What anti virus works best without slowing my pc down..seriously..I use McAfee..hate it !!!!?

Question

I've had Norton, McAfee and hate em' both..they slow down my pc so bad...what is the best, cheapest and fastest? Need some help friends...I loved my new laptop until I updated my current McAfee..now it's sooooo slow..I'm ready for a change.
By the way..I have a Gateway, AMD Turion, Dual Core. It's a new one, bought 1 yr ago..so it's fast, and loaded..PLEASE HELP..and thanks

Answer 1

You need to be aware that security software programs such as firewalls and anti-viruses are very difficult to fully remove.

When you change from one Vendors solution, to a different one, you need to ensure the first one is fully and completely removed before installing the next one.

If you do not remove it fully, peices are left behind in both your file system and your registry, which will not only slow your system down, it will cause instability, incompatibility, not allow the new security solution to work properly, and can even crash your system.

You say you have had both Norton and McAfee on your system.

Before you put anything else onto your system, you need to go to each Vendors website and locate their Special Removal Tool. Each has one.

Download the tool to your desktop and run it. Then reboot your system. Once you reboot, run it again, just to be sure it got it all the first time.

With McAfee's tool, after it runs you can view a log of what was done, what was removed. If you receive an error that some files where not able to be removed, you will need to remove them manually. Write down each file and registry key that is highlighted in red and says Not Removed, or Unable to remove, etc.

Locate each file in your file system, right click on it and then select Delete.

For the Regestry keys it was unable to remove, open registry editor, by using the Run dialog box, type in regedit and click OK, or Enter, and regestry editor will open. Make sure you back up the registry before removing anything. Once you delete a key in registry editor, it is gone for good, it is not sent to the recycle bin.

It is a good idea to set a maual Restore Point within System Restore before making any changes to the registry, or any other changes to your compuer, whether it be adding new software, hardware, or making configuration changes. It is very simple to create a manual Restore Point. Just open System Restore via the Help and Support link on your Start Menu. Just name it with a meaningful name so you can easily identify which Restore Point goes with what changes.

You will need to use an administrative account to do any of these things.

If, in registry editor you receive an Access Denied error when attempting to delete a key, right click on that key, select permisions, add Everyone, click Apply, then delete the key.

Do this for the Norton Speical Removal tool as well.

Use each tool one at a time, and reboot after you complete the steps for each tool.

Once your system is finally clean of any files and registry keys the Add/Remove process left behind from attemping and failing to fully remove these types of software programs, you can install your chosen security solution.

I prefer Panda. It has a full suite, and covers everything I need. I have never been infected or had any other type of malware inside my system due to how good Panda is.

Panda has a ton of features, yet does not bog down a system or use up too much processor resources. I love Panda and would never use a different solution.

Panda is the ONLY security software which can use the Windows Add/Remove to fully and completely remove the software.

Panda updates virus signatures daily, not weekly or monthly as some do.

Panda has a featrue which allows it to discover and quariinteen any suspected virus or malware, before a signature is created for it. Which means it can capture and hold any suspected malware, before it can infect your system.

Panda has a super two way firewall, rids the system of spyware, including malicious cookies, can backup your files, create a boot CD for booting into a clean system for malware fighting if one does somehow get past the Panda defenses.

Panda covers my entire system. I do not need additional spyware programs or any other security software.

Panda also offers an Online scan and removal of infections free of charge to the Internet community. Anyone can use it, but it is best to have a solution installed and continuasly scanning for malware.

Panda does NOT force its software on consumers by adding it to a new system as a Trail version.

Panda was the FIRST security software company to offer three computers lisence for the price of one.

Here is a link to the Panda website so you can check it out for yourself.

http://www.pandasecurity.com

Good luck and a nice holiday season.

*Edit* Sorry this is so long, but it is an important issue.

I want to add that I agree you do not need to perform a manual scan every day. Good security software is automatically scanning your system for malware without having to do a manual scan. I also agree you should perform a once weekly, or once monthly manual scan, what the time frame between manual scans are depend on what you do on the Internet. If you download a lot of files, then do it weekly. If you only serf the net, shop, view email, etc, just scan once a month.

Now, about the comment that "Most" people who know computers well use Free or Open Source for security, I absolutely do not agree with that. While SOME people with a lot of computer experiance use free or open sourse software security solutions, not MOST of them do.

