Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit: Antivirus Software

[StarsFan4Life]

Guys,

I normally do not install an anti virus application mainly because I think they are all crap and seem to "find the problem after the fact" instead of being pro-active and actually preventing the viruses from infecting. Another reason is because I don't do the crap web surfing (pr0n, FB, MySpace, etc) and never get infected.

I normally just run CleanUp 4.0 and MalwareBytes with daily updated definitions. Is this still sufficient or do I still need an AV suite? If so, are there any cheap/free ones that don't use a shit ton of resources and don't pop up every 5 secs with information?
Edit/Delete Message

 

[abaez]

Avira is fine for me.

MS now has their own free one as well.

 

[Stevem627]

Try Microsoft Security Essentials..new and works fine..and FREE without nags.

 

[Mem]

I'm using Avast 5 beta works great with Win7 x64,free too.

 

[Kenmitch]

AVG free works with Win7 x64 also....I've never had a problem with AVG so far.

The version for Win7 is a new version I think 9.0

It is also semi pro-active and doesnt seem to take up alot of resources

 

[Griffinhart]

Microsoft Security essentials has been working pretty well for me.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Originally posted by: Mem
I'm using Avast 5 beta works great with Win7 x64,free too.

Yep, I am using Avast 4.8 with Win7 x64 and it seems to work fine as well.

 

[Blazer]

MSE for me as well, i got tired of all the upgrade/pop-up reminders, i dont go to the dark side so i dont know how proactive it is but so far so good.

 

[jlee]

MSE here too (XP Pro). I will keep using it when I go to 7. It's entirely non-intrusive, which I love.

 

[Reckoner]

.

 

[nyker96]

personally like avg free, works with win 7/vista/xp. low resource requirement too.

 

[Modelworks]

MSE is the way to go. Doesn't interfere and works.
May not be the lowest resource user though, around 128MB ram usage.

 

[ZetaEpyon]

ESET NOD32 has a 64-bit version which worked well for me. Since my license expired, though, I've switched to MSE, which I actually rather like.

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
MSE is the way to go. Doesn't interfere and works.
May not be the lowest resource user though, around 128MB ram usage.

My Avast 5 Beta is showing

AvastSvc.exe 7008K

AvastUI.exe 1536K so under 9000K total...It also has silent gaming mode option so you get no sound or update popups.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: Mem

Originally posted by: Modelworks
MSE is the way to go. Doesn't interfere and works.
May not be the lowest resource user though, around 128MB ram usage.

My Avast 5 Beta is showing

AvastSvc.exe 7008K

AvastUI.exe 1536K so under 9000K total...It also has silent gaming mode option so you get no sound or update popups.

Yeah I thought it might be a bit high on usage for MSE.

msseces.exe - user interface 5.91MB
MSMPENG.exe - service executable 122.75MB

Still if you got the ram it works pretty good and I can't say it had changed performance any at all.


the only thing using more right now for me is firefox 3.6 beta 1 @ 127MB

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: Mem

Originally posted by: Modelworks
MSE is the way to go. Doesn't interfere and works.
May not be the lowest resource user though, around 128MB ram usage.

My Avast 5 Beta is showing

AvastSvc.exe 7008K

AvastUI.exe 1536K so under 9000K total...It also has silent gaming mode option so you get no sound or update popups.

Yeah I thought it might be a bit high on usage for MSE.

msseces.exe - user interface 5.91MB
MSMPENG.exe - service executable 122.75MB

Still if you got the ram it works pretty good and I can't say it had changed performance any at all.


the only thing using more right now for me is firefox 3.6 beta 1 @ 127MB

Firefox is such a ram hog Wish there was something you could do about it except closing it and restarting every 10 hours, depending on how much you surf the internet everyday.

 

[DefRef]

I used Avira with the RTM and other than the daily nag - is clicking something once such an assbreaker for people - it was fine and it caught stuff that McAfee on the old system let pass by. May try MSE with tonight's Win7 Pro load.

 

[nerp]

Originally posted by: Griffinhart
Microsoft Security essentials has been working pretty well for me.

Agree with this. Grab it and install it. It's a great alternative to all the bloat out there.

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: Mem

Originally posted by: Modelworks
MSE is the way to go. Doesn't interfere and works.
May not be the lowest resource user though, around 128MB ram usage.

My Avast 5 Beta is showing

AvastSvc.exe 7008K

AvastUI.exe 1536K so under 9000K total...It also has silent gaming mode option so you get no sound or update popups.

Yeah I thought it might be a bit high on usage for MSE.

msseces.exe - user interface 5.91MB
MSMPENG.exe - service executable 122.75MB

Still if you got the ram it works pretty good and I can't say it had changed performance any at all.


the only thing using more right now for me is firefox 3.6 beta 1 @ 127MB

Yep Firefox is a bit of ram hog,getting back to MSE I did try that for awhile but was so impressed with Avast 5 Beta 2 I kept it on my PC ,you don't notice its there,(Beta version program has been updated three times already)....I hear the official final version of Avast 5 is due in November so I can't wait for that,the new style layout looks very nice and the low memory usage is always a bonus,its faster on scanning too then MSE so another bonus.

 

[DefRef]

Originally posted by: nerp

Originally posted by: Griffinhart
Microsoft Security essentials has been working pretty well for me.

Agree with this. Grab it and install it. It's a great alternative to all the bloat out there.

Anyone else notice the irony of a Microsoft product being praised for not being bloated?

 

[lopri]

I buy AV licenses from eBay. There are legit sellers and prices are very good. Kaspersky 2010 works nicely with Windows 7 and so does the new Norton. I got 2 year license for 3 systems for $19.99.. Can't complain.

 

[ImDonly1]

NOD32 64-bit for me.

 

[nerp]

Originally posted by: DefRef

Originally posted by: nerp

Originally posted by: Griffinhart
Microsoft Security essentials has been working pretty well for me.

Agree with this. Grab it and install it. It's a great alternative to all the bloat out there.

Anyone else notice the irony of a Microsoft product being praised for not being bloated?

I would have years ago, but I don't think that has held true for years and years.

 

[mechBgon]

I'm using MSE too, seems pretty good.

 

[MadScientist]

Originally posted by: DefRef
I used Avira with the RTM and other than the daily nag - is clicking something once such an assbreaker for people - it was fine and it caught stuff that McAfee on the old system let pass by. May try MSE with tonight's Win7 Pro load.

Disable the nags.

Credit to John Link

For Win 7 Ultimate 64bit use the Windows XP Pro & Vista Business/Ultimate/Enterprise method
1.Start-> Control Panel
2.Administrative tools-> Local security policy
3.Click on Software Restriction Policy-> Action (at the top)-> create new restriction policies
4.Right-click additional rules (on the right side)-> new path rule
5.Click Browse and navigate to C:\Program Files(x86)\(Avira)\AntiVir Desktop\ and double-click avnotify.exe
6.Set the security level to Disallowed-> apply-> ok