Hello, I have AVG Anti-Virus 8 on WinXProSP3. And ever since I had this version it used a lot of resources. Like first of all, just like TuneUp Utilities (2008) also noticed, it uses a lot of RAM. AVG has multiple processes, but it's in particularly 'avgrsx.exe'. Which is I think also different from their previous version, which didn't show as many processes. Anyways, that one uses almost 55Mb at the moment and most of the time. Besides that, I also found it uses a lot of the CPU. I'm glad not constantly, but especially at startup for a minute or 2 until the system is calming down. Which is really a pain since I can't open any programs quickly for minutes. I think it sometimes also does it when using specific programs or something. It could be that it scans something, I'm not sure. Does anyone know what is causing all this, or did this AVG just turn out system-heavy? Or, which seems more obvious, did my system just get old for even maintenance-software? By the way, I have a Pentium 4 [3GHz] and 2Gb of DDR SDRAM [PC3200]. So note that it's not constantly bugging me, except for the RAM. And maybe occasionally the CPU being used up to 50% by that one process. But, even though that 55Mb of RAM is used, it's not like it's flooding the system. But it is a bit much for just 1 process that is pretty much always in the background. And I can't turn it off, it's part of the system, and if even turning it off, what would be the point of having it installed anyways. ThanX - Damage Inc.
You guessed it. AVG has turned out system heavy. Try avast free edition if you don't want to buy software. If you want buy good protection software then I recommend nod32 ant-virus 3.0. Very low on system resource.
That's too bad, unless newer computer will all turn out as good too. You know, that in comparison it's just as little usage as for example the previous version on my older computer. Should be heading that way anyways... But yeah, I've always heard good things about NOD32, like being pretty much "the best one ever". I know the name Avast, but don't know much about it. I might try those then. Thanks for your reply!
By the way, would you also know a good Firewall? I have COMODO, which is doing it's job, but sometimes also freaking out on processing for some reason. And especially, it's always whining about if I allow every little thing. I think I set it for some kind of super-experienced users or something. But I'm sure I could set it to not ask about every little thing. I'm only not sure how... There is also this list of files I have to "review" every time. I can also submit those to COMODO, but every time out of the hundreds or thousands of files, only a couple get recognized and I have to send the rest. So I don't know what that's about, their way of working doesn't seem to work. Does ESET or Avast have firewalls too? I've looked, but at a glance I can't seem to find much than just Anti-Virus.
I used to use Zonealarm but they have all become very hard on your systems. Do you have a network router that support "NAT" if so all you need is the windows firewall. You can follow the below steps to see how your systems is lookikg at the moment. 2. Backup any sensitive data to an external drive, cd, dvd, separate partition or flash drive etc. 3. Download CCleaner and save the file to your desktop. http://download.piriform.com/ccsetup209.exe a. Double click the install file b. Select the language and click OK c. Click next d. Click “I Agree” e. Click Next f. Untick the bottom checkbox and click install g. Click Finish h. You can delete the install file now or save it for future installations i. Open CCleaner from the desktop shortcut j. Click on the “Applications” tab and make sure all are ticked k. Click on “Analyze” at bottom l. Once finished scan click on run cleaner, bottom right m. Click on thr “Registry” button on the left panel n. Select “Scan for Issues” o. Click “Fix selected Issues” When asked to make a backup click YES and save the file somewhere safe p. Click on “Fix All Selected Issues” q. Click OK, Click close r. Repeat steps from letter “K” to “Q” s. Close the program. 4. Download all three files to a folder on your desktop. Extract both zip files to the same folder. double click the sysclean file and follow the prompt. Click on the advanced button underneath for more options prior to scanning. SystemClean http://www.trendmicro.com/ftp/products/tsc/sysclean.com Virus Patten File http://www.trendmicro.com/ftp/products/pattern/lpt383.zip Malware Patten File http://www.trendmicro.com/ftp/products/pattern/spyware/ssapi/ssapiptn663.zip 5. Download CWShredder and scan your system for “CoolWebSearch” malware. http://www.trendmicro.com/ftp/products/online-tools/cwshredder.exe While trying all these different programs make sure you limit Real-time Anti-Virus programs to one per system at any time. If you decide to try a different anti-virus make sure to uninstall the current one. Try and use the same rule for Anti-Spyware programs with real-time functuality aswell. Otherwise you will compromise your system resources. After completing steps, restart your system and use CCleaner again once restarted. Then carry on to next task. 6. Download Trial version of Nod32 Anti-Virus 3.0 for Windows XP/2000/Vista (32-bit) http://download1.eset.com/eval/win/eav/eav_nt32_enu.msi for Windows XP/2000/Vista (64-bit ONLY) http://download1.eset.com/eval/win/eav/eav_nt64_enu.msi Installation mode: Typical Enable threatsense early warning system Enable Detection of potentially unwanted applications You have now finished the install. Restart the computer and then right click on the Nod32 bottom toolbar icon and select “update”. Now you can scan your pc so again right click on the toolbar icon and select “computer scan”. Select “My Computer” and then select “Scan” at the bottom right. Wait for scan to finish to review results making sure any Bad files are Quarantined. 