Avast's footprint on Memory

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I only have 96 RAM (Pentium II should be no problem) and don’t want to upgrade now because I want to buy another computer when Longhorn is release by MS in 2006. So I need an AV that offers a small footprint on memory and system resources to some extent as well. I am dropping NAV2004 because it simply uses too much memory for my computer and my subscription is up next month.

I have done a lot of searching regarding Avast and I really like the support on this forum which appears unprecedented as far as any competitors.

I want some degree of “real time protection” so I have looked into NOD32 and Avast. I decided to probably go with a free AV for now so have eliminated NOD32 and looked into free AV programs. Ultimately eliminated AVG due to apparent delays in Virus “Signature” DB updates. So it comes down to AVAST or ANTIVAR for me which both seem to offer timely Virus definition updates.

ANTIVAR gives me the small footprint I need, but otherwise I like all that AVAST has to offer. Just the fact that the minimum requirements for ANTIVAR is 14 Mb RAM vs. 32 Mb RAM for AVAST tells me ANTIVAR’s requirements are low. I would guess that ANTIVAR would need probably only about 3-4 MB of memory with “on access” protection running, but that’s just a guess since I can find no data to support this. But that is a huge difference from my NAV needing at least 4x that and might possibly also be a significant difference from Avast as well.

My concern of course after reading a lot of threads here and comparisons elsewhere is AVAST’s need for memory.

I have seen generally seen estimates on this forum for AVAST’s memory requirements from 45 MB and all the way down to 6 MB needed with “on access” running depending upon what level of protection is used. I would estimate my NAV2004 to use around 12-22 MB according to what I have read so far, but really have no idea. I am using WIN98se so I do not have the Task Manager information on memory used by processes like the Task Manager has for 2000 and up.

Based on the fact that I want at least the level of protection as I had before I have basically two questions.

  1. What is the difference between the “Standard Shield” and the “Web Shield”? My thought is that one is for all files on the system and the other is for browser protection, respectively.

If this is the case I would want minimally the following:
Standard Shield
Mail Protection
Web Shield

  1. Can any on help with any ideas what the ACTUAL memory need would be with this level of protection using AVAST.

Thanks in advance :slight_smile:

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I’m quite sure this is your second thread about the same point.
Can’t you move (copy & paste) this post to the first one and help us following what you want/need?

Standard Shield scans files (both on-access and on-demand): ashServ.exe

Web Shield is a proxy that filters the communication of a web browser, looking for viruses. It also makes it possible to block certain files by URL or MIME type. HTTP Scanner should deal with all network traffic such as spywares, adwares, toolbars, BHOs, hijackers and other malicious scripts. It will work as a real time network-based antivirus firewall, it will filter HTTP (web) traffic before it reaches the browser. It does not work unless you’re browsing the Internet. You can ignore local HTTP communication.