Looking for a Virus scanner that is not a system hog and has the ability to close

[Bellus88]

I have no anti-virus right now, after trying AVG, their was no way you could close it. I am looking for an anti vrius that has the ability to close and at the same time not be such a system hog, Im only on a p4 3.2ghz, it doesn't have to be free. Any suggestions?

[Bolkonsky]

Well, you definitely want real-time protection, so try Microsoft Security Essentials. The problem is, any real time protection programs won't have the ability to close (otherwise viruses could close them), but MSE is not a hog at all.

For just scanning from time to time, I'd recommend Malwarebytes.

[Top-Tier-Tech]

+1 to the above. His suggestions are identical to what I choose for free protection.

[Vezon]

Whatever you do, don't get Mcafee. It is a huge hog.

[Thanatos]

Just get Microsoft Security Essentials, as has been mentioned.

[SonOfCrusader76]

Just get Microsoft Security Essentials, as has been mentioned.

Does that cover all malware, including viruses, spyware, adware, keyloggers, rootkits and so on; is it better than Windows Defender? How would you say it stacks up against Avast! One of the things I like about that is the ability to do a boot time scan - so you're scanning before Windows has even loaded. I used to have AVG Free, but after I read about some of its updates literally causing Windows to be unable to boot, I thought I'd try something else.

[Ybbon]

Comodo is pretty non-intrusive, I'm pretty sure you can close it (on my wifes laptop so not sure right now). I use BitDefender which is very configurable and not too intensive. As someone mentioned, any real-time system will be intrusive to some extent, but just schedule a full scan for an overnight job so it doesn't interfere.

[Shaio]

Don't use a virus scanners, don't download/open/use files that are obviously viruses. The only time i install a virus scanner is immediately before formatting, and to see how many viruses i might have collected, which is almost always NONE, infact the most I've seen in recent years was a few shady cookies. ( also turn off all windows updates and never update windows, its been proven several times people can get windows updater to download viruses..)

Virus scanners are pointless unless you blindly click every link you see, in most cases they slow down and affect a system worse then the viruses there meant to stop.

[SonOfCrusader76]

Not true - never heard of drive by downloading? Going online without Anti Malware software is akin to sleeping around without any protection - you're gonna catch something.

Also, it's not always obvious that something contains a virus - only an idiot would make it that obvious. That's what Trojan Horses are for. As for system slowdown, I've used ESET, Avast! and AVG - no noticeable system slowdown.

Edit: @OP - why do you want a virus software you can close? Better to have it running at all times so it can catch malware. Look for one with a 'game' mode if you don't want it interfering with gaming.

[Top-Tier-Tech]

Virus scanners are pointless unless you blindly click every link you see, in most cases they slow down and affect a system worse then the viruses there meant to stop.

Most modern antivirus programs are extremely light on system resources, as long as you have a decent dual core CPU and 2GB of RAM you shouldn't experience any discernible slowdowns from anything other than a system scan which you can initiate only when you want to manually.

Going online without Anti Malware software is akin to sleeping around without any protection - you're gonna catch something.

Not necessarily All depends on the websites you visit. Obviously visiting porn related sites and torrent related sites, "free" this or that sites etc. increase your chances of running into a security threat, but as long as you stick to big name trusted websites you're pretty much safe, of course it's best to have something like MSE installed since it's free and doesn't tie up system resources but it's not like you are "going to catch something" security risks just aren't that prevalent in categories other than what I named.

[Shaio]

Not true - never heard of drive by downloading? Going online without Anti Malware software is akin to sleeping around without any protection - you're gonna catch something.

... Which only happens if you use internet explorer, using that is like waving a free haven flag about for viruses, or goto sites that are obviously virus ridden.(porn sites, christian review sites etc)

At-least my experience over the last... 8 years or so.

Most modern antivirus programs are extremely light on system resources, as long as you have a decent dual core CPU and 2GB of RAM you shouldn't experience any discernible slowdowns from anything other than a system scan which you can initiate only when you want to manually.

i have a good quad and 4 gig of ram and consider them a waste of resources, but again i avoid ever getting viruses in the first place.

Not necessarily All depends on the websites you visit. Obviously visiting porn related sites and torrent related sites, "free" this or that sites etc. increase your chances of running into a security threat, but as long as you stick to big name trusted websites you're pretty much safe, of course it's best to have something like MSE installed since it's free and doesn't tie up system resources but it's not like you are "going to catch something" security risks just aren't that prevalent in categories other than what I named.

Agreed, and still with a little experience with the itnernet, one can look at a site and think "no way i want my computer on this" close it and check for any new or suspicious programs.
Its sorta obvious, to me its about as obvuious as a hooker with pus oozing scabs all around her mouth, you can just tell u don't want to go there.

[GasMask]

Avast has a gaming mode and can be shut on 1 click plus its free and tells you when its updated.

[Bolkonsky]

I don't think Gaming Mode does anything other than shut off the annoying popup messages it used to have.

[GasMask]

I don't think Gaming Mode does anything other than shut off the annoying popup messages it used to have.

And the rest.

Auto voice over auto scanning pop ups background downloading and so much more .

Anyway with avast on i can play any game without stutter it is not a massive resource counterpart.