Antivirus protection has become an integral addition to our computers nowadays. The threat of being targeted by cyber-attacks and malicious malware is ever increasing. A good antivirus helps protect your computer and its data by regularly scanning and monitoring for threats.
However, it is often suspected that antivirus software is also responsible for slowing down your computers. The frequent lags while you are working or binge-watching your favorite show can be frustrating, to say the least.
But is your antivirus really the one to blame for this constant slacking?
Does Antivirus Really Slow Down A Computer?
In the past, it was believed that antivirus would slow down a computer. However, security vendors claim that it no longer applies to modern antivirus software.
AV-TEST, an independent organization that evaluates and rates antivirus software had conducted an endurance test in April 2015. The results show that common tasks, including downloading files and loading websites, required more time to complete on a Windows computer with an antivirus.
It is now believed that an advanced antivirus does not heavily slow down your computer. It does, however, have some effect on the overall speed of your computer.
Your Antivirus May Be Slowing Things Down Because:
Antivirus requires processing power
All applications need processing power to run. Antivirus software is no exception. In fact, antivirus requires constant CPU usage in order to perform automatic scans to detect potential malware.
These scans generally occur when you download a file from the web or install a new app. The computer network drive is compared with a huge list of known malware signatures and behavior for each scan.
When these scans run in the background, there is a possibility for your computer to slow down. But not a lot. It is suggested to schedule these scans in night or when the computer is not in use.
Usage of older computers
Modern computers are well equipped to be powerful enough to run antivirus software smoothly. The problem arises if you use an older computer. Such computers require some suitable upgrades with better storage, RAM, and processing power.
It is therefore imperative to first ensure that your computer meets the basic requirements for the antivirus you use. To run an antivirus, it is required to have 1 gigabyte of storage space, 1 gigabyte of RAM, and a one gigahertz processor. These are, however, the minimum requirements.
In order to run your antivirus more smoothly and effectively, it is essential to have the following:
- At least 4 gigabytes of RAM (more capacity is required for resource-intensive apps)
- 1.5 gigahertz processor
- Storage space: about 10 to 15 percent of the total space must be free or unused.
- Some antiviruses also require modern web browsers.
Other Possible Reasons
While all fingers are pointed towards antivirus, there may be other culprits for slowing your computer down.
Ensure to check these factors first:
Too Many Startup Programs
This is the most common cause which could slow down your computer. Many newly installed apps ask for startup permissions. You may not have unchecked the box for permission. These apps will open as soon as your computer boots up, running multiple unnecessary programs in the background.
Check for it in Task Manager or Activity Monitor. Disable the programs you do not require.
Your Hard Drive Is Failing
The computer’s hard drive may be corrupt. This reduces their functionality and slows down your computer.
To check your hard drive’s health, run ScanDisk, HDD health, or other similar programs. If there are any issues, it is time to change it.
Outdated Operating System
If your computer’s operating system (OS) has not been updated for a while, it may interrupt the computer’s smooth functioning.
It is important to keep your operating system regularly updated and compatible with your computer.
Inadequate Memory
Your computer can slow down by about 50% if you have insufficient memory.
Declutter your device. You could also save your files elsewhere, in external hardware or a good cloud storage account.
Malware
Viruses and other malware could creep into your computer despite an antivirus. They can slow your device and cause frequent freezing.
Make sure to use a good antivirus and run a malware scan regularly.
Choose a better antivirus in terms of both speed and performance
Using a slow computer can get very frustrating. But choosing to uninstall your antivirus because is definitely not a good idea. It is better to opt for an antivirus, which is proven to be faster as well as efficient.
AV-TEST has found Kaspersky Internet Security to have the best speed – performance rating. It is closely followed by Bitdefender and Qihoo 360.
Additionally, McAfee, Bullguard, Trend Micro, Norton, Avira, and F -Secure have also secured good results in the endurance test.
Ensure that your antivirus has these features
Cloud Processing
Many antivirus software now uses cloud processing. They use their own servers and web information to scan for viruses instead of your computer resources. It only works when connected to the internet.
Low RAM Use
Check how much storage space the antivirus will use before purchasing it. The lesser the RAM it takes, the lesser the lag will be.
Behavior – Based Systems
Antiviruses would use signature databases to detect known malware. They now use behavior–based detection systems to ensure not to take up much of your memory space.
Short Installation Time
Some antivirus could take very long to install, spanning from hours to even days. This is because it comes with many elements. This could be a lot more than your computer can handle and will slow it down. Choose the ones which have a relatively short installation time.
Endnotes
Many popular antivirus software offers free trials. Make use of this opportunity and test some antiviruses before zeroing in. Find out which antivirus works best with your computer and go for it. In this way, you can secure your computer without worrying about slowing it down.