I'll be setting up a new computer shortly and am taking a fresh look at security software - so I was very interested to read this thread.  The replies to the OP deal with the various AV software's foot print, intrusiveness, blotnisity, cost, etc.  No one (for the most part) comments on the suggested program's ability to deal with viruses and malware.  Doesn't that matter?  Or do we just assume that all anti-virus programs are equal in this respect?  Just saying "I never had a problem" doesn't cut it for me.

Comments?

the suggested program's ability to deal with viruses and malware.  Doesn't that matter?  Or do we just assume that all anti-virus programs are equal in this respect? 

The rating I gave for MS Security Essentials from Maximum PC magazine was based on their analysis of the effectiveness of the program. I trust the professionals to do that assessment.

I have the best ANTI VIRUS solution. Don't use your Daw Online..An Anti Virus software will cost around $60 or more and with the prices of netbooks and used pc's you can pick up a cheap computer for $300.00 and never have to take a risk with your PC.
 Since I took my daw offline I never had a problem, I have multiple computers Mac's and Pc's Desktops and laptops, By far my Pc computers with norton /adaware have seen the reformat process many times.. But I must say My Macs without any anti virus software has never seen a virus, and I go onto sites that would crash my pc's in seconds and it has. If your making money with your DAW there shouldn't be any reason why it should be online ever. Why Take the risk.

I've been using Kaspersky, 

Sometimes if I'm doing working on a project that is more CPU intensive I will shut off my wireless network adaptor and then shut off Kasperksy, but generally I can leave them both on and not have any problems. Whenever I work with a client though I always shut off the internet and the antivirus

Whatever antivirus software you put on, make sure you can configure it to ignore specific files and folders and file types, and turn off realtime protection.

Last fall I switched from AVG to MS Security Essentials after having used AVG for a long time. MSSE has turned out to be a good solution, perhaps not as configurable as other applications, but configurable enough to assure it stays out of the way. I also use the Comodo firewall.

Of course, the best antivirus solution is a dedicated DAW with no internet connection. That just isn't practical for most people. Second-best solution is an alternate profile that allows you to boot into an environment with no network, no antivirus and no unnecessary background processes. Third-best solution is a desktop shortcut to a batch file that kills antivirus software and disables the network in preparation for a recording session.

 Sometimes if I'm doing working on a project that is more CPU intensive I will shut off my wireless network adaptor

 
I find that essential otherwise I get continual audio dropouts and stuttering. I've a Netgear USB adaptor which DPC Latency Checker informs me gives a regular 2,500ns latency "pulse" plus a 5,000 or so one every so often. Switch the adaptor off in device manager and my DPC latency drops to peaks of about 50ns with a rare spike of 200 or so.
 
Wired network cards could cause problems, but nothing on that scale (in my experience). The problem is that Windows, by design, likes to keep advertising its presence on the network all the time - even if there's no network out there for it to connect to it still keeps yelling "Hello -I'm here" just in case.
 
On my laptop I also have to disable the webcam, built-in mousepad and bluetooth to get reasonable DPC latency. On both PCs activity by the AV is far less of a problem.

 
If you have a dedicated DAW, or any computer you need for your livlihood, why hook up to the internet at all. 
 

This is what I did.  I hook up a totally separate computer to the internet to do all my online work.  It is a $450 basic box.
 
Then I run all my studio on a standalone Power i7 not connected to the internet - except for a selective log-on when I do registration confimrations, iLok registries, and operating system maintenance/uprades.
 
Also, Windows has an onboard anti-virus free program I have noticed now?  Any word on that?

 

Another vote for Eset's NOD32.

I have used it for years and it has never let me down.

Alan

TStranger

 
If you have a dedicated DAW, or any computer you need for your livlihood, why hook up to the internet at all. 
 

This is what I did.  I hook up a totally separate computer to the internet to do all my online work.  It is a $450 basic box.
 
Then I run all my studio on a standalone Power i7 not connected to the internet - except for a selective log-on when I do registration confimrations, iLok registries, and operating system maintenance/uprades.
 
Also, Windows has an onboard anti-virus free program I have noticed now?  Any word on that?

 

Antivirus has come a long way in the last ten years.  I could never keep my DAW offline to the internet; I'd never get anything done using an alternate computer.  There are far too many things that the internet help me do faster on my DAW.
 

• Watching the Groove 3 videos while Sonar is open on my desktop.
• Cutting and pasting text from the help file or reference guide directly into a forum post.
• Taking screen snapshots or short video clips of the Sonar or Cubase interface, and quickly sharing them via email or forum post.
• Downloading patches and updates.  Some of these come on ISO's which can take 4 or more hours to download.  At least I can continue to use my DAW while the download is happening in the background.  Many updates are automatically fetched, such as those for my antivirus, Adobe, iTunes, and Windows 7 itself.  Disconnecting from the internet would require that I perform a lot more manual processes; yuck!
• Listening to and uploading/downloading music files, with the DAW open in the background.
• Doing web searches to research questions and to find and fix problems.

 
None of these things has adversely impacted my DAW, not since Windows 95.  There's no way I would consider disconnecting from the internet in this day and age.

Absolutley Pos!
 
Good point.  I guess I should point out that my online box is a chair roll away and hooked up via my LAN to my DAW computer.  They are one icon click apart for this stuff, but it is a bit of a pain, yeah.  
 
I have my forums, and downloads, and instructional videos up on my 27 inch monitor off the online box, - which feeds to a standalone $150 PC sound system so that all that stuff does not interfere with my DAW PC sound or come through my studio at all.  I can have Mildred on YouTube telling me how to construct a I, IV, V variation while at the same time sitting in my chair watching my studio monitor on the wall while performing from a completely seperate system.
 
But my DAW computer feeds to a 60 inch flat panel 1080p monitor on the wall of my studio so that I can see tracking and play, controls, etc.  while I am performing off a mic boom which I pull down from a ceiling mount.  I bought a telescoping and armless rolling chair with a guitar step on it, from which I can play guitar or lower down and play PC.
 
So I have understated a bit what is involved in or might drive my use of a stand alone DAW box.