bitflipper
As a software developer, I've been battling "security" software for many years. It's not that the stuff doesn't work (sometimes it does), it's that the default settings are too aggressive, too intrusive. The vendor would rather have it interfere with legitimate processes than to miss an evil one.
 
They key is turning off "real time protection" or whatever your antivirus vendor calls its TSR component, and whitelisting every folder and executable that you know will never be infected. Some of these products actually want to scan wave files! Why? Because the file extension may have been intentionally changed to disguise the true nature of some malware. Any file can carry a rootkit. But the likelihood of your Kontakt libraries being infected is slim to none.

I would definitely disagree about globally turning off real-time scan, that is what prevents the virus coming into your system in the first place, but agree with the rest of your points.

TheSteven
I use ESET Smart Security never have had an issue with Sonar.
 

+1
 

I recently switched to Avast free from AVG. So are these the folders I need to whitelist?
 
-- Cakewalk Content
-- Cakewalk Projects
-- any Sonar projects in other folders
-- my VST dll folders
-- other folders relating to the VST apps (e.g. Native Instruments, Waves, Melda, IKMultimedia, MusicLab, Toontrak etc.)
-- Focusrite (my interface)
-- my Kontakt sample folders (actually these are on an external drive which I don't scan; rather I scan things before copying them there) 
 
Any errors or omissions in this list?
 
 

I use Symantec Endpoint Protection.  My computer is not bogged down by using this product and it has a light foot print. It scans very well and has Virus & Spyware protection, Malware protection, Proactive threat protection  and Network threat protection. Three levels of scanning and updates are pushed out by the Symantec server.
 
 
 
 

lingyai
I recently switched to Avast free from AVG. So are these the folders I need to whitelist?

-- Cakewalk Content
-- Cakewalk Projects
-- any Sonar projects in other folders
-- my VST dll folders
-- other folders relating to the VST apps (e.g. Native Instruments, Waves, Melda, IKMultimedia, MusicLab, Toontrak etc.)
-- Focusrite (my interface)
-- my Kontakt sample folders (actually these are on an external drive which I don't scan; rather I scan things before copying them there)

Any errors or omissions in this list?

Anyone?

I really only worried about Cakewalk Content, Projects, and sample libraries.
 
None of the plugins are very large, but it would be fine to add the vstplugins libraries, as well, if you wished to.
 
Bob Bone
 

I made the switch a couple of years ago to Webroot Secure Anywhere antivirus. Small footprint and low cpu resources coupled with good deals you can find on the web. Newegg has this software for as low as $9.95 from time to time.
 
Good review here.

Currently using MSE on music rig as well as internet rig. Had Kaspersky but got nervous when reports of the Russian Mafia connection surfaced. Had a free trial of Norton, exported the worst, but, as others have reported, it was fine. Tried Panda but it seemed to cause problems. Back to MSE now. Now, what I spend most of my non-musiocal time on is Linux. Lately Ubuntu, before that Zorin. no need there for anything, it's built-in. Just install and let it rip. And say goodbye to Microsoft Malware Attacks (also known as updates).

+1 for AVG. 

Ozz
I'm not using Platinum (yet...though I will be soon)...using X3 with Avast and have never had any issues that I'm aware of.

 
Me either but as soon as I upgraded to Platinum it would freeze the mess out of sonar.... mostly on the plugin scan though.... Though It did also cause the initial install of Platinum to fail on a few levels with either the Command Center or a Manual download and install. So if you do it.... DISABLE the Avast completely until finished...and if you add any plugins and plan on doing a re-scan you will need to disable it also for it to complete correctly.