Stewart Mitchell finds that the performance and intrusive design of security software is once again becoming a cause for concern for trigger-happy users
The days of security suites hogging your computer resources were supposed to be over. However,the databases required to tackle the hundreds of thousands of new threats that emerge every day are once again having a detrimental effect on PC performance, prompting frustrated users to compromise their own security by switching it off.
One in ten gamers admits to disabling security software to improve performance, according to research by security company Kaspersky Lab, exposing themselves to network threats and malware infection. “It might be that people are tempted to turn off the heuristic detection or some other proactive protection and that is dangerous; with our product, around 60% of our detections are done proactively and aren’t dependent on signatures,” said David Emm, principal security researcher at Kaspersky.
Emm insists that people are disabling security software as a result of its past performance. “AV and security software has had a reputation for affecting the general performance of the computer,” said Emm. “People think: ‘antivirus might slow down my computer, so I’ll disable it before I start’.”
Our investigation suggests that security software’s effect on PC performance is no figment of the imagination.
Feeling the pinch
Denne historien er fra November 2016-utgaven av PC Pro.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 2016-utgaven av PC Pro.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 1 (AMD)
By no means the last word in excitement, but the ThinkPad E16 is a good-value choice for business users
Huawei MateBook D16
The best and biggest screen here, plus a powerful Core i9 processor, ensure the MateBook D16 stands out
Acer Aspire Go 14
It's tough to argue with this laptop's value for money or battery life, but speed lovers should look elsewhere
HP Spectre x360 16 (2024)
This sleek 2kg convertible packs everything you need, including a Core Ultra chip and optional Nvidia graphics
Five ways to get cloud computing wrong
Don't let your migration projects go up in smoke. Steve Cassidy runs through the blunders to avoid
Control your computer with your face and head -it's the future!
As if to show nothing is new in the world of technology, eye tracking and gesture control date back decades. But if Apple's on board, maybe their time has finally come, suggests Nicole Kobie
Chip off the old block
Standalone sales of the Z80 CPU have finally been discontinued after 48 years. David Crookes looks back on a chip with a staggering impact
Cloud backup 2024
Whether it's through attack or error, your business data is always at risk. Dave Mitchell explains how cloud services can add extra protection and puts four contenders to the test
Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra
A brilliant advert for resinbased 3D printing, with a host of features that make it easy to obtain great results
HP All-in-One 27 cr-0014na PC
A speedy and temptingly priced all-in-one PC with a fine 27in display-but note its 1080p resolution