Online Research
The main reason for performance
testing antivirus products is that not all antivirus packages are created equal
when it comes to providing PC and web browsing protection, memory usage,
background scanning speeds, virus detection and removal, etc.
Antivirus suites should have at
least the following modules:
Online Antivirus Scan
If you do not have any antivirus
software currently installed on your PC and you have been surfing the web, then
I strongly suggest you scan your system with an online antivirus scanner before
you download and install any trial antivirus suites.
Installed Antivirus Software
If you currently have any antivirus
software already installed on your system then this must first be uninstalled
completely and your system restarted before installing any trial antivirus
packages.
Recommended Uninstaller Program
After you have downloaded and
installed Revo Uninstaller, use it to uninstall your current antivirus program.
If for some reason, when you go to install an antivirus trial and it will not
install due to some leftover files from the previous antivirus program then
download the previous installed antivirus programs removal utility from the
vendor's web site and run it.
N.B. Restart your computer after you
have uninstalled the antivirus program.
System Resource Usage
How to Check System Resource Usage
This screen shows memory and CPU
usage of your computer.
Once you have noted the memory and
CPU usage without the trial software installed on your system you can now go
ahead and install the trial antivirus package.
You then need to run a full
antivirus scan of your system and repeat the memory and CPU check while the
antivirus scan is running. Again, note the memory and CPU usage.
Once you have completed your testing
of the first antivirus trial suite, uninstall it as per the instructions above
with the Revo Uninstaller program and repeat the testing process for the other
antivirus trial suite software you have downloaded.
Results
If your PC performed badly with all
of the antivirus trial software, the memory cannot be upgraded and you ran the
Advanced System Care before testing the trial software then your system may
require a re-installation of the operating system.
The need for antivirus protection is
of paramount concern for virtually all PC users.
First Things First: What IS a Computer
Virus?
A computer virus is just one of
three types of programs known as "maliceware". Most antivirus
programs are designed to detect and defend your PC from all three threats.
What Does an Antivirus Program Do?
Antivirus programs take two common
approaches to recognize threats to your computer.
1. Signature Detection: Via
Signature Detection an antivirus application scans your computer, drives and
storage devices for files that contain a code it recognizes as a virus variant.
Antivirus applications that scan for
potential computer virus activity can be more useful at detecting the latest
threats than those reliant on signature detection. Most of today's
"solid" antivirus programs utilize a combination of both signature
detection and virus activity to protect your computer against threats.
How to Choose the Antivirus Program
that is Right for You.
Risk generally equates to your
computers exposure to outside applications, files or connections. If you were
to operate a computer that would never come into contact with any program or
file not manufactured by a secure source, then you have virtually no need for
an Antivirus application. There are many good antivirus programs that will fit
this need available as shareware - a free download - throughout the internet.
Antivirus software manufactured for
business and home can be two very different applications both in cost and
effectiveness. Home versions generally cost less and come with fewer options
than business based antivirus programs. Most corporate versions of antivirus
applications allow for a central point of control over entire networks. Protection
can be divided between internet or application servers and individual PCs. Exchange/mail
and internet server protection is a must, as well as protection for
mission-critical file and application servers. Usually business antivirus
programs come as a server based application. Clients, or additional licenses,
are purchased for each computer or user that connects to the antivirus server.
With Regard to the Antivirus Program
Itself:
The best antivirus manufacturers
release updates on a daily basis and often offer updates to their programs on a
real-time, as needed basis. The ability for an antivirus software manufacturer
to release constant, and relevant, updates to their programs should be of great
concern to the user. - Just like all applications and operating systems,
antivirus applications will use your computers processing power, memory and
storage space to function.
