Advice Request Lightest complete suite

[rndmblk]

Looking for recommendations for the lightest complete suite i.e. the sort of suite where you really only need the one commercial product

This is for my nephew's new (to him) gaming desktop PC. He's on the other side of the country so tech support isn't easy - so first preference is a suite not the tools I use like H_C, CD etc

 

[sepik]

Hello,
For a gaming system, i can recommend McAfee Internet Security or F-Secure Safe. Both offers decent enough protection and does not slow down your gaming system.
F-Secure Safe is kind of a "setup-and-forget" product. No so much settings to tweak. McAfee Internet Security offers some more features, like a firewall and is more "tweakable". Check out SerialCart for great prices for McAfee and F-Secure. It's 100% legit site and their support is amazing. I've bought some security products from there.

Kind regards,
-sepik

 

[monkeylove]

Maybe he can download and run something like the free version of NovaBench (without the GPU tests) with no AV installed (just Defender), and after installing the trial version of selected suites. From there, compare scores, and the AV with the highest scores might be the lightest.

Also, I noticed that after particular updates to either the OS or the AV, what's fast might become slow, and vice versa.

 

[silversurfer]

• ESET Internet Security
• F-Secure Safe

Both should be one of AV suite with very low system impact on default settings, but as always all user systems are different on Hardware, etc.
You must be trying out how every AV is running on your device before you going to purchase any AV, just downloading the trial from homepage of AV vendors!

 

[rndmblk]

Very good points to those advising that performance will differ. Will suggest he try a benchmark style tool and try some trials. Suggestions for suites to include in the testing would be appreciated though

F-Secure SAFE
ESET and
McAfee

will be on list list

 

[enaph]

ESET is the first name that comes to my mind when I think about light allround suite.
Second name on this list will be F-Secure.
However Windows Defender alone will also do the job and will be less problematic than any 3rd party suite.

 

[amico81]

I can confirm that Eset, Fsecure and McAfee are very light. Take a trial version and test it. A full system scan helps for creating a cache and will improve the performance.

 

[Behold Eck]

K7 Total Security is mucho, mucho, crazy light full suite.

Regards Eck

 

[Thales]

F-Secure
AVG
ESET

They are light as hell.

 

[Back3]

The Latest tests from AV -Comparatives: F-Secure, K7 and McAfee. And F-Secure has a gaming mode.

Comparison

www.av-comparatives.org

 

[SeriousHoax]

ESET, F-Secure, McAfee, K7 in that order.

 

[rndmblk]

Thanks again all. I'm going to suggest ESET, F-Secure, McAfee, K7, AVG as worth a test.

I'll suggest my nephew consider similar settings are myself for things like Windows and Browser/extensions.
Obviously he won't use ConfigureDefender and if he goes for an option with a firewall he won't need Firewall hardener or SFC.

I assume Hard_Configurator is still worthwhile though? I was going to suggest either Recommended Settings or Basic Recommended Settings. I'm guessing he's unlike to need most of the things blocked by those settings.

 

[Cortex]

ESET, F-Secure, McAfee, K7 in that order.

I feel much the same way

 

[silversurfer]

I assume Hard_Configurator is still worthwhile though? I was going to suggest either Recommended Settings or Basic Recommended Settings. I'm guessing he's unlike to need most of the things blocked by those settings.

Hard_Configurator is easier to handle by more advanced users

Better just suggesting to use "Simple Windows Hardening" by @Andy Ful

New Update - Simple Windows Hardening

Post updated in September 2024. SWH works with Windows 10 and 11 (all versions including 24H2) SWH ver. 2.1.1.1 - July 2023 (added support for Windows 11 ver. 22H2) https://github.com/AndyFul/Hard_Configurator/raw/master/Simple%20Windows%20Hardening/SimpleWindowsHardening_2111.zip SWH ver...

malwaretips.com

 

[rndmblk]

Hard_Configurator is easier to handle by more advanced users

Better just suggesting to use "Simple Windows Hardening" by @Andy Ful

New Update - Simple Windows Hardening

Post updated in September 2024. SWH works with Windows 10 and 11 (all versions including 24H2) SWH ver. 2.1.1.1 - July 2023 (added support for Windows 11 ver. 22H2) https://github.com/AndyFul/Hard_Configurator/raw/master/Simple%20Windows%20Hardening/SimpleWindowsHardening_2111.zip SWH ver...

malwaretips.com

Good point! Less tech suppprt for me potentially too

 

[jackuars]

If he has a gaming rig, why would you want a light suite?
Going by actual numbers: ESET, K7 and F-Secure are the lightest suites. Kaspersky works light on high end systems too.

 

[rndmblk]

If he has a gaming rig, why would you want a light suite?
Going by actual numbers: ESET, K7 and F-Secure are the lightest suites. Kaspersky works light on high end systems too.

Its a second hand machine and I gather he wants to run with minimal overhead to maximise framerate

 

[oldschool]

I assume Hard_Configurator is still worthwhile though? I was going to suggest either Recommended Settings or Basic Recommended Settings. I'm guessing he's unlike to need most of the things blocked by those settings.

Good point! Less tech suppprt for me potentially too

@silversurfer 's advice indeed. Simple Windows Hardening. Simple UI. AVG is a good candidate.

 

[bayasdev]

Setup a standard account for him and use the built-in Windows Defender and Firewall.

To increase Defender's sensitiveness use Configure defender and don't forget to install uBlock on all browsers even if you prefer to go with a third party suite like KIS or EIS since most infections come from malvertising campaigns.

 

[Digmor Crusher]

For a gamer, a good option for a light antivirus is Bullguard, since there is one of the most advanced game modes, and for work Eset, F-Secure, Symantec Endpoint Protection.

McAfee and Avg (Avast) seem to me a little heavier than those listed, and Microsoft Defender is much heavier than all of the above, imho.

I don't think so.