Anti Virus or Anti performance?

[MikeMoss]

Hi

I have been struggling with my Dell XPS since I bought it over a year ago.

It would freeze; it ran slow, it crashed.

I was using the McAfee anti virus, that first came with my computer, and then was supplied free by Comcast, my Internet service provider.

I have reinstalled Windows several times but nothing seemed to improve the performance and Dell India didn't have a clue what was going on. I had checked ram, and everything else that I could think of. I have a ton of software on my computer, practically every Adobe program from Illustrator and Photoshop CS2 to Indesign and Premiere.

Two weeks ago my friend was visiting from Scotland (he is a computer wiz, and did computer security stuff for the Bank of England before he retired), and I was discussing with him the computers performance problems.

He looked at my computer and said that I should remove all the McAfee stuff, and what I couldn't remove I should turn off in Services, then install AVG Antivirus software.

I was somewhat doubtful but I had tried everything else so I did what he said.

I can't believe the difference, for the last two weeks my computer has not frozen up, it runs fast and crisp with no delay, better then it has ever run since I have had it.

Is this typical, I have told all my friends and now everyone is getting rid or their McAfee software. They all say that they have seen performance improvements. I'm not trying to flame McAfee, I know it works fine for most people.

Anyway I just wanted to post my experience, I still don’t understand, my problems were far more of a pain then other people using the software but now I’m not having any problems at all my computer is finally running the way I expected it to.

I suppose that something in my computer just didn’t like it, but it is such a relief to have it working right that I wanted to tell people.

Mike

 

[mofusjtf]

McAfee, NOrton, Trend, and any other Internet Security prodcut will hurt system performance. They include all kinds of add-ons and extra services beyond simple Anti-virus. MOst include firewalls, anti-spyware, etc. AVG fRee is simply anti-virus and nothing more. It uses far less system resources because of this. And is just as effective from an AV protection standpoint.

You might want to consider using additional protection for anti-spyware such as spybot, MS defender, and/or spywareblaster. All three offer real-time protection at a minimal performance cost. You can use the built-in firewall from XP for your desktop firewall.

 

[linney]

Norton Suites and McAfee Suites are resource hogs that tie up any computer. You can add me to the list of people who would give the same advice as your Scottish visitor.

Try and limit the number of real time scanners running in the background. Just do manual malware scanning on a regular basis. The only real time scanner you want running on your machine is AVG, the rest can be run manually when the machine is idle.

 

[MikeMoss]

Hi guys.

I was already running Spybot along with the McAfee stuff.

Now I am running AVG anti spyware, Spybot and Windows firewall.

I keep spybot up to date all the time with everything is can block, blocked.

Should I upgrade to the version of AVG that includes a firewall or is the Windows firewall adequate?

Is there anything else that I should be running to make sure that I am covered?

Thanks for the help.

Mike

 

[BadBigBen]

I agree with Linney, although I would suggest AntiVir instead of AVG, but that is personal preference...

@mofusjtf - I got to correct you a bit there, about Spywareblaster, it is not an ACTIVE antimalware scanner at all... what it does is just inoculates (basically blocking certain types of Malware from installing) a PC, like the immunize feature of SpyBot S&D...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[linney]

Windows SP2 Firewall is adequate for most Home users. A third party firewall may improve your security further, but a lot of them now involve more than just firewalling (extra programs) which brings you back to your first posting. Surfing habits are another consideration. As is also whether your machine is behind a Router that is already firewalled.

http://www.firewallguide.com/software.htm#Comparative

http://www.firewallguide.com/software.htm

Check any firewall's security and proper configuration via the "Shields Up" test at

http://www.grc.com

to make sure it is working properly.

 

[dan2229]

Follow-up on my problem:

NPC says that my virus definitions are not up-to-date even though it has now run over eight times.

Still flagging me as Urgent.

Do you think I have caught one of the smart viruses in spite of having Norton that prevents the software from removing viruses or updating its definitions?

Daniel

 

[MikeMoss]

Hi Linney

I ran the "Shields Up" tests and came away clean except for the "Ping" test.

It said that I should disable the ping function in my firewall but when I went to the Windows Firewall control panel that function was tagged as on but grayed out and can't be changed.

Everything else came up a good.

Do you know why this function can't be changed?

Any way for the most part it looks good.

Mike

 

[ASG0856]

I had this problem. It may be something to do with your version of live update. Try running the security check direct off the Symantec site and see what it comes up with.

 

[RexxSysProg]

I recommend running Zone Alarm as a firewall and not relying on Microsoft. The free Zone Alarm is pretty good. Also look at the discussion in "thread760-1420998

 

[linney]

Are you looking at the Firewall as an Administrator?

See if the Policies are correct.

firewall problems

http://groups.google.com/group/micr...ll+gray+OR+grey+OR+dimmed+xp#976840e056f532e0

Troubleshooting Windows Firewall settings in Windows XP Service Pack 2

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357

 

[MikeMoss]

Hi Linney

Yes I am the administrator.
I'll check out this other stuff.

I installed Zone Alarm and when my computer rebooted it would not load anything after Windows came back up.

The mouse was active not frozen but none of the icons came up and Task Manager wouldn't load either.

I tried this 3 times and then launched in Safe Mode and used System Restore to go back an hour.

That fixed the problem. I will try starting it again when I have time but I have too much work to do now to screw my computer up.

Mike

 

[firewolfrl]

I use Avast and I use it with my corporate clients. system works great and I have no slowdowns.

 

[Sympology]

A tip I've found it to remove your AV and AS about once every 6 months. I've often found that endless updates and def files, just seem to clog up and slow down. I noticed this previously with Sophos and more recently with AVG. Both mine and my wifes were "up to date", but mine seemed clunky and slow compared to hers. I realised hers seemed to also look slightly different, so I uninstalled my, deleted the folder and downloaded a new copy. Seemed to run much better after that.

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[MikeMoss]

Hi

Talk about junk.

For a long time I have used the clean up your computer utility in the McAfee suite that among other things says that it is deleting the Windows temp files.

After removing McAfee and getting things running better I started browsing through my computer looking for things I could get rid or like excess fonts (I had 1,800) I have cut about 400 of those, I don’t even know where some of them came from.

Well I looked at the windows temp folder and to my surprise there were many folders with literally thousands of files all created by McAfee still in there.

It wouldn’t let me delete the folders so I had to go through column be column and delete them. I see that AVG is creating files in there too so I’ll keep and eye on them from now on.

Just shows it doesn’t pay to get lazy.
I love getting a new computer and starting allover without the junk.

Mike

 

[linney]

What version of AVG are you using, I have the free version and don't see any AVG activity in Window's Temp folder?

Have you had a look at the user's Temp folder too, it is a hidden file so you would have to turn on show hidden and show system files options in Folder Options/ View.

C:\Documents and Settings\usernamexxxx\Local Settings\Temp

 

[MikeMoss]

Hi Linney

I may be wrong about what is creating the temp files.
Funny I'm positive that I posted a response to your question here yesterday. Hmm, maybe I didn't push the button or something.

One last note:

At the same time I was posting here I was posting on the Adobe Photoshop forum about problems I was having with Photoshop CS2. I had been running poorly for ages and I was unable to correct it even after reinstallation.

Constant messages about program errors, sluggish performance, etc.

After changing all my virus and firewall software Photoshop is suddenly running fine.
The messages about program errors have disappeared and it is running smooth and lag free. Before, the type in the tool bar wouldn’t ever show up when the program loaded until I dragged the mouse over it.

Thanks again for the help.

Mike