In this country you most often get what you pay for. The free security software out there is good if you can't afford to buy a good product. It is simple ecconomic fact that companies are in business to make money. While they may offer a free program, it simply will not have the effort put into it that a program you pay to use has.

Most free software is to get you in the door. It is meant as an inducement to buy better features, or additional featrues.

Please to not believe that free security software is superior to that which you pay for.

One other GREAT benifit of Panda, and yes, you have to buy it to get this service: You get 24/7 FREE technical support, via a phone number. You can receive assistance via the websites support pages, or via email, but the best is the toll free number where you can talk with an actual technical person who will help you fix any issues you may face. I even had a Panda technician call the McAfee technical department because McAfee would not remove properly from my system, and McAfee wanted to charge me to help me remove it. I never asked for or bought the McAfee program I was trying to remove, it came as one of those sucky Trials.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

whoever said buy windows live sare or whatever it is, dont. Most anti viruses are 'specifically designed for windows' so theyre talking bull.

Anyone that says use a mac, isn't answering the question.


Basically: Use AVG. Google it. AVG free edition is free, and provides everything you ned for anti virus protection. Just because you pay for something doesnt make it better, most people that are good with computers use free or open source software for things such as this.

Also dont have auto scans everyday, just have one every week or just manually perform once a weekish. I do a virus scan every month or two now, i dont understand how p[eople actually manage to get viruses :S. don't attachments unless you are 100% sure you were supposed to receive it, dont go on any dodgy sites, dont download any dodgy cracked software off limewire. Don't download any small files or zip files from limewire.

If you need a firewall try zonealarm free. :)


Edit:

to the person that disagreed with me:

I still believe most people that know a lot about computers use open source / free programs. As most of them use different distros of linux.

Panda is a resource hog (memory). Most free programs that people recomend (such as ad aware and spybot) are fully functional and free, they offer users a chance to donate to the devs or buy the full program which has extra functions (which are not needed).

'You get what you pay for' is utter rubbish: most version of linux: free. Windows vista: £200 odd.

:) Basically use AVG, if you have any problems they havea forum and any computer information forum will have memebers happy to help you out.

If it doesnt work out, go for a version you have to pay for.

And another thing, not all developers are 'companies' they are not all trying to make money, hence open source software, the person replying to me didnt seem to understand that.

Answer 5

Panda has a ton of features, yet does not bog down a system or use up too much processor resources. I love Panda and would never use a different solution.

Panda is the ONLY security software which can use the Windows Add/Remove to fully and completely remove the software.

Panda updates virus signatures daily, not weekly or monthly as some do.

Panda has a featrue which allows it to discover and quariinteen any suspected virus or malware, before a signature is created for it. Which means it can capture and hold any suspected malware, before it can infect your system.

Answer 6

Norton is somehow sucks now in these days. And, some time it scans PC by default & this is most irritating thing with Norton anti-virus. I believe than Quick Heal is most functional anti-virus for PC. It's a total security software for PC.

Answer 7

Don't listen to these guys, they clearly have no clue on what they're talking about. I am a developer at Microsoft so I know a thing or two about computers. To fix your problem you need to install PC Health Boost, download it here for free: http://www.healthboostpc.com

It's very light and it's the only antivirus/cleaner with a 99.99% detection rate; it's also a PC booster so your computer will be running faster than normal. Install it, hit run and problem solved. It shouldn't take you more than 5 minutes.

Answer 8

Do you have more than one copy of Anti-Virus loaded? This will slow down the computer speed a lot and you will need to un-install the extra Anti-Virus. All of the Anti-Virus software's slow down the PC operation.

Answer 9

McAfee is horrible... I use to use it but I uninstalled it because it's so bad.

Your best off using AVG, a very good anti-virus that minimizes the memory it uses to keep you protected. You might also wanna check out Spybot for Spyware, and Ad-aware for adware.

Answer 10

We tried Superantispyware.com and it works really good. It's also compatible with other virus programs.

Answer 11

So..
The first thing to do to speed up pc and get rid of malwares and viruses is cleaning the registry with a program like CCLeaner http://bitly.com/UrAQLW
Very useful program!
I hope it helps