What is a good alternative to symantec antivirus

[blackrain]

Symantec has a program that runs in the task manager call RTVScan, which takes up a huge amount of memory, especially during the startup. Startup feels like an eternity. I am wondering whether there are any good alternatives that don't cause such slow startups and memory usage problems.

Systems specs:

P4 1.8 Ghz
640mb ram
BFG 7800GS OC

 

[sivart]

Avast
AVG
Microsoft Security Essentials
...etc.

 

[Ken g6]

Avira Anti-Vir. There's a free nag version, and it gets more viruses than most, too!

 

[dguy6789]

My recommendation is Microsoft Security Essentials. Unlike Avira and AVG, it's not an advertisement, there is no pay version. It uses a low amount of resources, starts up quick, and never bothers you with pointless messages like the other two do.

 

[AFurryReptile]

My recommendation is Microsoft Security Essentials. Unlike Avira and AVG, it's not an advertisement, there is no pay version. It uses a low amount of resources, starts up quick, and never bothers you with pointless messages like the other two do.

I'll second this. I've been using it for a month and had some good results. It's among the only six AV's to receive a "Good" on malware detection and removal at AV-comparitives.org as well.

 

[wwswimming]

PC Tools Antivirus
http://www.pctools.com/free-antivirus/

+ Superantispyware.
http://www.superantispyware.com/

 

[techfuzz]

ESET Smart Security
http://new.eset.com

techfuzz

 

[lxskllr]

My recommendation is Microsoft Security Essentials. ...It uses a low amount of resources...

Low amount of resources? It ran at over 100mb, and peaked at over 300mb. Compared with Avira using 12mb, with a 140mb peak.

 

[dguy6789]

I just checked mine right now and MSE is using 3.8MB of ram in the background. It jumped up to 4.4MB when I opened it.

Edit: I'm doing a full system scan, it's sitting at about 4.7MB of ram usage and not rising.

 

[phantom404]

Low amount of resources? It ran at over 100mb, and peaked at over 300mb. Compared with Avira using 12mb, with a 140mb peak.

My process is running at 772k right now. ~3MB while doing a full scan. That is of course im looking at the right process....msseces.exe.

 

[lxskllr]

My process is running at 772k right now. ~3MB while doing a full scan. That is of course im looking at the right process....msseces.exe.

There's 2 processes. I don't remember what the other one's called.

Edit:

MsMpEng.exe Is the other process.

 

[dguy6789]

I can't find the second process.

http://pfxfqa.bay.livefilestore.com...x87KfoL8GI5vzFd_9rE2CpF5KKvEl/mseramusage.PNG

 

[lxskllr]

You need to check the box for show processes from all users.

 

[phantom404]

I see it now, had to click show processes from all users. Its going back and forth from about 70MB to 75MB doing a scan. On idle its about 50MB

There's 2 processes. I don't remember what the other one's called.

Edit:

MsMpEng.exe Is the other process.

 

[dguy6789]

Yeah woops XD

That one is using 76MB during a full system scan.

 

[lxskllr]

I see it now, had to click show processes from all users. Its going back and forth from about 70MB to 75MB doing a scan. On idle its about 50MB

What O/S are you on? I had the Vista64 version. It should use more resources than the 32bit, but I wouldn't expect a tremendous amount of difference.

 

[phantom404]

I'm using Win 7 Ult 64bit

What O/S are you on? I had the Vista64 version. It should use more resources than the 32bit, but I wouldn't expect a tremendous amount of difference.

 

[alexruiz]

What version of norton are you using?
2009 was a radical departure form the resources hogs of previous years...