7. Download and install Counterspy v2 trial version for 15 day fully functional. http://go.sunbelt-software.com/?linkid=410 a. Click Next b. Agree to the license agreement c. Click Next d. Click Next again e. Click Install f. Click Finish – The check box above should be ticked to open the program. g. Click next – Getting Started h. Click next if using demo version i. Click next to enable automatic updates j. Select “YES” and Select “CAUTIOUS” then Next k. Select “YES” then Finish l. Select “Enter Counterspy Now” To update the CounterSpy application and security risk definitions Click Updates on the toolbar or select File - Check for updates... from the menu bar. The Update Services window opens and downloads the available updates. After it is complete, click Close. m. Now you are ready for a full system scan n. Select “System Scan” from the left menu o. Select “Full System” p. Select “Low Risk Programs” q. Select “Cookies” r. Select “Save Options” s. Above Select “Scan Now” Please wait for scan to complete. To be on the safe side “Quarantine All Objects”. Now click on “System Tools” and click “My PC Checkup” and Click “Start”. Click Continue and “OK”. Now go back into “System Tools” and select “PC Explorer”. Here you can check startup programs, ActiveX controls, BHO files, and much more. If unsure how to use leave as is for now. 8. Restart your PC. 9. You can do a scan with CCleaner again. 10. Next you can do a quick Spyware Audit which won’t actually install any program but just check the system for infection to see where we are in the fight against Spyware/Viruses a. Go here and follow the prompts. If you have no internet, skip this step. http://www.webroot.com/services/entaudit/auditbegin.php b. Click on the link and save the file to your “Desktop” c. Run the file and wait for all 5 steps to finish d. View the displayed results. If your system only shows cookies then you’re OK. If your system has any other one of three groups then more work needs to be done. 11. Now if you’re using Windows XP let’s make sure you have the latest Service Pack. a. Open CCleaner and in the top Heading is a System Spec List. b. Where is says “MS Windows XP SP 1, 2 or 3. c. If you have anything below SP3 you should download the following file: http://download.windowsupdate.com/m..._c81472f7eeea2eca421e116cd4c03e2300ebfde4.exe d. Save the file to your desktop and then install by following the prompts. e. You will probably need to restart your system after the install. 12. Now we want to check what internet explorer you currently use. The latest is “Internet Explorer 7”. a. Open internet explorer and click on “help” in the top toolbar. b. Click on “About Internet Explorer”. If you have version 6 or below you need to upgrade to version 7. c. Download it here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...BE-3385-447C-8A30-081805B2F90B&displaylang=en d. Click the download button and save the file to your desktop. e. Open the file and follow the prompt. 13. Now we are going to check your firewall security. If you currently run a software firewall other than the windows system firewall then I would suggest uninstalling it and replacing it with a network router which supports NAT (network address translation). If you cannot afford one straight away then leave it installed for the time being. You may already have a router or it maybe built into your Broadband Modem. A router makes your PC merely invisible to the outside world by displaying dummy IP Addresses. a. Go to this website https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2 b. Please have a short read prior to taking first test. c. Click on “Proceed” d. Click on each test option in the table File Sharing, Common Ports, All Service Ports, Message Spam and Browser Headers. e. Read your results after each test. The tests in Red are the most important. If your results do not come back as stealth and you are using a software firewall then it’s not really working for you. If your results do not come back as stealth and you have a network router then it is not configured correctly or the firmware needs updating. (see your hardware manufacturers website for this) If you have a router and a software firewall other than windows firewall then I would uninstall it and run the tests again. Software firewalls can be a major drag to your system and are too much work to maintain let alone configure. If you are not sure about an application wanting permission to access the outside world then the wrong decision could easily be made causing a security issue or your operating system functioning incorrectly. Watch the attached video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=1rsUefv-nlk
