non-intrusive anti-virus programs

[darkhosis]

My last virus I had on my computer was over 5 yrs ago, but I still would like to have a decent AV program. !@#$%^&* like trendmicro and "onecare" takes too long, and I havent found a method to just scan memory + my download directory using those.

 

I was wondering if anyone knew of a decent anti-virus program that you can totally turn off (nothing memory resident left whatsoever) and just be able to manually scan every once in a while whenever you download or receive new files off of the internet w/o having to deal with all the ctrl-alt-deleting and msconfig and registry editing and !@#$%^&*. i.e. something like how a lot of spyware works. of course it says im exposing myself to spyware by turning it off, but at least it doesnt force me to run some !@#$%^&* in the background. i had to totally turn off that windows defender crap.

 

is there any such program? i have googled and seen a lot of ppl talking good about "nod32' or something, but it seems like it also runs in your memory.

Edited July 19, 2008 by darkhosis

[Hakaku]

I use Spybot Search & Destroy. Although yes, it does partially run in your background; it won't run any unwanted scans or take up a load of memory at any time (unlike other software), it'll just ask you if you want to allow a certain registry change (which is very useful imo). There's quite a few settings you could play around with depending on your preferences, but I'm not sure you'd like the scan time, since it scans your whole computer.

[»Ceiu]

I just use the best antivirus ever: common sense.

 

Generally, you have to be pretty dumb to get infected, as most virii/trojans these days rely on you downloading and running it manually -- rarely are they attached to executables that you actually want (unless you really really want that porn codec).

 

Though, for the rare cases where I need a scan, I use AVG free or Kaspersky's online virus scan (also free).

[Samapico]

I use AVG free as well... Just disable the link scanner though, cause it slows down browsing a lot and is completly useless. But other than that, I don't notice it's running at all.

[L.C.]

I just use the best antivirus ever: common sense.

 

Generally, you have to be pretty dumb to get infected, as most virii/trojans these days rely on you downloading and running it manually -- rarely are they attached to executables that you actually want (unless you really really want that porn codec).

Couldn't have been said any better.

 

I use NOD32 and it's pretty decent compared to any of the mainstream ones I've used before.

Edited July 19, 2008 by L.C.

[darkhosis]

I just use the best antivirus ever: common sense.

 

Generally, you have to be pretty dumb to get infected, as most virii/trojans these days rely on you downloading and running it manually -- rarely are they attached to executables that you actually want (unless you really really want that porn codec).

 

Though, for the rare cases where I need a scan, I use AVG free or Kaspersky's online virus scan (also free).

yah, same here. altho every once in a while (like earlier today, haha) i'll download a whole bunch of crap that really, really needs a good virus scan. and it sucks to have to go to trendmicro or onecard or whatever.

 

i have like 15 old HDDs and bought one of those sata/ATA to USB things and im gonna go thru them all and 1) see what sorta interesting !@#$%^&* is there from 10 years ago (and if its formatted, try to undelete !@#$%^&*, so i downloaded like 6 or 7 diff restore progs)... and 2) so i can wipe them totally clear using one of those formatters that does like 7+ sweeps at it, so i can give em away.

[rootbear75]

i have like 15 old HDDs and bought one of those sata/ATA to USB things and im gonna go thru them all and 1) see what sorta interesting !@#$%^&* is there from 10 years ago (and if its formatted, try to undelete !@#$%^&*, so i downloaded like 6 or 7 diff restore progs)... and 2) so i can wipe them totally clear using one of those formatters that does like 7+ sweeps at it, so i can give em away.

you could just low-level format them instead... that works , and you only have to do it once

of course, the only problem with that is that any bad sectors that were marked will become "unmarked" and if you want them reset you gotta send it to mfr.

other than that...

Edited July 20, 2008 by rootbear75

[Samapico]

I think he wants to get rid of his child porn and bomb making manuals collection before the federals get to him :/

[rootbear75]

I think he wants to get rid of his child porn and bomb making manuals collection before the federals get to him :/

in that case, low-level format is the way to go!

[»D1st0rt]

i hear fire works well

[darkhosis]

i found something called "a-squared" that seems pretty cool. using the free version.

[Dav]

AVG free is still my weapon of choice, not over the top but does the job very nicely indeed.

[X`terrania]

AVG free is still my weapon of choice, not over the top but does the job very nicely indeed.

Edited July 21, 2008 by X`terrania

[Aceflyer]

I use the McAfee Security Suite. It's a classic but a goodie.

[Dav]

I use the McAfee Security Suite. It's a classic but a goodie.

the first version I had of that about 6 years ago blocked an essential process and caused excessive memory useage till my PC BSOD'd. I guess it has improved since then though

[Aceflyer]

I use the McAfee Security Suite. It's a classic but a goodie.

the first version I had of that about 6 years ago blocked an essential process and caused excessive memory useage till my PC BSOD'd. I guess it has improved since then though

 

Yep, the version I have allows one to set permissions for each program. Works pretty well for me...

[»Purge]

I use avast!.

[»Lynx]

I use nothing, and then boot up in Linux if I do happen to get owned.

 

-Lynx

[rootbear75]

Just dont use Norton... w/e you do

 

 

Trend worked fine for me...

As well as SophosAV

[darkhosis]

yah, i have heard all the horror stories about norton, haha.

 

anyway, that a-squared free thing works great for me since it adds no memory resident processes whatsoever. it was also recommended as a good program by the guy that wrote that vista tweak guide (tgtc_vista.pdf). but if you do pay them money and upgrade you get this cool feature:

 

Background Guard

To stay protected against new infections of Malware, the a-squared Anti-Malware background guard is required. It includes the double protection using the OnExecution Scan, which scans programs right before they are started with the signature scanner, as well as the Malware-IDS.

so works for me. using this whenever i download some suspicious files + maybe windows malicious software tool remover + onecare or whatever, and no mem resident programs. i prefer it that way anyways. you tend to get all sorts of false positives on !@#$%^&* like keygens anyways.

Edited July 22, 2008 by darkhosis

[Samapico]

Keygens? False positives? I always wondered that... Few weeks ago, there were some keygens that were identified as threats, but when I used them like a year ago, they appeared fine to my antivirus. And I don,t seem to have been infected or anything; I always wonder if these are really threats or... dunno... I avoided using it anyway; and now when I use a keygen, I run it a few time and collect a couple of keys and put them in a .txt, so I don't have to run it again after a future reformatting, for example, just in case.

[L.C.]

in that case, low-level format is the way to go!

I hope that was a joke, because it certainly isn't.

[rootbear75]

in that case, low-level format is the way to go!

I hope that was a joke, because it certainly isn't.

[Dav]

Just dont use Norton... w/e you do

 

 

Trend worked fine for me...

As well as SophosAV

 

norton is great for your hyper paranid but careless computer newbie with a half decernt machine to run it. Its problem for most though it is goes too far.

[Suicide_Run]

Whats so bad about norton? Some one want to fill me in? Not that I use it...haven't used norton for like 5-6 yrs...ever since they fixed the phone registration byp!@#$%^&*