Which antivirus for old PCs?

[IronManForever]

Uh, having faced tough time without an Anti-virus (and I thought I could chug along!), I have finally fallen to my senses.

What's the perfect Anti-Virus/Internet Security suite that:
1. has low system requirements and performs well on minimum hardware,
2. has good detection rates (I dont want an infection!). ??

My Windows box has the following specifications:
- Intel Celeron D 2.26 GHz
- 768 MB RAM
- nVidia FX 5200

 

[swatkat]

Uh, having faced tough time without an Anti-virus (and I thought I could chug along!), I have finally fallen to my senses.

What's the perfect Anti-Virus/Internet Security suite that:
1. has low system requirements and performs well on minimum hardware,
2. has good detection rates (I dont want an infection!). ??

My Windows box has the following specifications:
- Intel Celeron D 2.26 GHz
- 768 MB RAM
- nVidia FX 5200

Avira and ZoneAlarm Free. Having these two software is sufficient.
*www.free-av.com/
*www.zonealarm.com/security/en-us/zonealarm-pc-security-free-firewall.htm

 

[Krow]

Isnt the Zone Alarm free a bandwidth hog?

 

[rhitwick]

Avira+Komodo my solution...

 

[IronManForever]

^ Comodo what? Firewall w/ antivirus?

@swatkat
You're probably the security expert here right?

How's Kaspersky/Norton Internet Security suite?

Avira, I doubt its that good. Despite having it installed, updated, drive autoplay disabled, a virus could make through.

 

[rhitwick]

^ Comodo what? Firewall w/ antivirus?

Komodo firewall.

How's Kaspersky/Norton Internet Security suite?

U told its low end. But has 768MB RAM. KIS2009 is recommended if u've good amount of RAM. I think ur RAM amount would suffice but, u may experience a bit lagging while having it.

Avira, I doubt its that good. Despite having it installed, updated, drive autoplay disabled, a virus could make through.

Can happen with any A/V. Thats why having only one antivirus solution is not enough. If possible have A/V, Antispyware, Firewall.

I've:-
KIS2009+Adware+Antimalware+RemoveITPro

 

[swatkat]

Along with an AV and firewall, you can have a non-memory-resident tool like SpywareBlaster to block IE and FireFox based hijackers/spyware/adware.
*www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

And, if you are using Windows XP SP2 or later OSes, then you would most probably have Windows Defender. Windows Defender is quite good at monitoring critical areas in the system and intercept the changes (like driver/service registration, changes in critical areas of Registry etc.).

Regarding performance (memory/CPU usage) and detection rates, you can refer AV-Comparitives ( *www.av-comparatives.org/ ). Check the "Performance" and "Main Tests" section in "Comparatives/Reviews" link in the main page of their website.

 

[IronManForever]

^^ Thanks. Checking out the link.

No, Windows Defender is not there by default in Windows XP. I had SP2, I upgraded to SP3. Its not there. Was available for download once for XP too, dont know what has become of it now. Heard that it went the paid-software route for XP users.
-----------------------------------------
Posted again:
-----------------------------------------
Aww Damn! I'm infected again, with the same thing! And no AV.

W32.sality or similar thing was detected last time. And I am damn sure its the same this time, probably because my earlier files were infected.

It leaves no room for doing the normal stuff you do when you are infected.
- No Task Manager/Regedit. Disables every way on enabling them.
- No safe mode.
- Random .exe's firing up every now and then.
- Infects every other .exe that it finds.

That was based on my encounter with it last time.

What should I do. I dont have an antivirus and I doubt it will let me install one.

 

[rhitwick]

Take ur HDD to a frnd's house and scan it there.
Or,
Format it. No other options.

The virus even disables registry so no-way u can fix those from registry...

 

[harishgayatri]

Please Put Ubuntu on this system.

It will run nicely and there is no antivirus suite needed.

 

[toofan]

I will suggest you use the Avast free edition. Its light and reliable.

 

[phuchungbhutia]

^ me too . . Avast is light and free and can easily update with slower connection like gprs too . . And can download updates from its site . .
-----------------------------------------
Posted again:
-----------------------------------------
Also put spybot search . .

 

[manusag]

NOD 32. very light on resources. try it

 

[IronManForever]

Take ur HDD to a frnd's house and scan it there.
Or,
Format it. No other options.

The virus even disables registry so no-way u can fix those from registry...

Formatting would be the last thing I'd do. Thats what I hate about Windows, something goes wrong, bang! Format.

Already fixed though.

- Sysinternals Process Explorer for terminating the weird named processes.
- Malwarebytes Antimalware updated and scanned.
- Norton AV updated and scanned.

All traces of virus (apparently) removed.

Task Manager/ Registry enabled. Registry cleaning yet to do to normalise tampered values.
Have to use System File Checker to check and replace tampered system files, if any.

Please Put Ubuntu on this system.

It will run nicely and there is no antivirus suite needed.

Thanks kid. I had that. If I am using Windows, there's a reason. I am no Windows fan to be torturing myself uselessly.
----

Ok thanks everyone.

 

[skeletor]

If you need performance (speed and detection rate) on old computers, then nothing beats NOD32. AVG and avast! are overrated antivirus softwares. Avira AntiVir is good though.

NOD32 2.7 could run easily even 32MB RAM. NOD32 4.0 will run easily on 128MB RAM though.

Installing a Firewall will add to the bloat. If you need a Firewall, then rather go for Eset Smart Security which is equivalent to NOD32 + Firewall.