Antivirus replacement...

[1031982]

I am using AVG Free 8, and the CPU usage occasionally spikes to 100% (or whatever it can get to max it out). It's too annoying, and AVG and the AVG forums say I must have something to cause the resident shield to spike. I told them this, "Avg 7 free NEVER did this, and I ran it for over a week without having this problem". Soon, AVG 7 will no longer be updated, making it useless IMO.
I have been looking for a good replacement, but I can't seem to get a definite answer. Here is what I have/want:
Protection from the stuff at the same, or better level AVG offers.
Less CPU usage when not doing a scan. When scanning, I usually don't care as I would rather have the scan get stuff, and I don't use my PC when it scans anyway.
Cheap as possible. Free is best.
Not to much that I want, but the pricing becomes an issue.
I can get Norton from my OSP for free, but it crashes, and the protection is set to automatic in addition to being forced to use the security suite, not the individual Anti Virus.

I have looked, and it seems that my options (with the limits above) are either Aviria Free, or NOD32.
Everywhere I look, the opinions seem to be bias or based off older versions. I am hoping that here, I can get another solution more from results and logic, then the traditional "It's best because I say so." response.

Also, I use Comodo's firewall, with NO issues, and 5 anti-spyware tools (Listed below), so I don't need anything other then a solid AntiVirus.

Spyware Blaster
SpyBot S&D
Ad-Aware
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
Windows Defender

[jamotto]

I'm not going to say it is the best, as I sure it is not. If you don't need on-access scanning then Clamwin has done well for me though and it is free.

Free Antivirus for Windows - Open source GPL virus scanner

[lee_what2004]

let's see,
from some statistic website, it said Avira has more detection rate
then I tried it, it seems heavier than nod32, when entering the control panel, tried to update it, always fail, then try to download the update from its web, slow also
but the detection quite nice, its pretty quick to identify my non-illegitimate software
scanning, unfortunately I haven't tried it due I've uninstalled it cause the slow update turn me down

as for nod32, I still prefer version 2.7
*feel* that 3.0 can't detect well

for kaspersky, maybe a little biased here , just as its making my computer slow and the scanning takes ages, I left it for whole one day also not finished!!
i haven't tried the latest version, though I mind you.

and something extra, bitdefender, that thing only helps me to slow down my notebook, once, I got invaded virus from my friends thumbdrive, that thing can't doing a single thing except telling me that it prevented the system files being hijacked, but thats repeated infinitely!!
At that moment I uninstalled it and let the virus or whatever to rule down I better set off with avast! and do a boot scan and it picks up around 20 of them
after that, uninstalled avast! and installed nod32 and pick the rest up.

the weird thing is when I'm using nod32, I got less warning from virus except from some files that obviously a virus

conclusion, if needed , I choose nod32 for its ration performance over resources
or can always opt for avast!

*off topic*
just for safety, turn off all autorun on all drive from gpedit.msc and make a folder name AUTORUN.INF for every drive.
*off topic*

I guess that's enough ranting for the day

p/s. some statistic websites mention that bitdefender slow down their computer 200% even norton only around 50% well, hopes that not really true

[DarKSeeD]

I'm using Avira and Nod32. Avira had some history with slow speed at updates but now (version 8+) is going well. It's pretty easy to configure and has quite a few nice features. Nod32 is quite cheap, aprox. 30 euros / 1 year and also works well for me. I have the OS installed since september 2004 and never experienced a single infection so far, at least none detected

[DarKSeeD]

Originally Posted by lee_what2004

let's see,
from some statistic website, it said Avira has more detection rate
then I tried it, it seems heavier than nod32, when entering the control panel, tried to update it, always fail, then try to download the update from its web, slow also
but the detection quite nice, its pretty quick to identify my non-illegitimate software
scanning, unfortunately I haven't tried it due I've uninstalled it cause the slow update turn me down

as for nod32, I still prefer version 2.7
*feel* that 3.0 can't detect well

for kaspersky, maybe a little biased here , just as its making my computer slow and the scanning takes ages, I left it for whole one day also not finished!!
i haven't tried the latest version, though I mind you.

and something extra, bitdefender, that thing only helps me to slow down my notebook, once, I got invaded virus from my friends thumbdrive, that thing can't doing a single thing except telling me that it prevented the system files being hijacked, but thats repeated infinitely!!
At that moment I uninstalled it and let the virus or whatever to rule down I better set off with avast! and do a boot scan and it picks up around 20 of them
after that, uninstalled avast! and installed nod32 and pick the rest up.

the weird thing is when I'm using nod32, I got less warning from virus except from some files that obviously a virus

conclusion, if needed , I choose nod32 for its ration performance over resources
or can always opt for avast!

*off topic*
just for safety, turn off all autorun on all drive from gpedit.msc and make a folder name AUTORUN.INF for every drive.
*off topic*

I guess that's enough ranting for the day

p/s. some statistic websites mention that bitdefender slow down their computer 200% even norton only around 50% well, hopes that not really true

Bitdefender is slowing computers like $%^# especially the ones with low memory (128-512MB)
It was a nice piece of software at start but now it's junk.

[1031982]

Well, I have been using NOD32 trial, the only issue I have is when installing something or doing anything with large or a lot of files it slows that process down. Annoying, but I know it works. Will still be on the look out.

[1031982]

Wel, same problem just came up. Only NOD32 seems to like to do it randomly, and longer. Shame too, I was going to buy it next month.

[Chai]

Any antivirus should be similar. If it doesn't slow down your system, it's not a good antivirus.

Try Linux if you don't want to worry about virus.

[Unixlord]

No matter how many times I stress it, some people just seem to love triggering the deadly autorun on flash drives totally nuking themselves if the thing was infected.
My Linux laptop is always on. I just pop the suspicious flash drive in and clean it up. Fast and simple.

[Chai]

Originally Posted by Unixlord

No matter how many times I stress it, some people just seem to love triggering the deadly autorun on flash drives totally nuking themselves if the thing was infected.
My Linux laptop is always on. I just pop the suspicious flash drive in and clean it up. Fast and simple.

I've already disabled autorun on removable drives.