That's what the toolbar is supposed to do and you are given the option to not install it when you install AVG. if you install it by mistake you can always uninstall it without removing AVG.

Sorry but before I realized I was wasting resources even running an anti virus it was AVG that I used and I never once had an issue with it.

I guess it's just my experience of AVG.

Part of my job involves giving instructions to your average non-computer-savvy person over the phone, directing them to specific websites. A lot of the time they don't even know what an address bar is. Trying to get them somewhere when they have AVG toolbar installed can be a frustrating experience, akin to trying to get around a browser hijacker.

Admittedly I've not used AVG on any of my own systems in many years, but the last time I did (maybe 8 years ago) I soon uninstalled it due to heavy system resource hogging. I'm sure it may have improved since, but the AV I've used since have done the job so I've never had any call to try AVG again. That's why I can't recommend it

[pctech2012]

I'm currently using Norton Internet Security 2012.

I know all the uproar about their applications being bloated is still fresh in peoples minds, but norton said this is much better after going back to the drawing board and I just had to investigate their claims.

After 6 months usage I can say that the footprint of the program is a lot smaller and when doing a full system scan, the CPU usage graphs on my keyboard don't go past 3% with it spiking to 5% on occasions.

*reaches for rotten tomato. (joke)

Internet Security products are the bain of my professional life.

Non tech savvy people buy them, switch them into uber paranoid mode and then wonder why half the stuff they try to do doesn't work.

I have a similar setup to what Larkspeed mentioned earlier, Prevx on my PC along with Trusteer and a firewall on my router combined with careful surfing habits.

No Internet Security stuff needed.

[gingerBen]

I personally use and recommend Avast, but if the occasional pop up ad is too annoying then I recommend Microsoft Security Essentials.

Also use Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for occasional scan.