Antivirus choices for an old offline computer

[J_L]

If the computer rarely changes software, you should try Avast's hardened mode.

[George.J]

Originally Posted by Anupam

I installed Qihoo on the computer with P-IV and 1 GB of DDR RAM. I was expecting it to run light. I found the interface pleasant, and settings easy too.

However, when I tried to copy a file from desktop to one of the partitions, the copy was running too slow. Normally, it would be smooth, but now it was crawling.

That really put me off. Maybe I should have given a bit more time to it, but this was bad enough for me, and I uninstalled Qihoo AV after this.

I have now installed good old Avast on the PC. It still slows down the computer when you open a folder with exe files in it. Surprising for me, since I thought that with 1 GB it would not do this, but I guess, apart from the RAM, the CPU, and the type of RAM plays a part too. The CPU is single core, and the RAM is DDR. Maybe all this isn't enough for Avast to function smoothly.

Anyways, am sticking with Avast. Computer otherwise behaves fine.

Probably you were doing this when 360IS was running its first update or during it's initial scan? The only time that Qihoo used more memory/RAM was when it was trying to update the BitDefender definitions and hence I remember that I used to set the update to manual.

Anyways stick to the one that works best for your system

[Anupam]

Originally Posted by George.J

Probably you were doing this when 360IS was running its first update or during it's initial scan? The only time that Qihoo used more memory/RAM was when it was trying to update the BitDefender definitions and hence I remember that I used to set the update to manual.

Hmm, does it do an initial scan like Avast? I don't remember seeing it. Does it show a progress for it?

The system was not connected to the internet. Will it still try to update it, and cause slowdown?

It might have something to do with a setting too. I had checked the box for checking compressed files of more than 50 MB. The file I was moving to the partition was the setup of 360IS itself. Maybe it was checking it while it was moving?

Anyways, whatever it was, it did make the moving process slow, which shouldn't have been. That's why I decided to get rid of it.

[MaikL]

Originally Posted by Anupam

I was looking for real-time protection.

If they're not online I'm not sure real-time protection is so necessary, unless they're going to be making a lot of use of pen drives.

Keeping any AV solution up-to-date without being online is going to be a real chore for someone (you?). Maybe a better long-term solution would be sandboxing or a good firewall with HIPS.

Originally Posted by Anupam

Linux is an option, yes, but for me, not for the people that will be using the computer. Here in India, most of them want familiar grounds to work with, and therefore want Windows on their PCs. Linux won't appeal to them, and also, they will want to learn to use it first, and will have questions, and will also ask for different programs to do their work... for which I certainly won't have enough time.

Also, with lack of internet, I cannot do much if they require some program, and then I have to check for it at my home, and then go and install there. Not practical, since I myself don't have much experience with Linux and the programs.

If they're using XP then they'll find 8.1 or 10 pretty unfamiliar, if they ever have to use it. A Linux distro such as Zorin or Mint will probably be a lot easier to adjust to. All programs likely to be needed are included in the download, e.g. an MS Office-compatible suite such as LibreOffice. No need to go trawling the net for software to download and install.

Best of all: it would solve your AV problem

[Anupam]

Real-time antivirus is necessary for protection from pen drives, atleast. And if there is no internet, it is not necessary to update the antivirus definitions. So, that's not an issue.

Firewall is again unnecessary as the computer does not have internet connection. For the same reason Sandboxie too.

Anyways, installing Sandboxie or firewall with HIPS is not a solution as general users who don't have much knowledge about computers, have trouble using these. Teaching them also will be an issue, as these are not easy to understand for general users.

I don't know why people believe that using Windows 8 or Windows 10 will be difficult to use for the users. Except for the start screen, or lack of start menu, I didn't feel much difference in using Windows 8 from previous versions. It's only a matter of getting used to, or knowing where to click. And Windows 10 is going to be more alike the previous versions of Windows as the start menu is going to return.

Installing Linux is going to be a problem for me, as well as them. Unless they are willing to learn something new, it's not an option. There are other issues in installing Linux, which I am not willing to discuss in this thread.

[MidnightCowboy]

Originally Posted by Anupam

Installing Linux is going to be a problem for me, as well as them. Unless they are willing to learn something new, it's not an option. There are other issues in installing Linux, which I am not willing to discuss in this thread.

When you are not dual booting, installing Linux on the whole drive is as simple as a few clicks in a wizard for most of the leading distros.

In any case, as this is for other people and not yourself, why not give them the chance to accept or dismiss this argument by showing one of the many videos available such as this one I produced or one of the hundreds on YouTube?

[Anupam]

Installing Linux has several issues.

