What Antivirus programs are least HDD-extensive?

[ifacedown]

Hello.

I have noticed that some AVs are heavy on the hard drive, even during 'idle' times - I mean with simple computer usage, like Word processing, Some occasionally perform read operations from time to time. Others are quite heavy during updates. And of course, almost all are heavy on HDD during manual scans.

I read somewhere that ESET puts its signatures on RAM to lessen HDD usage. Well I notice that too on most AVs, but only during manual scans.

 

[XhenEd]

All I can think of are cloud-based AVs like Webroot.

 

[Kate_L]

Yes, also some windows services like "superfetch" and so on.

 

[ifacedown]

Ok, thanks much for the answers. But, however, how about Av that is not really cloud-based?

 

[Secondmineboy]

Avast and Emsisoft should be a good choice

 

[JakeXPMan]

AVG (very light = on scans, and updates), Avast (light = best in overall sense!), Panda (light = thanks to cloud)

By default, Avira is heavy on reasourses at desktop start. Then becomes light as the ones above.

PS,
I haven't ever used the two popular Chinese AV's, Baidu/Qihoo.

 

[ifacedown]

Only recently uninstalled Emsisoft Antimalware. Every time I perform full computer restart, the File Guard is disabled. After a complete signature update, it is enabled again.

 

[JakeXPMan]

Only recently uninstalled Emsisoft Antimalware. Every time I perform full computer restart, the File Guard is disabled. After a complete signature update, it is enabled again.

I would have a problem like this a few years ago, with MSE. It would be disabled for no reason... and it would fix with a reboot.

 

[hjlbx]

Only recently uninstalled Emsisoft Antimalware. Every time I perform full computer restart, the File Guard is disabled. After a complete signature update, it is enabled again.

That is a critical security bug that should be reported to Emsisoft.