Comments on: Why antivirus uses so much RAM – And why that is actually a good thing! https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/22176/why-antivirus-uses-so-much-ram-and-why-that-is-actually-a-good-thing/ Straight-talking security advice from the Malware Experts Fri, 18 Nov 2022 12:20:14 +0000 hourly 1 By: David Biggar https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/22176/why-antivirus-uses-so-much-ram-and-why-that-is-actually-a-good-thing/#comment-789505 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 20:33:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=22176#comment-789505 In reply to Rafael Antonio Ramirez-Gastón.

I run Emsisoft Anti-Malware, and have since before I worked here. You’re correct about self-education of course, but nobody can catch everything. For those moments, it’s good to have a decent program to back you up – and a decent backup of your data as well, of course.

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By: Rafael Antonio Ramirez-Gastón https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/22176/why-antivirus-uses-so-much-ram-and-why-that-is-actually-a-good-thing/#comment-789504 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 18:20:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=22176#comment-789504 No one working for an antivirus or anti-malware software runs them on their personal pc. The best antivirus is you, learn how to protect your system so you don’t rely on ram eating bloatware

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By: Henry Price https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/22176/why-antivirus-uses-so-much-ram-and-why-that-is-actually-a-good-thing/#comment-713976 Sat, 13 Aug 2016 04:38:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=22176#comment-713976 Helpful. Thanks a lot. I am using ESET Antivirus, although I admit that it used up most of my RAM when it implements but my laptop is still working fast and smoothly. I wonder what technology does ESET performs but its still one of the fastest AV software Ive used

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By: cat1092 https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/22176/why-antivirus-uses-so-much-ram-and-why-that-is-actually-a-good-thing/#comment-616195 Thu, 19 May 2016 00:01:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=22176#comment-616195 In reply to Andrei Florin.

RAM is as close to 2011 pricing as it gets, 16GB sets of DDR3 1333MHz for as little as $69 on promo, shipped. Back in 2011, few seen that pricing on these sets, though like you pointed out, a 4GB stick or 8GB set was really cheap. Come 2012, pricing doubled. Fast forward to late 2015, pricing is reasonable again (wished it was in late 2014/early 2015), I can now purchase 64GB of RAM in the same 16GB DDR3 1600MHz kits for less than I paid for 32GB total then. Maybe I should stock up, have a upcoming build, and RAM is a commodity, the CPU (i7-4790K) uses the same RAM modules.

Since most of my computers are maxed out with RAM, I have no issue with the software that protects me to do it’s job, a less than one minute (Malware) or less than 15 minute (Custom) scans doesn’t slow me down. Emsisoft consumers has the choice to turn off memory optimization in the controls of the software (both EAM & EIS consumers), if not wanted. Still, either is going to use so much RAM to speedily scan the drive(s), hunting for danger.

I can’t understand why one would not want this type of protection, if one thinks that Emsisoft is a RAM hog, try some alternatives & see the difference. Some will slow the computer to a crawl, to where one can’t have more than a couple Web pages open at once w/out the browser crashing. Neither EAM, EIS or the Emsisoft Emergency Kit (EEK) has done that to me, even with a system having 4GB total RAM. Of course, more is desired, yet for some computers, 2 to 4GB RAM is the limit.

Some other choices may ‘run’ fine w/out impact to the computer, but how effective is it? Visit AV-Comparatives & get the truth. They perform unbiased tests (meaning no ad income to sway opinions), with techs not knowing what the other is testing, on identical builds, complete series of tests, and the results are posted for the world to see. Emsisoft is closing on the competition test after test, racking up awards left & right. VB100 is another source, however I don’t know much about how they test, am more familiar with AV-Comparatives. As are many in the IT community when it comes to security. Resource usage are also a factor in the tests performed & Emsisoft still comes out strong.

Cat

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By: Jimmy Walbert https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/22176/why-antivirus-uses-so-much-ram-and-why-that-is-actually-a-good-thing/#comment-613564 Sun, 15 May 2016 18:49:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=22176#comment-613564 In reply to Richard Symons.

Dude, Since you’ve tried everything, even a wipe out. I bet you reinstalled the same drivers the OEM released with the computer when it came out. I would try going to Intel and getting ALL the latest chipset drivers, AHCI too. Go to Nvidia and get the latest video drivers. And maybe even consider a BIOS update. If the software still runs slow then hopefully it will be worked out in a future update.

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By: Omendata https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/22176/why-antivirus-uses-so-much-ram-and-why-that-is-actually-a-good-thing/#comment-588087 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 12:38:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=22176#comment-588087 In reply to Richard Symons.

Sounds like you may have a hardware issue.

Did you analyse the wait chains and do in depth analysis of why emsisofts product wasnt working for you as i install it on all manner of machines and have had maybe two issues and that was with users with faulty ram.

My advice is switch off your page file and upp your memory – Windows doesnt need the page file anymore if you have plenty of ram say 16gb and speedbost with a class 10 flash unit is a good idea!

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By: Cat Tilley https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/22176/why-antivirus-uses-so-much-ram-and-why-that-is-actually-a-good-thing/#comment-587033 Wed, 20 Apr 2016 17:07:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=22176#comment-587033 For the past 3-4 years, have had no trouble with either EIS or EAM, if either needs to use RAM, that’s fine, as my notebooks has 8GB, my PC’s starts at 12GB & ends at 32GB, and yes during a scan with EIS, quite a bit of RAM was used.