Installing Linux isn't as easy as Linux users make it sound. Choosing a Linux distro for an old system is really a problem, which I experienced myself first hand. All over internet, you will read that Linux can revive an old computer, but what they don't tell that most of the modern distros won't run on old computers with old hardware. You might have to go for older versions of those Linux distros, or go for lighter desktop like XFCE, and everyone does not have knowledge of these. Also, choices of so many Linux distros, which is too much, is another issue.

Then, there's the issue of drivers. The two systems I had recently, had weird motherboards, and finding even Windows drivers for them was an issue. Had to locate the motherboard model and what not. Luckily, was able to locate drivers for one of them online. I cannot imagine what trouble it would be for Linux.

I am not willing to spend so much time on these issues, when all I have to do is install Windows on them, or perform a repair install. I can also take backup of drivers from a running Windows, or even not working one.

Finding programs to run is also not a problem on Windows.

Further, if I install Linux, I will have to teach them, and no doubt, they will still have more queries, even if I explain them enough.

Also, people want familiar environment, or software. If few things are different, they will complain.

One example is MS Office. While Open Office, etc are there, and are continuously improving, still, there are high chances, that documents created from them might not open properly in MS Office, and that's going to be an issue. Again, I am not willing to go through all that.

All these are just unnecessary headaches for me, and I don't want to invest my time in these.

And now, the discussion has diverted from the main topic, which is antivirus for older computers.

BTW, MC, the link you shared leads to 404.

[MaikL]

It's necessary to keep AV definitions up-to-date becasue you have no idea what malware the pen drives might be carrying, e.g. new malware not detected by old AV definitions.

A sandbox / HIPS will prevent malware installing (if used correctly). Agreed, using a sandbox or HIPS takes some knowledge but anyone who thinks all they need is any old AV program is sadly mistaken. Arguably, keeping all your software up-to-date with security patches is more effective than an AV, but if they're 1. using XP and 2. not connected to the 'net then that's out.

You might be *very* surprised at how easy it is to use Linux. It's easier and quicker to install than Windows and, let's face it, few people really use Windows, they use the programs running ON Windows. Forget about 'learning Linux', just about everything is done via GUIs as in Windows. As an example, in actual use MS Office and LibreOffice work in pretty much the same way. If a user can click an icon to open MS Office they can click an icon to open LibreOffice.

If people really want to stick with XP now there's no security updates for it (or Office 2003) that's fine by me as it can be made quite secure with free third-party products but, if users aren't prepared to learn how to do this, they're likely to have a lot more hassle than figuring out how to click on a GIU in Linux. Good luck with you quest for an AV solution.

[MidnightCowboy]

Originally Posted by Anupam

Installing Linux has several issues.

BTW, MC, the link you shared leads to 404.

For me it opens the video of Cylon linux I posted earlier in this thread.

http://www.techsupportalert.com/free...lon-linux.html

I've never had issues with Linux drivers except for NVIDIA graphics which can be good or bad depending on your system specs. Bear in mind I still have two old desktops running Linux that were built from scratch by my tech and both of these have "weird" motherboards. Printer drivers could be more of a problem but will undoubtedly be detailed in a forum post somewhere for the hardware concerned.

In any case, you can just load a live CD and see any incompatibilities if these exist.

I've also not experienced any issues with MS Office v Abiword, Open Office or LibreOffice.

[Anupam]

I don't have much knowledge about malware, but it's my guess that malware in pen drives are not evolving as much, and most of the malware can be removed, or dealt with by antivirus or other means. I am willing to take my chances on that.

As long as the system is not connected to the internet, I don't think there's any particular need for Windows to be up to date in terms of security patches, or for software to be latest.

I have had my share of experience with Linux, and I know how "easy" it is to deal with Linux distros. Had trouble finding the right distro for my old system, and then making them run. To be fair, yes, the RAM was low on the system, but XP used to run happily on that, better than Linux. Had trouble finding alternate programs, installing Skype, Yahoo Messenger, and other stuff. Was not able to install my webcam at all.

Yes, using live CDs is an option, but with a slow internet connection, again, that's a hassle, and we all know, there is no dearth of Linux distros to try.

While I might be willing to do all this with my system, for which I will have the time and patience, I can't do this on system of others, who would like their system back as early as possible.

Also, to be able to solve their issues, I will have to be adept with the Linux distro that I install on their computers. I will have to know about the alternate programs that they might require. I simply don't have that much time.

There's just too much of hassle installing Linux. It's much better to just install Windows.

It's easier for you people to suggest Linux, because you yourself are using it, and are now familiar with it. But, for me, who is not using Linux himself, and is not too much familiar with it, it's really a hassle. To install it on system of others, will be even more hassle.

If I start to use Linux myself and have confidence using it, maybe then I might think about installing it on system of others. But till that happens, better to stick with Windows.