Do antivirus software really make computer slow?

Answer 1

Not all do. I found that Norton Internet Security was bad. It really slowed my computer down. But i did find one that i really like and doesn't slow my computer down at all. Here is a link http://shop.trendmicro.com/

Answer 2

Anti-virus software can slow your computer down. By design, anti-virus software scans files when they are accessed, that is when they are opened, saved and listed in a window (like when you open My Documents". This is by design. The more available resources (CPU speed, memory) the computer has reduces the potential performance impact. In the "early" days, anti-virus programs used to be set by default to only scan executable files (.exe) because that's where viruses were put, however virus writers changed this and included viruses in all file types, so now virus scanners scan all files. Therefore a computer that is scanning only executable files would not show the same performance degradation as one scanning all files, but today this is not a safe practice.

Answer 3

first of all running any program makes ur computer slow. u have limited processing power, and each program takes up some processing power, leaving less for the others and slowing them down. the actual matter to consider is finding an antivirus that takes up no more space than you can afford to let it have. some antivirus programs take up more power than others.
norton takes up quite a bit of space and slows u down a lot more than say AVG or symantec.

Answer 4

Of course it does. The best antivirus softwares slow your computer the worst... but using the internet without them is diving from a plane without parachute...

Answer 5

Some anti-viruses like Norton or McAfee take up a LOT of harddrive as well as memory space. So, they do slow down your computer. On the other hand, you get anti-viruses like AVG or AntiVir, which hardly take up any space. Many anti-viruses, which are not very popular, are actually more efficient in their jobs than 'king' Norton and 'queen' McAfee.

Answer 6

Yes, because they check before the computer open the site or the file. it slows the computer for seconds, but if the computer slower. that means the problem is not anti virus soft ware.

Answer 7

I use Avast and it doesn't slow down my computer, but I turn off all the automatic scans of the hard drive, and allow it run when I'm not on the computer.

Answer 8

probable not the answer you want yet i take advantage of Norton AV 2008 with self assurance. sure, you pay for it notwithstanding it truly works all proper and heavily isn't intrusive. I hardly recognize that is operating. compared to the Norton safe practices Suites which bathroom down a pc. Sarge

Answer 9

Get "AVG" It will, NOT, I repeat: NOT slow you down, if it finds nothing during your use of computer, it will not do a slow coach on you> BUT, JUST you wait< if your E.mail has something suspicious, you watch, it comes to a COMPLETE stop!!! until you accept it as genuine mail or what!!! i got it myself,m for 2 years, NEVER any BUGS nothing, just blissful use!!

Answer 10

Yes, it does - and for no good reason. I just spent 5 months using both a mac and a pc and no anti-virus software - WHILE USING THE INTERNET AND PROGRAMS THAT DOWNLOAD DAILY - and found that, as I suspected, anti-virus doesn't really do anything. I wonder it its all fear-based selling, like insurance and much else.