Hey fellas (and the few gals), I need a recommendation on a good anti-virus program. I also use my PC with a DAW, so I need a program that when I disable it, it's not still micro chomping at my CPU.

I was using Norton, but decided to let it expire because Norton is a really bad program for PC's used for audio recording. You can set it to run in Silent Mode, and disable it, but Norton will still be in the background chipping away at precious resources. It's a very intrusive program IMO. It also hijacked my computer for letting it expire. I ended up having to completely remove it from my computer.

I had Norton some years ago and changed to GData Internet Security, which I am very satisfied with. It has earned excellent reviews in the past years. However, I fear it might not be available globally, it's a German company.

I use Microsoft Security Essentials. It's free and works well. I have it on my DAW with Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit. I'm pretty sure it can be temporarily disabled (I can't check right now, I'm on the wrong machine), but I've never had the need. The DAW seems to work fine with it running.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security-essentials-download


all my pc's have this no problems..

Can MS Security Essentials be disabled? I have my PC optimized for audio recording, and one thing that I need is the ability to disable anti-virus software while working with audio.

Thx

sorry I dont see anyway to disable MSSEC

I've been using AVG free version for many years. It works great, and I have had zero issues with my earlier Windows XP and now Windows 7.

Lots of great choices out there with most being free.

Ian

But do they provide sufficient protection? I don't think so. Last week the email passwords of 16 million Germans were stolen due to a botnet attack.

You could always get a MAC

Check out Advanced System Care 7. I have it on all my computers and does an excellent thorough job. There is the free one whitch can be upgraded for $29.

I can only base it on MY actual real world experience, just like everyone else will do, hopefully.

Many years with AVG free...two different systems...never an issue...not one...I do a lot of downloads/uploads.

As I said, there are plenty to choose from. AVG is one of many.

Ian

Yes, it can be temporarily disabled.

How to do this.

I stand corrected you can disable it on MSSEC ......I learned something Thanx BIG741

I've used Panda Cloud AV for the past 3 years. The free version works well and it can be turned off when needed.

Panda Cloud

Duane

Glad to be of service!

Actually if you look at a lot of the tests on Anti-virus software in PC Magazines and test centres, you will find that some of the free ones do a better job than some of the paid for ones.

In addition the 16 million computers that were supposedly infected would have had all different types of anti-virus programs installed, with many probably having none or so far out of date that they would be next door to useless. (Not forgetting that a lot of them probably haven’t kept there OS up to date)

Also take into account that it tends to be the browsers that get attacked these days, so it doesn’t matter if you run Linux, Mac or PC, they are all vulnerable. (Linux & Mac are greater risk as most don’t have security software to detect the browser attack, and thus will be blissfully unaware of what is going on in the background)

By and large if you have security software on-board and up to date, (Plus you keep your system fully updated) then unless you do something silly or go on dodgy sites the chances of getting infected are not as great as security vendors make out. (Most vendors use scare tactics to make you buy their products)

Bill

Haven't tried anything in many years besides AVG Free. It has stopped every mean thing that tried to attack me in its tracks.

AVG Free - the best of the best!

Gary

Another vote for the Mac. No anti-virus software for 20 years on the platform. Zero viruses.

Zero.

'Nuff said.

That you know to, however unless you have anti-virus software installed you won’t know as you have nothing to detect it.

In addition the popularity of the Mac (And Apple in general) these days means you are close to the point where it is worthwhile for the bad guys to target the Mac, so don’t get cocky or complacent, or you will end up in deep doo doo.

Bill

Folks been saying THAT for 20 years, too.

Unix is the industry standard for secure OS's (been a mainstay of corporate America for decades), and that's the core of OSX.

START with a secure OS, you end up with a secure OS. Start with a riddled with flaws OS, you NEVER get rid of them.

It's not my job to ensure I don't pass on anything sent to me from a Windows system. It's THEIR job to make sure it never gets sent in the first place.

Thanks for the suggestions folks! Diki, a MAC is on my list. MACS (IMO) can't be beat in terms of performance and efficiency for audio production. With every brand of PC, each has so much garbage in terms of "exclusive software". Using a PC can require a lot of work tweaking settings to optimize it for audio recording. It took some heavy tweaking on mine and now it's so "plain Jane", it looks like it's running on Windows 95. My goal is a quad core MAC and eventually upping it to 16 gigs of RAM (hopefully, before 16 gigs becomes industry standard LOL).

Was going to sell my PC, but I think my wife actually wants it

PC will do the job cheaper, but the Mac will get the job DONE!

Computers, to me, are like cars. Get you and your gear from A to B. I don't want to HAVE to know how to fix them, just to go to work. I'd rather leave that to a mechanic..!

The only thing you have to know on a Mac is the program. The OS takes care of itself. That's worth every penny of the extra they cost, IMO

Avast.
I am using the Free edition and I've been clean for the last four years. Since I use it. Before I tried couple of others and fried one HDD through an bad bad virus.
10/10

http://www.avast.com/index

I use









I use Webroot and like it very much. Lloyd