Yet that’s what it’s there for, I upgrade all of my computer’s RAM to the max with today’s pricing, and the one with 32GB was upgraded when $135 per 16GB set. So yes, I purchased it to be used, not showcased, as I don’t have a transparent door with neon lights drinking resources. Plus that PC has a massive i7-4790K, an upgrade from the i7-4770 that in itself wasn’t shabby.

Do I care if my scheduled scans or active protection requires resources? No, I could care less. Rather, I’d prefer EIS to have the resources to do it’s job…….to protect me from danger.

As far as other brands goes, I’ll only say w/out getting into details that Emsi is right in the article. All brands of security requires RAM to do it’s job, otherwise we’d be wide open to infection. The Malware distributors would win if the security ran from the HDD/SSD only.

That brings up the question, do we want a clean or infected OS? I prefer prevention over cure, so let EAM or EIS (depending on computer) have the resources to do it’s job. Emsisoft isn’t racking up awards from well known testing organizations for the sake of it, they’re winning because of the job the team is doing. The first of which, is not having 15-20 upper level employees playing golf half the day after lunch, then call it a day, rather having a smaller team dedicated to getting work done.

Word of mouth is spreading about how good Emsisoft is, and they know that their market share is growing, and is poised for more growth.

Cat

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By: NRK https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/22176/why-antivirus-uses-so-much-ram-and-why-that-is-actually-a-good-thing/#comment-584442 Mon, 18 Apr 2016 23:31:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=22176#comment-584442 More reason to use a PXE Server and have a fresh new locked down system every time you boot! Lock down the user to just what they need (principal of least privilege) with a firewall appliance facing the internet. Shut down the internet to just those sites needed, host our site other than in house, turn off all the USB/1394 ports on the users computer, air gap some computers. The file server scans every file in and out plus a nightly deep scan.

This is a war and the users are like mercenaries, they have their price. Discipline and control to the extreme are tools to keep the bad stuff out. AV SW is about the fourth line of defense (after the internet facing appliance, the system design, and the user), if it is needed the war is lost and your losses sky rocket.

There are many methods and mine is dictatorial control, no quarter given to users or invaders. When I showed the boss the cost of one little cute christmas penguin screen saver he got the message that poor security was effecting his bottom line. With the help of MS and Dell I knew if someone farted at their desk.

Just like in plumbing where you have a leak or you don’t our systems are either secure or not. I use the same principals at home (two servers, four workstations, three tablets, three phones) as at work and can’t remember a virus, etc. since the penguin in 2008.

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By: Zdravko Mihaylov https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/22176/why-antivirus-uses-so-much-ram-and-why-that-is-actually-a-good-thing/#comment-581325 Sat, 16 Apr 2016 18:06:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=22176#comment-581325 In reply to Richard Symons.

I am sorry that my comment seemed as a attack, or that I assumed you are poor block. I really didn’t mean it in this way. My work also involves IT. At my home right now I have 3 desktops and a couple of laptops, one of which I described. But I do not want to compare out budget or anything. Just wanted to share my experience. The slow computers I explained are from my work office, I am responsible for them + others, kind-a administrator. And I had to clean them from viruses (which is annoying, when they are slow and have important information on them). Luckily everything is clean now, no information loss, and Emsisoft runs like a charm even on the slowest one.
Apology again that my comment sounded as an attack and wish you all the best =]

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By: Richard Symons https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/22176/why-antivirus-uses-so-much-ram-and-why-that-is-actually-a-good-thing/#comment-581066 Sat, 16 Apr 2016 15:11:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=22176#comment-581066 In reply to nuncius.

Thanks for the reply nuncius , yeah was using only the Emsisoft Internet security not running it alongside Anti-Malware or anything else , just Internet Security

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By: Jess W Farnsworth https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/22176/why-antivirus-uses-so-much-ram-and-why-that-is-actually-a-good-thing/#comment-580680 Sat, 16 Apr 2016 00:47:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=22176#comment-580680 In reply to Richard Symons.

What works for one will never work for all. I run a Dino. Dual core 2800 processor and Linux 15.04. Runs better than the day it came from the store with windows I know that.

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By: Richard Symons https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/22176/why-antivirus-uses-so-much-ram-and-why-that-is-actually-a-good-thing/#comment-580378 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 18:40:00 +0000 http://blog.emsisoft.com/?p=22176#comment-580378 In reply to Zdravko Mihaylov.

Mate , Im running a top end 8 Core i7 with 16GB of ram and a gtx970 so dont knock my computer or insinuate I cant offord one , the one I use has better specs than yours. … I used to work in the IT business , was in it for 15 years , I know what I am doing and I know how to diagnose problems …. I ruled out all other software by starting from fresh on a clean system and only having the very basics installed.
And just as your problem was resolved by removing the antivirus you had installed , so mine was removed by uninstalling Emisoft. So dont tell me what I explained is not true , its the issue I had and thats how it was resolved. I used Emisoft all the time in the past and this release I was left disappointed in how more bloatfilled it seemed compared to their products of the past.

I can guarantee you now , if you look in taskmanager at your system usage amounts at this moment in time it will be far higher than what mine is right now just because your running emisoft and im not.
1% CPU usage and 19% memory and thats with a few programs open now as I right this… I know as I type this both of yours will be higher.
Im happy for you that you like the product you have … I will be happy to try the software again in the future to see if its as good as it used to be. I just didnt agree with this article because I felt its a piece written to defend its high system usage rather than a good tech article which it normally is.
Dont attack me personally or assume im a poor broke person using a computer from the dark ages just because I dont hold the same view as you about a product.
As you can see , I appear to be in a better position than you with regards to what tech I currently use.

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