Old and slow pc and security programs

[Guest BlairWitch]

Hello. I was just thinking that because i am using a quit old and slow computer at the moment that what would be like free security programs like antivirus and firewall that would not take too much resources?

I have this Compaq deskpro computer designed for windows nt and windows 98, intel pentium 3 processor, 547 mhz, 512 mb ram...

At the moment i am using avast free antivirus, winpatrol and filseclab personal firewall and for on demand scanning malwarebytes, superantispyware and emco malware destroyer.

Sometimes i also get these pop up messages from the filseclab firewall that firefox plugin container wants to access internet and that a connection to the systems port whatever blaah blaah blaah have been blocked according to some rules or something like that... Is that normal?

[RandomlyKnighted]

I recommend Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) along with Malwarebytes. I've seen MSE get stuff that Malwarebytes hasn't and vice versa. I know a lot of people here on the forums prefer Avast but I just have had much luck with it.

I've never used filesclab firewall before. I generally use Windows Firewall with the settings slightly above medium and only allowing programs that I want it to allow.

[Alex_computer]

Microsoft Security Essentials is normally what I recommend when someone asks for a light and excellent AV.

[Guest BlairWitch]

Thanks dudes i try that microsoft security essentials. Is there any lightweight firewall or is the windows xp firewall enough to keep those trojan backdoor hackers away?

[Alex_computer]

The firewall built into Windows should be enough.

[RandomlyKnighted]

Just as Alex said, the Windows Firewall will be enough.

[Alex_computer]

Just as a follow up, how is the MSE running on your machine?

[Guest BlairWitch]

It works pretty good. Havent't found any viruses so far. CPU usage seems to be most of the time 25 but sometimes goes over 70. I have been using the xp built-in firewall for now but i am not sure if it is good enough but i dont know any alternatives that would not make the cpu usage go like near 90 or something.

[ksiemb]

msmpeng will cause high CPU usage (assoc with MSE). When I was using MSE, that was happening quite frequently, so I stopped using MSE.

[ThexDarksider]

Windows XP firewall is useless at best. I wouldn't go without a firewall like Comodo on XP. Not sure how good would it run on an older machine, but it has no reason not to work.