Recommendation for Windows Defender replacement. (File operations too slow with it.)

Subscriber43 · Feb 19, 2022

Windows Defender works very well except for one thing that bothers me no end: It drastically slows down file operations like copying, moving etc. Even if I copy the same set of files seconds later, apparently Defender wants to scan them all again. I thought this performance would improve with time as the software "learned", but it has remained the same.
Disabling "RealTime Protection" dramatically speeds up file operations.

Here, I have shortlisted four programs in order of preference (based in Internet reviews).
Kaspersky Security Cloud Free Edition
Avast One Essential
AVG AntiVirus Free
Avira Free Security.

Have you guys any experience with any of these? If so, can you make a recommendation?

Thanks.

cineman195 · Feb 19, 2022

Kaspersky free
It takes less RAM than Defender and works well

Subscriber43 · Feb 19, 2022

cineman195 said:
Kaspersky free
It takes less RAM than Defender and works well

Thank you. In your experience, does it hamper file operations?

flashh4 · Feb 19, 2022

I will stick with defender it has always worked fine for me !
Chuck

FJRMarty · Feb 19, 2022

In 2010 my old laptop started with paid Norton Suite, but when I changed jobs I had to give it up. Used AVG until a few years ago, had an issue with an update one time, chased it for a short bit, then gave up. Switched to Avira, very satisfied until I found it was beating up my RAM pretty good. I added RAM but moved on to Avast, then Avast One. I brought Avast One over to this new 2 month old laptop on a trial basis.

None of them ever caused me any security issues, and today I believe they would all work just fine. I have not tries Kaspersky.

I would look at other things, such as who owns which software, who has been caught with their hands in the cookie jar, etc.
But, as to your selection, I would pick Avast One from my experience, however, it makes sense to choose Kaspersky Cloud, as cineman195 mentioned.

Subscriber43 · Feb 19, 2022

flashh4 said:
I will stick with defender it has always worked fine for me !
Chuck

Works fine for me too, except for its effect on file operations.

Subscriber43 · Feb 19, 2022

FJRMarty said:
In 2010 my old laptop started with paid Norton Suite, but when I changed jobs I had to give it up. Used AVG until a few years ago, had an issue with an update one time, chased it for a short bit, then gave up. Switched to Avira, very satisfied until I found it was beating up my RAM pretty good. I added RAM but moved on to Avast, then Avast One. I brought Avast One over to this new 2 month old laptop on a trial basis.

None of them ever caused me any security issues, and today I believe they would all work just fine. I have not tries Kaspersky.

I would look at other things, such as who owns which software, who has been caught with their hands in the cookie jar, etc.
But, as to your selection, I would pick Avast One from my experience, however, it makes sense to choose Kaspersky Cloud, as cineman195 mentioned.

Thanks for your opinion. Will try them both and see.

idgat · Feb 19, 2022

Subscriber43 said:
Windows Defender works very well except for one thing that bothers me no end: It drastically slows down file operations like copying, moving etc. Even if I copy the same set of files seconds later, apparently Defender wants to scan them all again. I thought this performance would improve with time as the software "learned", but it has remained the same.
Disabling "RealTime Protection" dramatically speeds up file operations.

Thanks.

I'd be looking at not using the Windows built-in copy/paste function, rather than cease using Defender.

Try
- Teracopy
- Fastcopy
- bulk copying : Robocopy

Stigg · Feb 19, 2022

Have you had any problems with viruses in the past 10 years? Just curious.
I haven't encountered one in 20 years on any of my machines. And from Windows 10 onwards, it's much more secure than their previous operating systems that had many vulnerabilities.

Of course, it may depend on the type of user you are. If you are inexperienced and careless, then maybe you need something to warn you of an impending hazard. You can best answer the type of user you are.

I regard system backups to be more important and they don't continually tax your system at all except for the short time that a backup is running.

Subscriber43 · Feb 19, 2022

Stigg said:
Have you had any problems with viruses in the past 10 years? Just curious.
I haven't encountered one in 20 years on any of my machines. And from Windows 10 onwards, it's much more secure than their previous operating systems that had many vulnerabilities.

Of course, it may depend on the type of user you are. If you are inexperienced and careless, then maybe you need something to warn you of an impending hazard. You can best answer the type of user you are.

I regard system backups to be more important and they don't continually tax your system at all except for the short time that a backup is running.

No, I haven't had any virus problems in a very long time (many years), but viruses aren't my problem.
As stated in the OP, the problem is the slowing down of file copy/move operations.

cineman195 · Feb 19, 2022

Subscriber43 said:
Thank you. In your experience, does it hamper file operations?

Actually I have no idea !
I have been moving/copying files with both defender and Kaspersky, so far there has been no problem, except varying speeds for different files ! Some .exe files, and some bat files ( KMS files downloaded for experimentation ) are flagged as malicious, sometimes deleted, but if exceptions are made left alone.

flashh4 · Feb 20, 2022

Oh i have had more virus an infections than you can shake a stick at because i am a trained Malware Removal Specialist and have had to infect my some of my "virtual machines" to learn which tools are best to remove certain bad guys with ! And sometimes you get hit with one that is hard to remove ! Sometimes you just get hit no matter what kind of protection you have, it just happens ! But Defender does a REAL GOOD JOB !

Chuck

CornishRattler · Feb 20, 2022

Any AV is only as good as it's protection history, ask 6 different members here and you'll get 6 different answers. I finally moved from WD to Norton yesterday as my work insisted on it for home working, have to say at this very early point I'm impressed with it's minimal footprint even during the initial scan, time will tell as to it's effectiveness.
AV is a choice that's as personal as choosing clothes imho

Recommendation for Windows Defender replacement. (File operations too slow with it.)

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